Long-leaf Pine

(Pinus palustris)

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Long-leaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

Identifying Characters: The very long needles and cones and the needles in bundles of 3 are characteristic of this species. The buds of non-growing season individuals are a distinctive white.

Similar Species: Long-leaf Pine might be confused with three other species in its native range; Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda), Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii), and Pond Pine (Pinus serotina). Usually the needles and cones are longer than in any of these three species. The needles of Slash Pine are usually in bundles of 2, although bundles of 3 also exist. The cones of Loblolly Pine are only 2 to 6 inches long (not the 6 to 10 inches of Long-leaf Pine and the cone is rounder and less elongate. The cones of Pond Pine are only 2 to 2.5 inches in length and again the needles are generally shorter (6 to 8 inches long) relative to the 8 to 18 inch length of Lonf-leaf Pine.

Measurements: Height of mature trees 75 to 120 feet; diameter 2 to 3 feet in diameter.

Cones: Cones are elongate, widest at the base and tapering to the apex, and slightly curved; cone length 6 to 10 inches long; each cone scale with a small apical spine.

Needles: Needles in bundles 3, slender, flexible, and dark green; needle length 8 to 18 inches; bundle sheaths retained into the second year; needles shed after their second year.

Bark: Bark dark red-brown, broken into large thin plates.

Native Range: The natural range of Long-leaf Pine includes most of the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains from southeastern Virginia to eastern Texas and south through the northern two-thirds of peninsular Florida. The species also grows in the Piedmont, Ridge and Valley, and Mountain Provinces of Alabama and northwest Georgia. (Silvics of North America. 1990. Agriculture Handbook 654.)

Habitat: Long-leaf Pine occurs primarily in the coastal plain of the southeastern United States in an areas dominated by hot summers and moderate winters. The species occurs in a wide variety of habitats ranging from poorly drained lowlands to high, dry, and exposed mountain ridges.