NATIVE CONIFERS OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 
     
    
   
   
    
     During the fall and winter months, seeds produced by cone—bearing trees 
     
     form an important food source for a number of species of small birds and 
     
     animals. Ten species of conifers are native to Prince Edward Island. Their 
     
     cones are shown at right. How many can you identify? The answer key is 
     
     found on page 14. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Eastern White Pine. This species was once one of the most prominent 
     
     trees in the province. Because of its desirability for ships' masts and 
     
     other construction purposes, original stands were harvested wholesale and 
     
     now only scattered patches remain. These occur mainly in the south-eastern 
     
     part of the province. Eastern white pine grows best on moist sandy soil. 
     
     Cones mature in September and fall during the winter. 
     
    

    
     Red Pine. On P. E. I. red pine tends to be localized in three separate 
     
     areas —- Murray River, Fort Augustus and New London. Best growth occurs on 
     
     deep loamy sand or gravel soils. Cones mature and discharge their seeds in 
     
     autumn and are shed the following year. 
     
    

    
     Jack Pine. Jack pine grows only in a few scattered locations on P. E. I., 
     
     most notably the area around East Bideford. In this province it is confined 
     
     mainly to low damp places, often associating with black spruce. Cones 
     
     usually remain closed and stay on the tree. 
     
    

    
     Tamarack. Tamarack, or juniper as it is often called on P. E. I., grows 
     
     throughout the Island. It chiefly occurs in boggy areas but is also found 
     
     on some better drained sites. It is the only native coniferous tree that 
     
     sheds its needles in the fall. Cones open in autumn but remain on the tree 
     
     during the following winter and summer. 
     
    

    
     White Spruce. White spruce is found widely across the province, either 
     
     as pure stands or growing with other species. It is the main species 
     
     regenerating on old fields. In nature it thrives on well-drained, moist 
     
     gravelly soil along streams and around the borders of swamps. Cones open 
     
     in autumn and fall during the following winter and spring. 
     
    

    
     Black Spruce. This species grows throughout the province, mainly in low 
     
     damp places. Cones are not shed from the tree but open at intervals during 
     
     the winter to release seeds. 
     
    

    
     Red Spruce. Red spruce is found in scattered patches throughout the 
     
     province. It grows on a wide variety of soil types but does best on well- 
     
     drained loam in moist valleys. Cones open in autumn but generally are not 
     
     shed until late the following summer. 
     
    

    
     Eastern Hemlock. This tree was once one of the predominant species in 
     
     the province but now exists mainly in localized sites along the steep slopes 
     
     of stream valleys. Seeds are shed during winter but cones remain on the tree 
     
     until the following spring. 
     
    

    
     Balsam Fir. After the spruces, balsam fir is our most common coniferous 
     
     species. It grows on a variety of sites but does best on moist, well-drained 
     
     loam. 
     
    

    
     Eastern White Cedar. This species is found in scattered patches in the 
     
     western part of the province, most often in wet swampy places. Cones ripen 
     
     in late summer and are dropped the following year. 
     
    
   
   
    
     — BY WINIFRED CAIRNS (reprinted from 
     
     the December 1979 NHS newsletter). 
     
    
   
   
    
     _ 9 _