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'''''Pinus rigida''''', the '''pitch pine''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=PIRI|taxon=Pinus rigida|access-date=31 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }}</ref> is a small-to-medium-sized [[pine]]. It is native to eastern [[North America]], primarily from central Maine south to Georgia and as far west as Kentucky. It is found in environments which other species would find unsuitable for growth, such as acidic, sandy, and low-nutrient soils.
'''''Pinus rigida''''', the '''pitch pine''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=PIRI|taxon=Pinus rigida|access-date=31 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }}</ref> is a small-to-medium-sized [[pine]]. It is native to eastern [[North America]], primarily from central Maine south to Georgia and as far west as Kentucky. It is found in environments which other species would find unsuitable for growth, such as acidic, sandy, and low-nutrient soils.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Grimm |first=William Carey |title=The Book Of Trees |publisher=The Stackpole Company |year=1962 |location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |publication-date=1966 |pages=52 |language=en}}</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
The pitch pine is irregular in shape, but grows to {{convert|6|-|30|m|ft}}). Branches are usually twisted, and it does a poor job at self-pruning. The needles are in [[fascicle (botany)|fascicles]] (bundles) of three, about {{convert|6|-|13|cm|abbr=off|frac=4}} in length, and are stout (over {{convert|1|mm|2|disp=or|frac=16}} broad) and often slightly twisted. The cones are {{cvt|4|-|7|cm|frac=4}} long and oval, with prickles on the scales. Trunks are usually straight with a slight curve, covered in large, thick, irregular plates of bark. Pitch pine has an exceptionally high regenerative ability; if the main trunk is cut or damaged by fire, it can re-sprout using [[epicormic shoot]]s. This is one of its many adaptations to fire, which also include a thick bark to protect the sensitive [[Cork cambium|cambium layer]] from heat. Burnt pitch pines often form stunted, twisted trees with multiple trunks as a result of the resprouting. This characteristic makes it a popular species for [[bonsai]].{{cn}}
The pitch pine is irregular in shape, but grows to {{convert|6|-|30|m|ft}}). Branches are usually twisted, and it does a poor job at self-pruning. The needles are in [[fascicle (botany)|fascicles]] (bundles) of three, about {{convert|6|-|13|cm|abbr=off|frac=4}} in length, and are stout (over {{convert|1|mm|2|disp=or|frac=16}} broad) and often slightly twisted. The cones are {{cvt|4|-|7|cm|frac=4}} long and oval, with prickles on the scales. Trunks are usually straight with a slight curve, covered in large, thick, irregular plates of bark. Pitch pine has an exceptionally high regenerative ability; if the main trunk is cut or damaged by fire, it can re-sprout using [[epicormic shoot]]s. This is one of its many adaptations to fire, which also include a thick bark to protect the sensitive [[Cork cambium|cambium layer]] from heat. Burnt pitch pines often form stunted, twisted trees with multiple trunks as a result of the resprouting. This characteristic makes it a popular species for [[bonsai]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}


Pitch pine is rapid-growing when young, gaining around one foot of height per year under optimal conditions, until growth slows at 50–60 years. By 90 years of age, the amount of annual height gain is minimal. Open-growth trees begin bearing cones in as little as three years, with shade-inhabiting pines taking a few years longer. Cones take two years to mature. Seed dispersal occurs over the fall and winter, and trees cannot self-pollinate. The lifespan of a pitch pine is about 200 years or longer.{{cn}}
Pitch pine is rapid-growing when young, gaining around one foot of height per year under optimal conditions, until growth slows at 50–60 years. By 90 years of age, the amount of annual height gain is minimal. Open-growth trees begin bearing cones in as little as three years, with shade-inhabiting pines taking a few years longer. Cones take two years to mature. Seed dispersal occurs over the fall and winter, and trees cannot self-pollinate. The lifespan of a pitch pine is about 200 years or longer.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
[[File:Pitch Pine as Bonsai.jpg|thumb|Pitch Pine being trained as [[bonsai]]. This specimen was collected in the wild.]]


