PITCH PINE, OR BLACK PINE 



{Phins rigida Mill.) 



THE pitch pine grows on dry ridges and slopes 

 and in cold swamps and bottoms in the mouti- 

 tains and outlying hilly regions up to about 3,500 

 feet elevation. It occurs scattered, or in small 

 groups with hardwoods or other pines. 



It attains a height commonly 50 to 75 feet and 

 a diameter of 1 to 2 feet. The trunk is erect, and 



PITCH PINE, OR BLACK PINE 

 Oiie-balf natural size. 



at heights of 20 to 30 feet branches into a close 

 head made up of rather large branches and notice- 

 ably thick foliage. It has longer leaves and larger 

 cones, or burrs, and generally a rougher and less 

 straight trunk than the shortleaf pine with which 

 it is often found. 



The leaves, which are found in clusters of 3 each, 

 are 3 to 5 inches long, stiff, dark yellowish green in 

 color and stand out straight from the twigs. They 

 fall during the second year after forming. The cones 

 are 1 to 3 inches long and light brown in color. They 

 usually cling to the branches for several years, 

 sometimes for 10 to 12 years. The bark on the stems 

 and branches is rough. On mature trees it is dark 

 gray or reddish brown, and irregularly divided into 

 broad, flat, continuous ridges. 



The wood is light, soft and brittle. It is sawed 

 into lumber for general construction and is used 

 for fuel. This tree is able to grow on very poor soil 

 and has the capacity, when young, of sprouting suc- 

 cessfully from the base of the stump when burned 

 or cut back. 



