Longleaf pine
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Longleaf Pine
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Coniferophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae Genus: Pinus Species: palustris
Binomial name
Pinus palustris

The Longleaf Pine, Pinus palustris, is one of the two southern pines with long needles. These remarkably long needles, bundled in threes, are about 25 to 35 cm in length and are sometimes twisted. These trees reach a height of about 100 meters and a diameter of 0.8 meters. The cones are 15 to 25 cm in length and have a sharp spine on the end of the scales. New seedlings to not appear at all tree-like and resemble a green fountain of needles. This form is called the grass stage. During this stage, growth is very slow, and the tree may take a number of years simply to grow knee-high. Then it makes a growth spurt, especially if the canopy is open above it.

The yellow, resinous wood is used for lumber and pulp. Boards cut years ago from virgin timber are very wide (up to 1m) and a thriving salvage business obtains these boards from demolition projects, to be reused as flooring in upscale homes.

This tree is also known as Southern yellow pine or Longleaf yellow pine. It grows on well-drained soil, usually sandy, sometimes in pure stands. The longleaf pine ranges along the coastal plain from Louisiana to South Carolina.

Longleaf pine is highly resistant to fire. Periodic burning selects for this species, by killing other trees, leading to longleaf pine forests or more open savannas. The latter especially tend to be rich in biodiversity.

The original article can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longleaf_pine.
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