== Taxonomy ==
== Taxonomy ==
It was given its scientific name, ''Pinus rigida'', by British botanist [[Philip Miller]]. It belongs to the family Pinaceae and the subgenus ''[[Pinus subgenus Pinus|Pinus]]'' (formerly ''Diploxylon''), along with other hard pines.{{cn}}
It was given its scientific name, ''Pinus rigida'', by British botanist [[Philip Miller]].<ref name=":0" /> It belongs to the family Pinaceae and the subgenus ''[[Pinus subgenus Pinus|Pinus]]'' (formerly ''Diploxylon''), along with other hard pines.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}


==Distribution and habitat==
==Distribution and habitat==
Pitch pine is found mainly in the southern areas of the [[northeastern United States]], from coastal [[Maine]] and [[Ohio]] to [[Kentucky]] and northern [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. A few stands occur in southern [[Quebec]] and [[Ontario]], mostly in two pockets along the St. Lawrence River. It is known as a pioneer species and is often the first tree to vegetate a site after it has been cleared away. It is a climax vegetation type in extreme conditions, but in most cases it is replaced by oaks and other hardwoods. This pine occupies a variety of habitats, from dry, acidic sandy uplands to swampy lowlands, and can survive in very poor conditions. It is the primary tree of the [[Pine Barrens (New Jersey)|New Jersey Pine Barrens]].<ref name="Moore2008">{{cite book |last1=Moore |first1=Gerry |last2=Kershner |first2=Bruce |display-authors=2 |first3=Craig |last3=Tufts |first4=Daniel |last4=Mathews |first5=Gil |last5=Nelson |last6=Spellenberg |first6=Richard |last7=Thieret |first7=John W. |first8=Terry |last8=Purinton |last9=Block |first9=Andrew |title=National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America |publisher=Sterling |location=New York |year=2008 |page=756 |isbn=978-1-4027-3875-3}}</ref>
Pitch pine is found mainly in the southern areas of the [[northeastern United States]], from coastal [[Maine]] and [[Ohio]] to [[Kentucky]] and northern [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. A few stands occur in southern [[Quebec]] and [[Ontario]], mostly in two pockets along the St. Lawrence River. It is known as a pioneer species and is often the first tree to vegetate a site after it has been cleared away. It is a climax vegetation type in extreme conditions, but in most cases it is replaced by oaks and other hardwoods. This pine occupies a variety of habitats, from dry, acidic sandy uplands to swampy lowlands, and can survive in very poor conditions. It is the primary tree of the [[Atlantic coastal pine barrens|Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion]].<ref name="Moore2008">{{cite book |last1=Moore |first1=Gerry |last2=Kershner |first2=Bruce |display-authors=2 |first3=Craig |last3=Tufts |first4=Daniel |last4=Mathews |first5=Gil |last5=Nelson |last6=Spellenberg |first6=Richard |last7=Thieret |first7=John W. |first8=Terry |last8=Purinton |last9=Block |first9=Andrew |title=National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America |publisher=Sterling |location=New York |year=2008 |page=756 |isbn=978-1-4027-3875-3}}</ref>


== Ecology ==
== Ecology ==
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==Uses==
==Uses==
Pitch pine is not a major timber tree due to the frequency of multiple or crooked trunks, nor is it as fast-growing as other eastern American pines. However, it grows well on unfavorable sites. In the past, it was a major source of [[Pitch (resin)|pitch]] and timber for ship building, mine timbers, and railroad ties because the wood's high resin content preserves it from decay. As such, it has also been used for elaborate wood constructions, e. g. radio towers.
Because it frequently grows multiple or crooked trunks, pitch pine is not a major timber tree, nor is it as fast-growing as other eastern American pines. However, it grows well on unfavorable sites. In the past, it was a major source of [[Pitch (resin)|pitch]] and timber for ship building, mine timbers, and railroad ties because the wood's high resin content preserves it from decay. As such, it has also been used for elaborate wood constructions, e. g. radio towers.


Pitch pine is currently used mainly for rough construction, pulp, crating, and fuel. However, due to its uneven growth, quantities of high quality can be difficult to obtain, and large lengths of pitch pine can be very costly.
Pitch pine is currently used mainly for rough construction, pulp, crating, and fuel. However, due to its uneven growth, quantities of high quality can be difficult to obtain, and large lengths of pitch pine can be very costly.
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Archaeology indicates that the [[Iroquois]], [[Shinnecock Indian Nation|Shinnecock]], and [[Cherokee]] all utilized pitch pine. The Iroquois used the pitch to treat rheumatism, burns, cuts, and boils. Pitch also worked as a laxative. A pitch pine poultice was used by both the Iroquois and the Shinnecock to open boils and to treat abscesses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.treesforme.com|title=North American Native Trees|access-date=2017-05-01}}</ref> The Cherokee used pitch pine wood in canoe construction and for decorative carvings.
Archaeology indicates that the [[Iroquois]], [[Shinnecock Indian Nation|Shinnecock]], and [[Cherokee]] all utilized pitch pine. The Iroquois used the pitch to treat rheumatism, burns, cuts, and boils. Pitch also worked as a laxative. A pitch pine poultice was used by both the Iroquois and the Shinnecock to open boils and to treat abscesses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.treesforme.com|title=North American Native Trees|access-date=2017-05-01}}</ref> The Cherokee used pitch pine wood in canoe construction and for decorative carvings.


