71 



PITCH PINE. 



Pinus rigida, Miller. 



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

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

 closed stands. Open 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. 



BASK— 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- 

 dish-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 Pig. 46. 



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

 decnrrent bases upon which the leaf-clusters rested. 



BUDS — Ovate, sharp-pointed, often resinous, }-J 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 yellowlsh-grccn. 2i-5 Inches long, with stomaU on all sides, and 

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



FLOWEES — Appear In April or May. Stamlnate flowers clustered at base of new growth 



of season, are cylindrical, yellow, i 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, 14-3} Inches long, sessile or short-stalked, ovate, 

 occurs solitary or whorled, often stands at rlglit 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. lu lbs. per cubic foot. Used for railroad ties, charcoal, 

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



DISTINGUISHING CHAKACTERISTICS— "^he Pitch Pine, also known as Jack Pine and .Vigger 

 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 somelinies black scales. Trunks 

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

 leaves and short branches. 



EANGE — New Brunswick to Lake 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. Occurs 

 in excellent pure stands at the base of the South Mountains In Franklin county, and In Pika 

 county. 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 graduUy 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 Are 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. 



