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Pinus virginiana
Mill.
Virginia Pine
Pinaceae
Pinus virginiana is a coniferous tree in the family Pinaceae. It is native to eastern North America.
Description
Pinus virginiana is a medium-sized tree, growing up to 20 to 35 m with a trunk that grows up to 0.5 to 1 m wide. It forms a rounded, irregular crown, with many dead branches. Branches are outstretched, irregularly oriented, persistent. Needles are stiff and somewhat twisted, typically 4 to 7 cm in bundles of 2. They are yellowish green to dark green with many bands (which are stomata) on both sides of the leaves, and they persist on the tree for 2 to 4 years. Sheaths are 3 to 10 mm long, and are persistent. Buds are 6 to 10 mm long, and are slightly resinous with white-fringed scales. The bark is orangish brown and flaky when young, aging to grayish brown, with shallow furrows and long scaly plates. Twigs are reddish to purple brown, sometimes slightly waxy and are hairless. Pollen cones are 10 to 20 mm, yellowish brown. Seed cones are 3 to 9 cm long, symmetrically egg-shaped to conical, and 1 cm long. They are green, ripening to reddish brown. Cones have 50 to 120 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 to release their seeds and stay on the tree. Seeds are typically 4 to 5 mm long, with an easily detachable wing that is 15 to 20 mm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
Sand pine (Pinus clausa) is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of this species. Pinus virginiana has shorter leaves typically 4 to 7 cm long, cones opening after maturity, and longer, more slender prickles, while Pinus clausa has longer leaves typically 5 to 9 cm long, cones sometimes opening after fires, with shorter, stouter prickles (Eckenwalder 2009).
Sand pine (Pinus clausa) is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of this species. Pinus virginiana has shorter leaves typically 4 to 7 cm long, cones opening after maturity, and longer, more slender prickles, while Pinus clausa has longer leaves typically 5 to 9 cm long, cones sometimes opening after fires, with shorter, stouter prickles (Eckenwalder 2009).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Pinus virginiana is a scrubby tree that is not useful for lumber, but it can be grown for pulp, fuelwood, and biomass in areas that are too poor for other pines to grow. It is also sometimes grown for Christmas trees (Eckenwalder 2009; Farjon 2013).
Distribution
Pinus virginiana is found in a variety of habitats, usually nutrient-poor and often fire-prone (Eckenwalder 2009), at up to 650 m. At the northern end of its range, it grows along the coast; inland and in the south, it grows in the Appalachian Mountains, in woods, and in marginal or disturbed sites. It grows with oaks (Quercus spp.) and other pine species like Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, and Pinus taeda. It is native to eastern North America, from New York to Mississippi (Farjon 2013).
Status
Pinus virginiana 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 as it is colonizing abandoned farmland (Farjon 2013).
References
Eckenwalder, J. E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference. Portland: Timber Press.
Farjon, A. 2013. Pinus virginiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42426A2979266.en.
Farjon, A. 2013. Pinus virginiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42426A2979266.en.
Description
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