Genera:

Pinus (pine), Picea (spruce), Abies (fir)

Family Name:

Pinaceae – pine family

General Description:

Pines, spruces and firs are members of the Pinaceae family and share basic morphological and reproductive characteristics. Pines, spruces and firs are needle-bearing, pyramidal trees (at least when young) with branches growing in a whorled pattern. They are monoecious, cone-bearing plants. To the casual observer they look very much the same and are frequently lumped together and called a “pine” or often “a Christmas tree”. Since the most important features of a plant family are the reproductive structures, this Plant Profile will focus on the male, female and seed bearing structures of Pinaceae.

NOTE: For complete information on all the steps listed please consult Plant Profiles: Hort2242 Landscape Plants II - How to Identify Pine, Spruce and Fir.

Resources Consulted:

Dirr, Michael A. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Champaign: Stipes, 2009. Print.

Creator:

Julia Fitzpatrick-Cooper, Professor, College of DuPage

Creation Date:

2014

Keywords/Tags:

Pinaceae, tree, conifer, cone, needle, evergreen, Pinus, pine, Picea, spruce, Abies, fir

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