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Pinus rigida
Mill.
Pitch Pine
Pinaceae
Pinus rigida is a coniferous tree in the family Pinaceae. It is native to eastern North America.
Description
Pinus rigida is a medium-sized, often crooked tree, growing up to 25 to 30 m with a trunk that grows up to 0.8 to 1.3 m wide. It forms an open, dome-shaped crown. Branches are horizontal or upswept, with foliage at the tips. Needles are stiff and twisted, typically 7 to 12 cm, but anywhere from 5 to 15 cm in bundles of typically 3 to 4, but occasionally 2 to 5. They are yellowish green with conspicuous bands (which are stomata) on both sides of the leaves, and they persist on the tree for 2 to 3 but sometimes 4 years. Sheaths are 9 to 20 mm long, persistent. Buds are 10 to 20 mm long, and are resinous. The bark is reddish to grayish brown, with narrow furrows and long scaly plates. Twigs are orangish brown, sometimes slightly waxy and are hairless. Pollen cones are 18 to 30 mm, pale yellowish brown. Seed cones are typically 5 to 8 cm long, egg-shaped or broadly egg-shaped, and on a stout stalk up to 15 mm long. They are green, ripening to orangish brown. Cones have 90 to 140 scales that are paddle-shaped, stiff. The exposed face is diamond-shaped and pyramidal with a diamond-shaped umbo and a sharp prickle. These cones open after maturity and stay on the tree. Seeds are 4 to 6 mm long, with a non-detachable wing that is 15 to 20 mm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
Pond pine (Pinus serotina) is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of this species. The two can be distinguished from other species in having shoots growing from the trunk that have needles (Eckenwalder 2009); these appear like the needles are growing directly from the trunk (Sibley 2009). Pinus rigida has needles typically 7 to 12 cm long, 2 cm long pollen cones, and cones on a slightly shorter stalk opening after maturity with a persistent prickle. On the other hand, Pinus serotina has needles typically 13 to 16 cm long, 3 cm long pollen cones, and cones on a slightly longer stalk with weaker prickles that only open after fire. The two species readily hybridize where their ranges overlap (Eckenwalder 2009).
Pond pine (Pinus serotina) is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of this species. The two can be distinguished from other species in having shoots growing from the trunk that have needles (Eckenwalder 2009); these appear like the needles are growing directly from the trunk (Sibley 2009). Pinus rigida has needles typically 7 to 12 cm long, 2 cm long pollen cones, and cones on a slightly shorter stalk opening after maturity with a persistent prickle. On the other hand, Pinus serotina has needles typically 13 to 16 cm long, 3 cm long pollen cones, and cones on a slightly longer stalk with weaker prickles that only open after fire. The two species readily hybridize where their ranges overlap (Eckenwalder 2009).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Pinus rigida is cold-hardy, but otherwise does not grow very straight. Its wood is grown in some places, like Korea (Eckenwalder 2009). It is, however, high in resin and thus decay resistant, so it is used in railroad ties. It is also not cultivated often, except to rejuvenate wastelands (Farjon 2013).
Distribution
Pinus rigida is found in a variety of habitats, often sandy or gravelly and nutrient-poor, at up to 1400 m. At the northern end of its range, it occupies sandy shores at sea level, while at the southern end of its range, it grows with oaks (Quercus spp.) or other pine species like Pinus virginiana, Pinus pungens, and Pinus echinata. In some areas, such as New Jersey, it grows in swamps. It is native from Maine to South Carolina and Georgia, as well as extreme southern Ontario and Quebec (Farjon 2013).
Status
Pinus rigida is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern", since it has a very wide distribution. According to the IUCN the population of this species is increasing (Farjon 2013). More recently, however, climate change has caused the range of the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) to expand; in Long Island, southern pine beetle infestations have caused significant declines for this species (Heuss et al. 2019).
References
Eckenwalder, J. E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference. Portland: Timber Press.
Farjon, A. 2013. Pinus rigida. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42411A2978217.en.
Heuss, M., D’amato, A. W., and Dodds, K. J. 2019. Northward expansion of southern pine beetle generates significant alterations to forest structure and composition of globally rare Pinus rigida forests. Forest Ecology and Management 434: 119–130.
Sibley, D. A. 2009. The Sibley Guide to Trees. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Farjon, A. 2013. Pinus rigida. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42411A2978217.en.
Heuss, M., D’amato, A. W., and Dodds, K. J. 2019. Northward expansion of southern pine beetle generates significant alterations to forest structure and composition of globally rare Pinus rigida forests. Forest Ecology and Management 434: 119–130.
Sibley, D. A. 2009. The Sibley Guide to Trees. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Description
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