75. PINUS MITIS SHORT-LEAF PINE. 43 



75. PINUS MITIS, MICHX.* 

 SHORT-LEAF PINE, YELLOW PINE, SPRUCE PINE. 



Ger., Kurznadelige Fichte ; Fr., Pin de feuilles courtes ; Sp., Pino con 



hojas certas. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves in twos (or exceptionally in threes) slender, mostly 

 3-5 inches long and with close, elongated sheathes, about inch in length. Cones 

 ovoid or oblong, scarcely 2 inches in length (which is about twice the width) with 

 short peduncles, borne laterally and usually singly or in pairs; scales thickened at 

 the end and furnished with a small, weak prickle, which in the young and closed 

 cones projects nearly at right-angles to the axis of the cone. 



(Mitis is the Latin for mild, soft, doubtless in allusion to the weak, deciduous 

 nature of the prickles or perhaps to the delicate, soft nature of the foliage as com- 

 pared with some of the other pines.) 



A tree of straight habit of growth, sometimes attaining the height of 

 80 ft. (24 m.) or more and 3 or 4 ft. (1 m.) in diameter of trunk, with 

 rather spreading top and scant foliage. It is distinguishable by its small 

 cones and reddish bark which checks at maturity into broad irregular 

 ridges or patches and flakes away in time in thin scales. It is moderately 

 supplied with pitch. 



HABITAT. A tree of wide distribution being found from south-eastern 

 New York and Connecticut southward to Florida and westward to Kan- 

 sas and Texas, growing usually on dry, sandy uplands. It is most abun- 

 dant in north-eastern Texas and the adjoining regions of Louisiana, 

 Arkansas and Indian Territory. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood rather heavy, hard, coarse-grained, com- 

 pact and comparatively easily worked: of a light orange color with lighter 

 sap-wood. Specific Gravity, 0.6104; Percentage of Ash, 0.29; Relative 

 Approximate Fuel Value, 0.6086; Coefficient of Elasticity, 137495; Modu- 

 lus of Rupture, 1038; Resistance to Longitudinal Pressure, 477; Resist- 

 ance to Indentation, 129; Weight of a Cubic Foot in Pounds, 38.04. 



USES. Extensively employed for lumber for general building pur- 

 poses, interior finishing, flowering, etc. Considerable resin and turpen- 

 tine are derived from this tree. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES are not claimed of this tree excepting those 

 found in the turpentine, etc., derived from it. 



*Pinus echinata, Miller. 



