Hiker's Guide to the Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Ricketts Glen State Park

Hiker's Guide to the Trees, Shrubs,

and Woody Vines of Ricketts Glen State Park

Third Edition -- Internet Version

Introduction

References

Leaf Types

Leaf Arrangements

Leaf Edges

Identification Key

Descriptions

Species List

Vines Ground Covers Trees with Needle-Leaves Trees and Shrubs with Opposite and Simple Leaves Trees and Shrubs with Opposite and Compound Leaves Trees and Shrubs with Alternate and Compound Leaves Trees and Shrubs with Alternate and Simple Leaves

Trees with Needle-Leaves

Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)

Height to 80 ft. Needles 3 - 8 in long; evergreen; borne in clusters of 2, from a short peg (spur shoot). Cones 1½ - 2½ in. Seen along Mt. Springs Lake Road. A more northern species, these specimens may have been planted or escaped from cultivation.

Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)

Height to 60 ft. Needles 1½ - 5 in long; evergreen; borne in clusters of 3, from a short peg (spur shoot). Cones 1 - 3 in; scales with harp tips. Seen only on the Grand View Trail, near the fire tower. Associated with Scrub Oak and Gray Birch.

White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Height to 100 ft. Needles 2 - 4 in; evergreen; borne in clusters of 5, from a short peg (spur shoot). Cones 3 - 10 in. Seen along the Evergreen Trail, the Ganoga View Trail, Mt. Springs Trail, Mt. Springs Lake Road, the Grand View Trail, and the picnic area north of Rt. 118.

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Height to 90 ft. Needles 1½ - 3 in long; evergreen; borne in clusters of 2, from a short peg (spur shoot). Cones 1¼ - 2½ in. A European species. Specimens along Mt. Springs Lake Road are either planted or have escaped cultivation. In previous editions of this guide, young Scots pine were incorrectly identified as Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana).

Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

Height to 75 ft. Needles 5/16 - 9/16 in; evergreen; with two parallel white stripes beneath; borne singly from a tiny peg. Cones ⅝ in. One of the most common trees in the Park, and certainly the most common conifer. The state tree of PA.

Western Larch (Larix occidentalis)

Needles 1 - 1¾ in; deciduous; soft; borne in clusters from knobby spur shoots, but singly on tips of the main branches. Cones 1 - 1 1/2 in; purplish. This single specimen, near the Fire Tower on the Grand View Trail, appears to have been planted; it is native to BC, ID, MT, OR and WA. Our native larch is also called Tamarack, which has smaller cones.

Black Spruce (Picea mariana)

Height to 30 ft. Needles ¼ - ½ in long; evergreen; angled; borne singly. Twigs and buds hairy. Cones ¾ - 1¼ in. On acidic soils and near bogs. Similar to Red Spruce, but with shorter needles. Seen only on the Cherry Run Trail, north and east of the hairpin, and along the upper part of Mt. Springs Lake Road.

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Updated 11 July 2005.

*Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)* Height to 80 ft. Needles 3 - 8 in long; evergreen; borne in clusters of 2, from a short peg (spur shoot). Cones 1½ - 2½ in. Seen along Mt. Springs Lake Road. A more northern species, these specimens may have been planted or escaped from cultivation.
*Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)* Height to 60 ft. Needles 1½ - 5 in long; evergreen; borne in clusters of 3, from a short peg (spur shoot). Cones 1 - 3 in; scales with harp tips. Seen only on the Grand View Trail, near the fire tower. Associated with Scrub Oak and Gray Birch.
*White Pine (Pinus strobus)* Height to 100 ft. Needles 2 - 4 in; evergreen; borne in clusters of 5, from a short peg (spur shoot). Cones 3 - 10 in. Seen along the Evergreen Trail, the Ganoga View Trail, Mt. Springs Trail, Mt. Springs Lake Road, the Grand View Trail, and the picnic area north of Rt. 118.
*Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)* Height to 90 ft. Needles 1½ - 3 in long; evergreen; borne in clusters of 2, from a short peg (spur shoot). Cones 1¼ - 2½ in. A European species. Specimens along Mt. Springs Lake Road are either planted or have escaped cultivation. In previous editions of this guide, young Scots pine were incorrectly identified as Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana).
*Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)* Height to 75 ft. Needles 5/16 - 9/16 in; evergreen; with two parallel white stripes beneath; borne singly from a tiny peg. Cones ⅝ in. One of the most common trees in the Park, and certainly the most common conifer. The state tree of PA.
*Western Larch (Larix occidentalis)* Needles 1 - 1¾ in; deciduous; soft; borne in clusters from knobby spur shoots, but singly on tips of the main branches. Cones 1 - 1 1/2 in; purplish. This single specimen, near the Fire Tower on the Grand View Trail, appears to have been planted; it is native to BC, ID, MT, OR and WA. Our native larch is also called Tamarack, which has smaller cones.
*Black Spruce (Picea mariana)* Height to 30 ft. Needles ¼ - ½ in long; evergreen; angled; borne singly. Twigs and buds hairy. Cones ¾ - 1¼ in. On acidic soils and near bogs. Similar to Red Spruce, but with shorter needles. Seen only on the Cherry Run Trail, north and east of the hairpin, and along the upper part of Mt. Springs Lake Road.