Maine The Pine Tree State
| State Capital: Augusta State Nickname: Pine Tree State State Motto: Dirigo ("I lead") State Bird: Chickadee State Floral: White pine cone & tassel State Fossil: Pertica quadrifaria |
State Cat: Maine Coon Cat State Fish: Landlocked Salmon State Insect: Honeybee State Tree: White Pine State Animal: Moose State Gemstone: Tourmaline |
Maine the pine tree state. Maine was given this because of the extensive pine forests that have covered a vast majority of the state. Maine's White Pine is considered to be the largest conifer in the northeastern United States and some of the tallest trees in eastern North America grow in Maine. The White Pine has played an important part in the history of Maine and has been given appropriate recognition. In the early days of colonization, the tall White Pines of Maine were valued for ship's masts.
When Maine chose a state floral emblem in 1895, it chose the White Pine Cone and Tassel. The White Pine Cone and Tassel is not, biologically, a flower. The pine cone is known as a strobilus. In fact, one could say that Maine is the only state to have an Official State Strobilus. The White Pine, the Official State Tree, is also present on the Great Seal of Maine and, by way of the seal, on the State Flag.
