The leaves are spirally disposed and are linear and needlelike. The male or microsporangiate strobili are small, terminal, or more often clustered along the stem axis, and consist of many papery microsporophylls, each with two microsporangia on the lower surface. The pollen grains typically have two, bladderlike wings. The female cones or megasporangiate strobili are woody and often large, consisting of many ovuliferous scales, each with a pair of adaxial ovules and a more or less distinct subtending bract. Pinus lambertiana , sugar pine.
Pines can grow to be very large.
Though not visible in this photo, this species has woody female cones a foot or more in length that hang from the tips of the spreading branches. Pinus ponderosa , ponderosa pine. Different species of pines have from 1-5 needles in a tightly spiralled cluster enveloped by a membranous sheath. This is a so-called 3 needle pine. Pinus longaeva , bristlecone pine.