Like all true pines (species in the genus Pinus), eastern white pine has bundled needles; it is the only species in in its range with needles bundled in groups of 5 (other Midwestern and eastern North American pines have 2 or 3 needles per bundle). The long cones of eastern white pine are also distinctive, since they are substantially longer than the cones of any other eastern or Midwestern conifer except Norway spruce, which is not native but is often planted in urban areas. However, the short needles of Norway spruce are not bundled, making the trees easy to separate.

The classic mushroom finds in eastern white pine forests, for me anyway, are Amanita muscaria guessowii, Lactarius chelidonium, Lactarius vinaceorufescens, Phaeolus schweinitzii, Suillus americanus, and Suillus weaverae. However, many other mushrooms are also common in association with eastern white pine: Clitocybe acerba, Clitocybe hygrophoroides, species of Cortinarius, Gymnopus dryophilus, Hydnellum species, Laccaria ochropurpurea, Lactarius deliciosus deterrimus, Lactarius vinaceorufescens, Marasmius pulcherripes, Mycena clavicularis, Peziza badioconfusa, Phellodon alboniger, various Russula species (including Russula cessans and Russula sororia), Suillus luteus, Suillus placidus, Suillus punctipes, Suillus spraguei, Tricholoma species 04, and many others.

young, untended trees are dense with branches

mature trees, when unimpeded, have a spreading stature

roots of a very old specimen in northern Michigan

needles are 2—4 inches long, flexible, in bundles of 5

young seed (female) cones are green and tightly closed . . .

. . . becoming brown and, eventually . . .

. . . opening up between scales; cones are 4–8 inches long

needle duff under white pines can be quite thick

pollen (male) cones are small and yellowish

pollen cones on branch tips

male cones releasing pollen

young bark is smooth and nearly white

maturing bark becomes gray

mature bark is platelike and grayish brown

Kuo, Michael (November, 2021). Pinus strobus (eastern white pine). Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.com website: www.mushroomexpert.com/trees/pinus_strobus.html

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