Maine White Pine Cone and Tassel
| 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's White Pine Cone and Tassel: The white pine cone and tassel (Pinus strobus, linnaeus) was adopted by Maine's Legislature in 1895 as the official state flower. The White pine is considered to be the largest conifer in the northeastern United States.
The White pine is considered to be the largest conifer in the northeastern United States. The Leaves are commonly refered to as needles. They are soft, flexible and bluish-green to silver green in color and grow in bundles of five. The Needles are about 2-5 inches long and usually fall from the tree at the end of the second growing season. The Maine White Pine flowers or more commonly known as the "pine cone" are about 4-8 inches long, usually slightly curved. They take about 2 years to mature. Once mature they will open to discharge the seed. Maine White Pine Cone scales are thin and never have prickles. Each scale usually bears two winged seeds as do all native pines. Cones also have a fragrant gummy resin that smells pleasent to some people.
