By Maxwell McCormack

Maine, from York and Oxford to Washington Counties, has recently weathered severe ice storms. One form of widespread damage has been breakage of limbs and tops of eastern white pines. Unfortunately, this has occurred on the heels of a relatively poor white pine seed year in 2013. Pine cones mature over two years and observations of first year cones developing during the 2013 growing season were indicating a good seed year for 2014. The promising crop for this year has been jeopardized by the storm damage. In several locations I’ve observed upper branch tips broken off by ice resulting in many hundreds of first year conelets scattered across the crusted snow surface (Figure 1).

Figure 1. First year conelets broken by ice damage, 2014.

Mature cones of white pine, a soft pine, are readily recognized in the spring and early summer when they are scattered across the ground. These cones are 2.5 to 9 inches with thin, smooth scales (Figure 2). The pitchy outer surfaces are without the prickles usually present (the exception is our native Norway red pine) on cone scales of the hard pines. The cones are borne on firm stalks formed during the first year. Since we have only the one soft pine species in Maine, eastern white pine, there is no confusion in identifying cones.

Figure 2. White pine cones.

Over the past few years some woodlot owners have asked if they can collect the cones and spread them over bare ground to produce seedlings. This is not a productive procedure. By the time they open, brown cones have reached the ground, and they are empty. To collect seed one must gather cones as they are ripening through the transition from green color to brown, and catch the seed on a screen as the scales spread out and the cones open.

It’s advisable to hand rub and winnow winged seeds in order to clean them for storage and subsequent seeding. Since the seed-bearing cones are always located in the tops, it is helpful to time cone collection with a harvesting operation where the crowns of felled trees are readily accessible.

On the upper side of each fully developed cone scale there are two seeds at its base with wings spread flat across the scale surface (Figure 3). At maturity, while still on a tree, the cones drop into a pendent position so, as the scales open outward, the seeds drop out spinning like miniature helicopters across forest openings and adjacent fields.

Figure 3. Mature cone.

Observe broken limbs and branch tips scattered across snow surfaces and ice crusts. They provide information and insight about conditions in your woodlot.

SWOAM member Max McCormack is research professor emeritus at the University of Maine. E-mail him at: mlm2@uninets.net

Ice Storm Damage Sets Back Promising Pine Seed Crop