Pine Tree ID Help

bryanmhoff

Guys/Gals,

Our family just purchased a parcel in Western Michigan and there are three trees and 1 shrub i'm trying to ID. Thanks in advance.

1. We have a ton of these pines, seller said the Amish have shown interest in them for building.

2. This section of woods was had a storm hit it pretty hard (possible tornado touch down).

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Eden Keeper

Most likely the pine trees are eastern white pine, Pinus strobus L., the annual whorl of branches is one indicator, the interest for use as a raw material is another, and five needles bundled together would be definitive since the other species of native (2) and non-native (2) pines have only two needles per bundle.
The other trees look like common hackberry, Celtis occidentalis L., and either black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia L., or sassafras, Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees, if not some of each. Respectively they have warty bark, a couple spines at leaf nodes, and green bark on twigs. These, especially the later two since they readily produce root suckers, often grow back quickly and thickly in areas disturbed by storms such as tornadoes and even logging.
The only shrub clearly shown in the photos had thin red somewhat crooked twigs thus it appears to be a gooseberry or current both of which are in the genus Ribes L., but with a dozen species in Michigan, including 3 exotics, this is about as close of a positive identification possible without more definitive keys (like flowers and/or fruit) that may only narrow it down to fewer species. Look for straight spines at each node where a stem grows (the spines are actually modified leaves and the stems may be very short relative to the spines). Most other things (if not all in the area) that may have red twigs are either spineless (like certain dogwoods and maples that also have opposite leaves) or have spines/bristles that are curved and/or at other places on the stem besides at nodes (like brambles).

Chimera

I agree, the pine looks like white pine, although there's an off-chance it could be jack pine.

The trees in the 3rd picture are hard to identify at a distance, but the kind of wrinkly-barked tree just right of center looks like black cherry. Very valuable wood, but not with a tree that small.

The tree in the last picture looks like black locust to me too, but I can't say for sure with only that. That bark could also be some type of elm or maybe even cottonwood. Seed pods or twigs would help.

Brent Ferris

The Pine is definitely White Pine, the last photo the bark reminded me more of Butternut - the other trees need a closer pic on bark, and preferably buds.

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