Pitch pine is known to cross with pond loblolly and shortleaf pines. One of those crosses is the pitlolly pine (pinus x rigitaeda), a natural hybrid between the loblolly pine and the pitch pine. This hybrid combines the tall size of the loblolly pine and the cold-[[Hardiness_(plants)|hardiness]] of the pitch pine. This hybrid was used as substitute of loblolly pine and has been extensively planted in South Korea.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}
Pitch pine is known to cross with pond loblolly and shortleaf pines. One of those crosses is the pitlolly pine (pinus x rigitaeda), a natural hybrid between the loblolly pine and the pitch pine. This hybrid combines the tall size of the loblolly pine and the cold-[[Hardiness (plants)|hardiness]] of the pitch pine. This hybrid was used as substitute of loblolly pine and has been extensively planted in South Korea.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
2024-02-26 13 21 26 Bark and needles on a Pitch Pine along Interstate 295 in Ewing Township, Mercer County, New Jersey.jpg|Bark and trunk sprout, a defining characteristic of the species
Pinus rigida.JPG|Pollen cones
Pinus rigida.JPG|Pollen cones
Image:2013-05-10 09 02 57 Pitch Pine new growth and pollen cones along the Batona Trail in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, New Jersey.jpg|New growth and pollen cones
Image:2013-05-10 09 02 57 Pitch Pine new growth and pollen cones along the Batona Trail in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, New Jersey.jpg|New growth and pollen cones
Image:Pinus rigida cone Poland.jpg|Cone and needles
Image:Pinus rigida cone Poland.jpg|Cone and needles
Image:Pitch pine cones exposed to fire.jpg| A pitch pine cone experimentally exposed to fire by Saint Michael's College scientists (Vermont; USA). The middle photograph shows the cone right after exposure to a bunsen burner flame. The right hand photograph was taken 24 hours later.
File:2014-08-29 11 51 25 View north-northeast from the fire tower on Apple Pie Hill in Wharton State Forest, Tabernacle Township, New Jersey.JPG|View north from a fire tower on [[Apple Pie Hill]] in the [[Pine Barrens (New Jersey)|New Jersey Pine Barrens]]. The vast pine forest is almost entirely made up of ''Pinus rigida''.
Pitch pine in Quogue (92734p).jpg|Pitch pine on Long Island in New York, USA
Pitch pine in Quogue (92734p).jpg|Pitch pine on Long Island in New York, USA
File:2014-08-29 11 51 25 View north-northeast from the fire tower on Apple Pie Hill in Wharton State Forest, Tabernacle Township, New Jersey.JPG|View north from a fire tower on [[Apple Pie Hill]] in the [[Pine Barrens (New Jersey)|New Jersey Pine Barrens]]. The vast pine forest is almost entirely made up of ''Pinus rigida''.
Image:Pitch pine cones exposed to fire.jpg| A pitch pine cone experimentally exposed to fire by Saint Michael's College scientists (Vermont; USA). The middle photograph shows the cone right after exposure to a bunsen burner flame. The right hand photograph was taken 24 hours later.
File:2024-09-22 15 57 03 A Pitch Pine covered in trunk sprouds within a heavily burned section of Wharton State Forest in Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.jpg|Pitch Pine with heavy growth of trunk sprouts after a severe wildfire.
</gallery>
</gallery>


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[[Category:Pinus|rigida]]
[[Category:Pinus|rigida]]
[[Category:Trees of the Eastern United States]]
[[Category:Trees of the Eastern United States]]
[[Category:Trees of Eastern Canada|Pinus rigida]]
[[Category:Trees of Northern America|Pinus rigida]]
[[Category:Flora of the Appalachian Mountains]]
[[Category:Flora of the Appalachian Mountains]]
[[Category:Trees of the Southeastern United States]]
[[Category:Trees of the Northeastern United States]]
[[Category:Flora of Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Flora of Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Trees of Ontario]]
[[Category:Least concern flora of the United States|Pinus rigida]]
[[Category:Least concern flora of the United States|Pinus rigida]]
[[Category:Trees of humid continental climate|Pinus rigida]]
[[Category:Trees of humid continental climate|Pinus rigida]]
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[[Category:Plants used in bonsai]]
[[Category:Plants used in bonsai]]
[[Category:Ornamental trees|Pinus rigida]]
[[Category:Ornamental trees|Pinus rigida]]
[[Category:Trees of the Great Lakes region (North America)]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Philip Miller]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Philip Miller]]

