Have you ever seen this?

[bonhe]

I have about 55 seedling Korean black pines which were given to me by my friend. They are in their second years now. Today I found some weird thing in one of them. This tree I took its picture on 6/19/09 because I found it had developed another shoot for this year. You can see in 1st pic. where the tip of chopstick directed was the border between last year and this year growth.
2nd picture was taken today. Surprisingly, the new shoot has 3 needle in a bunch instead of 2 needles as it was in the previous stage! What is happening here? Bonhe

 

[banzaibonsai]

Certain types of pines will have needles in pairs of 2 and 3 on the same tree. This is normal.

 

[Vance Wood]

It has been my experience on Mugo Pines in the instances where the tree throws three needles it is beginning to push a new bud. Look carefully between the three needles and see if you do not see the beginnings of a new bud peeking out. Usually the three needles are much longer than the others as well.

 

[bonhe]

Certain types of pines will have needles in pairs of 2 and 3 on the same tree. This is normal.

Can you tell me what kinds of pines are they? Can you explain why this is normal? Thank you.

It has been my experience on Mugo Pines in the instances where the tree throws three needles it is beginning to push a new bud. Look carefully between the three needles and see if you do not see the beginnings of a new bud peeking out. Usually the three needles are much longer than the others as well.

Thanks Vance. It's interesting! so, you see new bud where 3 needles coming out. Today, I took a look this pine again. I didn't find any new buds yet, but found one thing: those bundles emerging from the sites with one flat needle (pic.1).

and other shoot in the same tree has only 2 needles in bundles (pic.2)

Whole shoot with 3 needles in bundles (pic.3)

Bonhe

 

[mapleman77]

it seems as though this is shoot is a young, juvenile shoot that's trying to be a mature shoot at the same time. It has characteristics of both; the single lower needle is thinner than the mature needles with the fascicle on the other two.

 

[Vance Wood]

it seems as though this is shoot is a young, juvenile shoot that's trying to be a mature shoot at the same time. It has characteristics of both; the single lower needle is thinner than the mature needles with the fascicle on the other two.

That's true, that is happening as well. However; at least from what I have seen you will see the beginning of a forming bud force an extra needle from the cluster of two in a normal situation before the bud actually appears. This is not always the case, a bud can pop where there are no needles at all. The rule I seem to encounter is this: When you see a normal cluster of needles grouped in twos one day and several days latter you notice that one or more seem to have developed three needles you can just about bet money there are new buds on the way. This is true with Mugos and Scots Pine, both of which I have had more than a little experience with.

 

[banzaibonsai]

Can you tell me what kinds of pines are they? Can you explain why this is normal? Thank you.

I know for sure that shortleaf pine needles are borne in 2's and 3's at the same time on many trees, ponderosa pine in 3's or 2's sometimes, and loblolly pine in 3's or 2' occasionaly. Not sure about korean black pine, I missed that part, sorry if I caused any confusion.

 

[bonhe]

Hi Mapleman, Vance and Banzaibonsai, thanks a lot for more information. I will continue watching it and will update this issue later. Bonhe