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State Trees
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The term floral emblem, which refers to flowers specifically,
is primarily used in Australia and Canada. In the United States, the term state flower
is more often used. |
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Idaho Symbols
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Idaho State Tree
Western White Pine
(Pinaceae Pinus monticola)
Adopted on February 13, 1935.
The Western White Pine (Pinus Monticola pinaceae), our state tree, is probably most notable since the largest
remaining volume of this timber in the United States grows in the northern part of Idaho. White Pine has many fine
qualities such as straight grain and soft even texture. Idaho’s state tree grows to 175 feet with a trunk diameter
from 5 to 8 feet. The largest western white pine in the world stands 219 ft. high near Elk River, Idaho.
Adopted by the 1935 legislature. According to the legislative bill, it was promoted by 'members of Ellen Wright
Camp, Franklin County Chapter, Daughters of Pioneers.'
Description of the Idaho State Tree
Western white pine (Pinus monticola), also called mountain white pine, Idaho white pine, or silver pine, is an
important timber tree. Its lightweight, nonresinous, straight-grained wood exhibits dimensional stability that makes
it particularly valuable for sash, frames, and doors, interior paneling, building construction, match wood, and
toothpicks. Western white pine grows rapidly to a large size; one of the largest standing trees measures 200 cm
(78.6 in) in d.b.h. and 72.8 m (239 ft) tall in the mountains near Medford, OR.
Common Names
mountain white pine, Idaho white pine, or silver pine,
Identification
- Leaf: Acicular, 2 to 4 inches long, fascicles of 5, blue-green with white lines of stomatal bloom
on two of the three needle surfaces, persist 3 to 4 years, bundle sheath is deciduous, apex blunt.
- Flower: Monoecious; male cones are small, yellow, and clustered near the tips of branches; female
cones are larger, almost round, greenish-pink in color, and clustered near the tips of branches in the upper
parts of the crown.
- Fruit: Large cylindrical woody cones, 5 to 12" long, thin and curved. Brown when mature; scales thin
and unarmed, typically tipped with globs of white resin; very short stalk.
- Twig: Moderately stout and grayish-brown.
- Bark: Initially thin and grayish-green later becoming up to 2 inches thick, gray to purplish-gray
and broken into square or rectangular blocks, not ridged and furrowed. Dark bands commonly encircle the tree
where whorls of branches have fallen off.
- Form: Tall, straight, evergreen conifer growing to 180 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter with an open
crown, long up-raised branches near the top (horizontal lower down); bole commonly free of branches for half
its length.
1935 Legislation
STATE TREE
Idaho Session Laws, 1935, page 35.
AN ACT, DESIGNATING THE WHITE PINE AS THE STATE TREE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO.
WHEREAS, the members of Ellen Wright Camp, Franklin County Chapter, Daughters of Pioneers, by resolution, have
asked that the White Pine be designated as the state tree of the State of Idaho.
NOW THEREFORE:
Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
Section 1. The White Pine (Pinus Monticolae) is hereby designated and declared to be the state tree of the State
of Idaho.
Approved February 13, 1935.
Statute
Idaho Statutes TITLE 67
STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE AFFAIRS
CHAPTER 45
67-4504. STATE TREE DESIGNATED. The White Pine (Pinus Monticolae) is
hereby designated and declared to be the state tree of the state of Idaho.
Taxonomic Hierarchy of the Western White Pine
| Kingdom |
Plantae -- Plants |
| Subkingdom |
Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants |
| Superdivision |
Spermatophyta – Seed plants |
| Division |
Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants |
| Class |
Pinopsida – |
| Order |
Pinales – |
| Family |
Pinaceae – Pine family |
| Genus |
Pinus L. – pine |
| Species |
Pinus monticola Dougl. ex D. Don – western white pine |
Source:
Dendrology at Virginia Tech
US Department of Agriculture
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State Trees
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All of the state
trees, except the Hawaii state tree, are native to the state in which they are designated.
tree \ˈtrē\
noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English trēow; akin to Old Norse trē tree, Greek
drys, Sanskrit dāru wood
Date: before 12th century
1 a: a woody perennial plant having a single usually elongate main stem generally
with few or no branches on its lower part
b: a shrub or herb of arborescent form <rose trees> <a
banana tree> |
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