SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF SLASH PINE 

 By Wilbur R. Mattoon^ 



The silviculttiral and economic importance of Slash pine (Pinus 

 caribaea Morelet) in second-growth Southern forests, although 

 clearly indicated nearly a quarter of a century ago,^ has somehow 

 quite escaped general recognition among foresters. This is the 

 species formerly called "Cuban" pine {Pinus heierophylla (Ell) 

 Sudworth), but now officially designated as above by the United 

 States Forest Service. 



Its natural range, occurring within the great Southern pine 

 belt, where the supply of virgin timber has been looked upon as al- 

 most unlimited, accoimts quite largely for the general lack of 

 information regarding the merits of Slash pine for forest manage- 

 ment. Intensive silvicultural studies, starting years ago in the 

 North with White pine, Balsam fir, spruce, and Northern hard- 

 woods, have progressed southward successively to include cotton- 

 wood. Yellow poplar, White ash, Shortleaf and Loblolly pines. 

 Recently studies of second growth and yield have been started 

 in the Southern pineries of Longleaf and Slash pines. The 

 above-mentioned species, it will be noted, undoubtedly include the 

 majority of those which, owing to favorable qualities, will furnish 

 the bulk of the future timber supply of Eastern United States. 

 Another reason for the failure of the species to gain general 

 recognition is the difficulty experienced in distinguishing young^ 

 Slash from young Loblolly and older-aged Slash from Longleaf 

 pine. The first of these is known to be very common among all 

 classes of persons, including those of technical training. Charac- 

 teristically the yoimg Slash pine of the "old field " is very generally 

 known by that name throughout its range, whether on abandoned 

 fields or cut-over forest lands. Unfortunately the species has passed 

 through a series of many changes in nomenclature which even now is 

 not complete, since botanists differ as to the existence of one or 

 more distinct species of Slash pine.^ 



1 Research Department, U. S. Forest Service, Washington, D. C. 



2 Dr. Charles Mohr. Forest Service Bulletin 13, "Timber Pines of the 

 Southern United States." 



3 Sargent, Britton, Sudworth and Shaw recognize but one species, while 

 Harper and Small believe there are two distinct species of Slash pine. The 

 case is similar to that of Bald cypress {Taxodium distichum). 



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