Conifers all have cones that contain their seeds.  Most are evergreens, the tamarack is not.  The tamarack turns a wonderful golden yellow before it drops its needles in the fall.

Pines
   White Pine  (Pinus Strobus) (Wiki Link)
   Red/Norway Pine  (Pinus resinosa) (Wiki Link)
   Jack Pine  (Pinus banksiana) (Wiki Link)
   Scots/Scotch Pine  (Pinus sylvestris) (Wiki Link) Non-native, locally naturalized

Balsam Fir  (Abies balsamea) (Wiki Link)

Hemlock  (Tsuga canadensis) (Wiki Link)

Spruce
   White Spruce  (Picea glauca) (Wiki Link)
   Black Spruce  (Picea mariana) (Wiki Link)

Tamarack/Larch  (Larix laricina) (Wiki Link)


Simple Key to Three Lakes Conifers:
   1- Needles attached to twig in bundles of 2 or 5 - Pines  --> go to 4
   2- Needles attached singly to twig --> go to 7
   3- Needles attached in spurs of many needles --> Tamarack
       In the winter the bare branches are bumpy with the many spurs.

   4a- Needles in groups of 2 --> go to 5
   4b- Needles in groups of 5 --> White Pine

   5a- Needles less than 3 inches long  --> go to 6
   5b- Needles 3 inches or longer  --> Red Pine

   6a- Tree bark universally gray from base to top --> Jack Pine
   6b- Tree bark yellowish orange at top of tree and branch ends  --> Scots Pine

   7a- single needles flat (they will slide between your fingers) --> go to 8
   7b- single needles square (they will roll between your fingers) - Spruce  --> go to 9

   8a- Flat needles attach to tree with swollen pads without a thin stem; tree Bark greenish gray, smooth except for "pitch blisters"; tip top of tree points straight up  --> Balsam Fir
   8b- Flat needles attach to tree with thin stems; older tree bark is cracked and scaly; tip top of tree droops to the side  --> Hemlock

   9a- Square needles longer than 1/2 inch; high ground --> White Spruce
   9b- Square needless less than 1/2 inch; often wet ground  --> Black Spruce

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