Shortleaf Pine (
Pinusechinata)
DBH 30.0 (cm) measured on 10/09/2020
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Pinus echinata, theshortleaf pine,[2]is a species ofpinenative to theeastern United Statesfrom southernmost New York, south to northernFlorida, west to eastern Oklahoma, and southwest to easternTexas[3]. Shortleaf pine has the largest range of the southern US yellow pines, but reaches its ecological maxima around westernArkansasin theOuachita Mountains. The tree is variable in form, sometimes straight, sometimes crooked, with an irregular crown. Thistreereaches heights of 20–30 metres (65–100ft) with a trunk diameter of 0.5–0.9 metres (1ft 8in–2ft 11in).
Theleavesare needle-like, infascicles(bundles) of two and three mixed together, and from 7–11cm (23⁄4–41⁄4in) long. Theconesare 4–7cm (11⁄2–23⁄4in) long, with thin scales with a transverse keel and a short prickle. They open at maturity but are persistent.[4]Shortleaf pine seedlings develop a persistent J-shaped crook near the ground surface.[5]Axillary and other buds form near the crook and initiate growth if the upper stem is killed by fire or is severed. It frequentlyhybridizesnaturally withloblolly pineandpitch pinewhere their ranges intersect. Hybridization with loblolly pine has become increasingly frequent in recent decades and results in a loss of fire tolerance[6].
This pine is a source ofwood pulp,plywoodveneer, andlumberfor a variety of uses. The shortleaf pine is one of the southern US "southern yellow pines; it is also occasionally called southern yellow pine or the shortstraw pine.
Pinus echinatabark with resin pockets visible as small, ~1 mm diameter depressions. This feature can be used to distinguishP. echinatafrom all other Pinus species within its native range.[7]
This pine occupies a variety of habitats from rocky uplands to wet flood plains. With frequent fire it creates a savanna, with a very diverse under story and prime habitat for thered-cockaded woodpecker[8].