Abstract: A simple method to identify several pine trees is very practical.
I often encounter situations where some coniferous trees with strip-shaped leaves, such as spruce, fir, pine, larch, cedar, etc., are called "pine trees" in order to separate them more clearly and consider production needs. , combined with my experience in forestry, I will talk about a simple method on how to correctly identify these trees, so as to communicate and learn with others.
1. Parts to observe
1. The growth of leaves on branches: observe whether they are solitary or bunched; arranged in a spiral or clustered.
2. Long and short branches.
3. Leaf scars, leaf pillows and leaf sheaths on branches.
4. Cross section of the leaf: look at the concave and convex midrib and the arrangement of resin canals.
5. Stomatal zone on leaf surface.
6. Deciduous and evergreen.
7. The leaves are soft and hard in texture.
8. Cones and seeds.
2. Tools used
1. Magnifying glass: used to observe the stomata.
2. Small blade: used to cut the cross section of the blade.
3. Tweezers: for observing cones and seeds.
4. Pruning shears.
5. Camera or mobile phone: for documentary photography.
3. How to identify it
First, observe whether it has fallen leaves: Larix is ??a deciduous tree species. Spruce, fir, pine, and cedar are all evergreen tree species.
Second, observe whether there are long branches and short branches: cedar and larch both have long branches and short branches (branches that grow very slowly); the leaves are arranged in a spiral on the long branches and on the short branches. Growing in clusters. Spruce, fir, and pine all have only long branches (normally developing branches) and no short branches.
Third, observe whether the leaves are bunched or solitary: only pine leaves are bunched (the base is wrapped by a leaf sheath).
The leaves of the other four species are solitary.
Fourth, observe the leaf marks and leaf pillows on the small branches: there are obvious circular leaf marks on the fir small branches, which are left after the leaves fall off.
After the leaves of the spruce branches fall off, there are wooden nail-like leaf pillows left. It is obvious that the small branches are rough.
Fifth, spruce and fir are easily confused. You can look at the cross-section of the leaves. Spruce leaves are mostly quadrangular, while spruce leaves are flat and square in cross-section;
often Spiral arrangement. The fir leaves are flat, flat and band-shaped in cross section, with a concave midrib on the surface and a raised midrib on the back; they are often arranged in two rows.
Sixth, larch and cedar are easily confused. You can look at the leaf texture: larch needles are soft; cedar needles are hard.
Larch cones are small, and the seed scales do not fall off;
Cedar cones are large, and the seed scales fall off after maturity.
Summary: Through the above six steps, the five types of pine plants can be basically distinguished. Of course, if it is a scientific study, we need to carefully identify the specific types.