PINAGEAE 



LoNGLEAF Pine 



Pinus palustris Mill. {Pinus australis Michx.) 



HABIT. A medium-sized tree 80-120 feet high and 2-3 feet 

 in diameter (max. 150 by 4 feet); long ,clear bole; small, open 

 crown with needles in dense tufts at ends of branches. 



LEAVES. In fascicles of 3; 8-18 inches long; slender; flexible; 

 bright green; persistent 2 years; basal sheath persistent. Vi X.o Yz 

 inch long. 



FLOWERS. Male dark rose-purple; female dark purple. 



FRUIT. Nearly sessile; 6-10 inches long; narrowly ovoid- 

 cylindric; opening at maturity; in falling, leaving basal scales 

 attached to twig; red-brown; scales thin, with an incurved 

 prickle. Seeds: Vz inch long, pale with dark blotches; wings 

 1 Yi inches long. 



TWIGS. Very stout, the terminal leader up to 1 inch in 

 diameter; roughened by leaf bases; orange-brown. Winter 

 buds: Vz-^ inch long, conspicuously white, covered by silvery, 

 lustrous, fringed scales which make the bud remarkably resistant 

 to fire. 



BARK. Thin, becoming M to l|/2 inches thick on old stems; 

 orange-brown; in rough, scaly plates. 



WOOD. Very important; heavy, hard, and strong; used for 

 construction timbers, lumber, flooring, boxes, ties, posts, poles, 

 etc. ; the chief source of naval stores. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Very intolerant; growth gen- 

 erally slow; maturity reached in about 150 years with extreme 

 age of 300 years; practically no above ground growth for 3-6 

 years while taproot becoming established; windfirm with deep 

 taproot system; reproduction vigorous and plentiful; very re- 

 sistant to fire and disease. 



HABITAT. On variety of sites but typical of dry, sterile, 

 sandy sites; usually in pure stands or with scrub oak. The only 

 tree that will produce timber over much of its range. 



GENERAL. A hybrid between longleaf and loblolly pines 

 has been named Pinus sondereggeri H. H. Chap. This has been 

 reported as not uncommon in Louisiana, North Carolina, and 

 Texas. 



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