Dark Pines: ‘The tension is unrelenting, and I can’t wait for Tuva’s next outing.’ - Val McDermid: A Tuva Moodyson Mystery 1 (The Tuva Moodyson Mysteries)

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You swear," I said, "to be harmless; but have you not already shown a degree of malice that should reasonably make me distrust you? May not even this be a feint that will increase your triumph by affording a wider scope for your revenge?" There are about 111 species of pine tree in the genus Pinus, although some taxonomy authorities offer a higher or lower count.

However, as we’ve seen in season 1, Three Pines’ writers have already created their own mysteries for Armand Gamache to solve as only one of the four mysteries shares a title with one of Penny’s novels, The Cruellest Month. The easiest way to tell a pine tree apart from a spruce or fir tree is by looking at their needles. During his long literary career, Neruda produced more than forty volumes of poetry, translations, and verse drama. Also called the umbrella pine or parasol pine, the two-needled pine tree grows up to 80 ft. (25 m) tall. Unlike other pines that live for hundreds, even thousands of years, the Italian stone pine has a relatively short life—only 150 years. Pine tree identificationAnother medium-sized species in the genus Pinus is the chir pine. The pine has slender, yellowish-green needles that grow in bundles of three. The needles are long, reaching a length of 8 to 14 inches (20 – 35 cm). It has an attractive cone- or dome-shaped canopy. Sand pines are common Florida pine trees that thrive in coastal regions and are often seen growing on sand dunes. The pine trees grow best in USDA zones 9 and 10. Pine tree identification Most pine and spruce conifer species tend to have upturned branches. This branch growth helps to distinguish them from conifers like firs as their branches are usually downward turned.

The Table Mountain pine has horizontally-spreading branches and an irregular or rounded canopy. Its bark is scaly and has a red- to gray-brown shade. This pine is native to the Appalachian Mountains, United States. Other names for the mugo pine include creeping pine, dwarf mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine, and bog pine. Pine tree identification The gray pine tree is a relatively short pine species, growing 36 to 45 ft. (11 – 14 m) tall. The drought-tolerant pine adapts well to desert conditions and grows well in most soil types. Additionally, the tree has a slightly weeping appearance due to the sparse, drooping needles growing on wiry branches. Pine tree identification Pine tree cones usually grow downwards (left picture) whereas those of fir trees (right picture) grow upwards The Douglas pine has a pyramidal crown when young and a round crown when it matures. Its bark is red-brown, initially smooth and gradually becoming rough and scaly as the tree ages. This pine tree is native to Mexico and is known for its good timber quality.Species of bristlecone pines grow to between 8 and 20 ft. (2 – 6 m). Leaves are needle-like and are 1.5” (4 cm) long and have a bluish-green color. Fir tree branches have a more downturned shape when compared to spruce or pine branches. Spruce Identification (With Pictures)

The identifying features of the five-needled, great basin bristlecone pine are its bristly ovoid cones, deep green needles featuring a white band, and its broad trunk measuring up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) in diameter. Wollemi pine is a prized ornamental plant, well suited to north-facing gardens and shaded conservatories.Another way to distinguish fir needles from other conifers is by the 2 whitish lines on their underside. These silvery-white stomatal bands can give some fir trees a bluish, silvery appearance. This often contrasts with the deep green color of the upper side of fir tree foliage.

The limber pine tree is identified by its smooth, light-gray, sometimes dark bark, reddish-brown twigs, 5-needled fascicles, and cylindric pale red to yellowish-red cones. Needles on the brownish twigs grow in pairs and are described as “stout, long pine needles.” Its branches are dense with pine needles and its bushy growth can provide shade. Fir and spruce conifers are similar in appearance and may be difficult to tell apart just by looking at pictures. If you see images of cones growing on conifers, firs trees are the ones where cones grow erect, not hang down. Wollemi pines live for an extremely long time, some of the oldest living trees around today are thought to be between 500 and 1,000 years old.The Mexican yellow pine is a medium- to large-sized pine that can reach a height of 115 ft. (35 m). It is known for its gray-brown, egg-shaped cones with a flat base. The pine has yellowish-green, straight, rigid needles growing in bundles of four to five.