Pitch Pine
Pinus rigida Mill.
Also known as Hard Pine or Black Pine.
Mature Size: 50 to 60 feet in height and 1 to 2 feet in diameter.
Form: Irregular, ragged yet picturesque crown; branches often thick, contorted and pendulous.
Habitat: Dry ridges and slopes, river valleys and mountain swamps.
Needles
3 to 6 inches long, rigid, dark yellow-green, somewhat twisted, in clusters of 3; tufts of needles often grow along the larger branches and trunk.
Flowers
Males cylindrical, red to yellow, in large clusters at twig tips; females yellow to red, with small, curved scales.
Cones
1¼ to 2¾ inches long; scales tipped with curved, rigid spines; may remain closed on the tree for more than 10 years, or until opened by the heat of a fire.
Bark
Broken into thick, plate-like scales, yellowish-brown on older trees.
Twigs
Orange-brown and moderately thick; buds narrowly egg-shaped, light gray-brown.
Values and Uses
Pitch pine wood is used for lumber and pulp and was once an important source of resin. As with other pines, the seeds are a source of wildlife food, and young growth is browsed by deer and rabbits.
Did You Know?
The common name comes from the high resin content of the wood. Knots were once burned as torches. This tree is fire-adapted and young trees can resprout from roots or stumps if injured.
Last modified: Monday, 10-Mar-2008 16:22:57 EDT