Tree Identification
From TreeHugger (Hilary Allison)
Trees With Clustered Needles
If the needles are bunched together, you can assume the tree is either pine or larch. Pine trees have clusters or bundles of two to five needles and are evergreen. Larches also have clusters of two to five needles. Unlike pine trees, larches are deciduous, meaning they lose their needles in the fall.
Trees With Single Needles
Trees with single needles are typically spruces, firs, cypress, or hemlocks. Spruce and fir have their needles attached individually to the branches. Spruce needles are sharp, pointed, and often four-sided.
Trees With Scaly Leaves
Evergreen conifers may also have foliage borne off the twig in the form of scaly leaves. These are cedars and junipers.
Cedar leaves grow on flattened sprays or all around the twig. They're typically less than a half-inch long and may be prickly.
Excerpt “conifer confusion…”
Without doubt, the most important information to identify whether a tree is pine, spruce, or fir is observed in the needles.
Pine needles
Always grow in clusters from a single origin point on a branch.
Are often sensually soft and tend to grow to greater lengths than other conifers.
Always grow in clusters of 2 (red pines), 3 (yellow pines), or 5 (white pines).
Spruce needles
Like my favorite cocktails, these needles tend to be short and stiff.
Unlike the needles of a pine, these tend to grow from a single origin point and are attached to small, stalk-like woody projections.
Needles are often square and can easily be rolled between fingertips when removed.
fir needles
Needles are soft and flat.
Grow from a single point of origin like a spruce, but are attached to the branch in a manner resembling a suction cup.
When the needles are removed they do not leave behind a woody projection.
Tend to have two white stripes on the bottom of each needle.
Pine characteristics
Branches tend to be upturned, but are fewer in quantity than on a spruce or a fir.
Tend to grow from a single, circular area on the trunk of the tree.
Cones often begin developing with a green color, then turn reddish-brown or black.
Fully developed cones are stiff and woody, and certainly inflexible. While developing, cones hang towards the ground.
Spruce characteristics
Branches tend to grow in an upturned direction.
Cones tend to develop into a smooth and flexible shape, with thin scales. Cones hang towards the ground.
For CHARACTERISTICS
Possess wide lower branches and develop into more of a downturned shape.
Cones can be purple, green, or blue, before changing to a golden brown.
Most notably, cones grow upwards like candle flames.