71 



PITCH PINE. 



Pinus rigida, Miller. 



FORM Usually attains a height of 40-50 ft. and a diameter of 1-2 ft. and seldom exceeds 70- 

 80 ft. in height and 3i ft. in diameter. Trunk rather tapering except in occasional pure and 

 closed stands. Opeu grown trees have an irregular wide pyramidal crown. Branches numerous, 

 irregular, gnarled, often drooping, and covered by small plate-like scales and numerous persistent 

 cones. Crown is often so irregular and scraggy in appearance that it becomes picturesque. 



BARK On young branches green and smooth soon becoming yellowish, later grayish-brown 

 and roughened by persistent bases of the bud-scales. On young trunks roughened with red- 

 di&h -brown scales, with age becoming rougher through deep furrows and flat ridges which 

 separate into thin reddish-brown scales. The scales sometimes appear black, whence the name 

 Nigger Pine. See Fig. 46. 



TWIGS Stout, brittle, smooth, brown and very rough on account of persistent elevated and 

 decurrent bases upon which the leaf-clusters rested. 



BUDS Ovate, sharp-pointed, often resinous, 1-1 of an inch long, covered with imbricated, 

 loose, brown, and shining scales. 



LEAVES In sheathed clusters of 3, stout, rigid, dull-pointed, closely and sharply toothed, 

 at first light green, later yellowish-green, 2J-5 inches long, with stomata on all sides, and 

 contain 2 fibro-vascular bundles and 3-7 resin-ducts. 



FLOWERS Appear in April or May. Staminate flowers clustered at base of new growth 

 of season, are cylindrical, yellow, J of an inch long, and produce an enormous amount of 

 pollen. Pistillate flowers solitary or clustered, lateral on new growth, at first green, later 

 tinged with red. 



FRUIT A cone maturing in 2 seasons, l$-3i inches long, sessile or short-stalked, ovate, 

 occurs solitary or whorled, often stands at right angles to the branch, and persists for 10 or more 

 years. Cone scales thickened at apex, armed with short rigid recurved prickles. Seeds winged, 

 dull or glossy black, sometimes mottled with gray or red dots. 



WOOD Non-porous: resinous, light, brittle, coarse-grained, rather durable, brownish-red with 

 abundant lighter sapwood. Weighs 32.10 Ibs. per cubic foot. Used for railroad ties, charcoal, 

 mine props, fuel, sometimes for construction timber and lumber. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Pitch Pine, also known as Jack Pine and Nigger 

 Pine, is the only native Pine of Pennsylvania with leaves in sheathed clusters of 3. The 

 Yellow Pine may occasionally have the needles in clusters of 3, but usually 2. Pitch Pine has a 

 very irregular and scraggy appearance due to the dead and gnarled branches which are often 

 covered with clusters of persistent cones. The bark is thick and irregularly fissured with In- 

 tervening flat ridges which separate into thin reddish-brown sometimes black scales. Trunks 

 are often fire scarred. Such trunks are frequently covered with dense mats or clusters of 

 leaves and short branches. 



RANGE New Brunswick to Lako Ontario on the north, south to Virginia and along moun- 

 tains to Georgia, and west to western New York, Kentucky and Tennessee. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Found in practically all parts of the State, but rare 

 and local in the southeastern and southwestern parts. Occurs in excellent pure stands at the base 

 of the South Mountains in Franklin county, and in Pike county. Sparse in the rich agricultural 

 sections of the State. In many regions it occurs only as a scattered tree mixed with hardwoods. 



HABITAT Common on dry burned-over areas, sterile plains, gravelly slopes, rocky cliffs, 

 and sometimes found in swamps. In the glaciated area it is common on rocky glacial soil. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES From a commercial point of view this species is not so 

 important as the White Pine or the Red Pine, but It is gradully growing in importance since 

 new uses are found for the wood and prices of other woods are rising. Silviculturally it is 

 valuable on account of its adapatability to poor soil and its fire resisting qualities. These 

 qualities recommend it for reforesting neglected or fire endangered lands on mountain slopes 

 as well as low sandy areas. It may not be the species ultimately desired upon the area, but 

 may act as a shelter during the establishment of a stand of a more valuable species. 



