75 



JERSEY OR SCRUB PINE. 



Pinus virginiana, Miller. 



FORM Usually attains a height of 30-40 ft. with a diameter of 18 inches, but reaches larger 

 dimensions, especially in Indiana. Trunk usually short since the long horizontal or pendulous 

 branches cover it almost to the base. Young trees have a pyramidal form while older trees 

 develop a rather flat-topped conic form. 



BARK On the trunk l-% of an inch thick, dark reddish-brown, shallowly fissured into small 

 flat plates separating into thin film-like scales. Smoother than that of our other native Pines. 

 See Fig. 48. 



TWIGS Slender, tough, flexible, rather smooth, at first greenish-purple and covered with a 

 glaucous bloom, later light grayish-brown. 



BUDS Ovate, sharp-pointed, \-\ of an inch long, covered with overlapping, sharp-pointed, brown 

 scales. 



LEAVES In clusters of 2 with persistent sheath, 1J-3 inches long, twisted, bright green, 

 rather stout, fragrant, sharply thick-pointed, finely toothed, divergent above the sheath, and 

 closely dispersed on twigs. 



FLOWERS Appear in April or May. Staminate flowers crowded at base of growth of season, 

 J of an inch long, oblong, with yellowish-brown anthers. Pistillate flowers appear near the 

 middle of the season's growth and are long-stalked, sub-globose, solitary, or few in a whorl. 



FRUIT A cone, 2-3 inches long, usually sessile, sometimes slightly curved, conical when 

 closed and ovoid when open, seldom persisting for more than 3 or 4 years. Cone-scales thin, 

 nearly flat, thickened at apex, and terminated with a prickle. Seeds rounded, J of an inch 

 long, J of an inch wide, and pale brown. 



WOOD Non-porous; slightly resinous, light, soft, brittle, pale orange, with very light sap- 

 wood. Weighs 33.09 Ibs. per cubic foot. Used for fuel, and to some extent for railroad ties 

 and lumber. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Jersey or Scrub Pine can be distinguished by 

 its short, twisted, and divergent needles distributed in pairs along the smooth, purple, and 

 tough branchlets. The cones are small, with thin rather flat scales and provided with slender 

 prickles. The divergent and twisted needles closely dispersed on the twigs give rather a dis- 

 heveled appearance to them, and permits one to distinguish this tree at a distance since the 

 light of the background is diffused through it so evenly. The bark is smoother than in the 

 other native species of Pine. 



RANGE Southeastern New York and Pennsylvania, south to Georgia and Alabama, west to 

 Indiana and Kentucky. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Found locally throughout the southern part of 

 the State. It is primarily a southern species and extends as far north as Allegheny county in 

 the western part, Clinton and Lycoming counties in the central part, and Northampton county 

 in the eastern part. In Franklin county it is usually found at the base of the mountains, seldom 

 ascending the mountains or extending into the valley. 



HABITAT Common on light sandy or poor rocky soil. It is common on the sand barrens of 

 New Jersey, and on exhausted farm land and cut-over areas. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES It is not of much importance as a timber tree on ac- 

 count of its small size. While it is of little commercial importance still it is of considerable 

 economic value as a roforester of worn-out and neglected lands. For ornamental purposes it has 

 been used very little, other species being preferred. 



