White Pine

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/pinus/strobus.htm

WHITE PINE: Pinus strobus

How to Identify
The white pine needles usually come in bundles, called fascicles, of 5 with a deciduous sheath. They are flexible, bluish-green, finely serrated, and 2–5 inches long, and persist for usually about 18 months.

Uses
Lumber: The eastern (or northern) white pine's lumber is historically one of the preferred woods used in making masts, back in an age where sailing ships were more prevalent. The wood was reserved for use by the British Royal Navy. The lumber produced is of a softer variety than other kinds of pines and wood in general, for this reason, at present, white pine is mostly used for smaller more intricate woodworking.

Medicinal/Edible Properties: -Eastern white pine needles contain five times the amount of Vitamin C of lemons and make an excellent tisane. The cambium is edible. It is also a source of resveratrol. -The tar produced from a slow burn of the white pine root, when mixed with beer, can be used to remove tapeworms or round worms. When mixed with sulfur, the tar can be used to treat dandruff. This tar can also be processed into turpentine. -The young staminate cones were stewed by the Ojibwe Indians with meat and were said to be sweet and not pitchy. In addition, the seeds are sweet and nutritious, but not as tasty as those of some of the western nut pines. -Pine resin has been used to waterproof baskets, pails, and boats. The Chippewa also used pine resin to successfully treat infections and even gangrenous wounds. This is because pine resin apparently has a number of quite efficient antimicrobials. Generally a wet pulp from the inner bark was applied to wounds, or pine tar mixed with beeswax or butter and used as a salve was, to prevent infection.