Shortleaf Pine

Although Pinus echinata is highly valued for timber and pulpwood, it is afflicted by root rot. It hybridizes with P . taeda , the pine most commonly associated with it.

This tree is very fast growing and is highly valued as a source of timber and wood pulp. It is also a promising species for afforestation.

Trees to 40m; trunk to 1.2m diam., straight; crown rounded to conic. Bark red-brown, scaly-plated, plates with evident resin pockets. Branches spreading-ascending; 2-year-old branchlets slender (ca. 5mm or less), greenish brown to red-brown, often glaucous, aging red-brown to gray, roughened and cracking below leafy portion. Buds ovoid to cylindric, red-brown, 0.5--0.7(--1)cm, resinous. Leaves 2(--3) per fascicle, spreading-ascending, persistent 3--5 years, (5--)7--11(--13)cm ´ ca. 1mm, straight, slightly twisted, gray- to yellow-green, all surfaces with fine stomatal lines, margins finely serrulate, apex abruptly acute; sheath 0.5--1(--1.5)cm, base persistent. Pollen cones cylindric, 15--20mm, yellow- to pale purple-green. Seed cones maturing in 2 years, semipersistent, solitary or clustered, spreading, symmetric, lanceoloid or narrowly ovoid before opening, ovoid-conic when open, 4--6(--7)cm, red-brown, aging gray, nearly sessile or on stalks to 1cm, scales lacking contrasting dark border on adaxial surfaces distally; umbo central, with elongate to short, stout, sharp prickle. Seeds ellipsoid; body ca. 6mm, gray to nearly black; wing 12--16mm. 2 n =24.

Trees to 40 m tall; trunk to 1.2 m d.b.h. in native range, usually with adventitious sprouts; bark red-brown, plates scaly with evident resin pockets; crown rounded-conical; 2nd-year branchlets greenish brown or red-brown, aging red-brown or gray, slender, to 5 mm in diam., roughened and cracking below leafy portion; winter buds red-brown, ovoid or cylindric, resinous. Needles 2 (or 3) per bundle, gray- or yellow-green, straight, slightly twisted, (5-)7-11(-13) cm × ca. 1 mm, stomatal lines present on all surfaces, base with persistent sheath 0.5-1(-1.5) cm. Seed cones solitary or clustered, subsessile or shortly pedunculate (peduncle to 1 cm), red-brown, aging gray, ovoid-conical when open, 4-7 cm, maturing in 2 years. Seed scales lacking contrasting dark border adaxially distally; umbo with an elongated or stout and short, sharp prickle. Seeds gray or nearly black, ellipsoid, ca. 6 mm; wing 1.2-1.6 cm.

Uplands, dry forests; 200--610m; Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Cultivated. Fujian (Minhou Xian), Jiangsu (Nanjing Shi), Zhejiang (Fuyang Xian) [native to SE United States]