Latest revision as of 09:18, 8 November 2024

Pitch pine
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Subgenus: P. subg. Pinus
Section: P. sect. Trifoliae
Subsection: P. subsect. Australes
Species:
P. rigida
Binomial name
Pinus rigida

Pinus rigida, the pitch pine,[2][3] is a small-to-medium-sized pine. It is native to eastern North America, primarily from central Maine south to Georgia and as far west as Kentucky. It is found in environments which other species would find unsuitable for growth, such as acidic, sandy, and low-nutrient soils.[4]

Description

[edit]

The pitch pine is irregular in shape, but grows to 6–30 metres (20–98 ft)). Branches are usually twisted, and it does a poor job at self-pruning. The needles are in fascicles (bundles) of three, about 6–13 centimetres (2+14–5 inches) in length, and are stout (over 1 millimetre or 116 inch broad) and often slightly twisted. The cones are 4–7 cm (1+122+34 in) long and oval, with prickles on the scales. Trunks are usually straight with a slight curve, covered in large, thick, irregular plates of bark. Pitch pine has an exceptionally high regenerative ability; if the main trunk is cut or damaged by fire, it can re-sprout using epicormic shoots. This is one of its many adaptations to fire, which also include a thick bark to protect the sensitive cambium layer from heat. Burnt pitch pines often form stunted, twisted trees with multiple trunks as a result of the resprouting. This characteristic makes it a popular species for bonsai.[citation needed]

Pitch pine is rapid-growing when young, gaining around one foot of height per year under optimal conditions, until growth slows at 50–60 years. By 90 years of age, the amount of annual height gain is minimal. Open-growth trees begin bearing cones in as little as three years, with shade-inhabiting pines taking a few years longer. Cones take two years to mature. Seed dispersal occurs over the fall and winter, and trees cannot self-pollinate. The lifespan of a pitch pine is about 200 years or longer.[citation needed]

Pitch Pine being trained as bonsai. This specimen was collected in the wild.

Taxonomy

[edit]

It was given its scientific name, Pinus rigida, by British botanist Philip Miller.[4] It belongs to the family Pinaceae and the subgenus Pinus (formerly Diploxylon), along with other hard pines.[citation needed]

Distribution and habitat

[edit]

Pitch pine is found mainly in the southern areas of the northeastern United States, from coastal Maine and Ohio to Kentucky and northern Georgia. A few stands occur in southern Quebec and Ontario, mostly in two pockets along the St. Lawrence River. It is known as a pioneer species and is often the first tree to vegetate a site after it has been cleared away. It is a climax vegetation type in extreme conditions, but in most cases it is replaced by oaks and other hardwoods. This pine occupies a variety of habitats, from dry, acidic sandy uplands to swampy lowlands, and can survive in very poor conditions. It is the primary tree of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion.[5]

Ecology

[edit]

Pitch pines provide habitat and food for many wildlife species. They are used for cover and nesting by birds such as the pine warbler, wild turkey, red-cockaded woodpecker, great-crested flycatcher, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, black-and-white warbler, Nashville warbler, and chestnut-sided warbler. Deer consume seedlings and new sprouts, and small mammals and birds eat the seeds.[6]

This species occasionally hybridizes with other pine species, such as loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata), and pond pine (Pinus serotina); the last is treated as a subspecies of pitch pine by some botanists.

Uses

[edit]

Because it frequently grows multiple or crooked trunks, pitch pine is not a major timber tree, nor is it as fast-growing as other eastern American pines. However, it grows well on unfavorable sites. In the past, it was a major source of pitch and timber for ship building, mine timbers, and railroad ties because the wood's high resin content preserves it from decay. As such, it has also been used for elaborate wood constructions, e. g. radio towers.

Pitch pine is currently used mainly for rough construction, pulp, crating, and fuel. However, due to its uneven growth, quantities of high quality can be difficult to obtain, and large lengths of pitch pine can be very costly.

Archaeology indicates that the Iroquois, Shinnecock, and Cherokee all utilized pitch pine. The Iroquois used the pitch to treat rheumatism, burns, cuts, and boils. Pitch also worked as a laxative. A pitch pine poultice was used by both the Iroquois and the Shinnecock to open boils and to treat abscesses.[7] The Cherokee used pitch pine wood in canoe construction and for decorative carvings.

Pitch pine is known to cross with pond loblolly and shortleaf pines. One of those crosses is the pitlolly pine (pinus x rigitaeda), a natural hybrid between the loblolly pine and the pitch pine. This hybrid combines the tall size of the loblolly pine and the cold-hardiness of the pitch pine. This hybrid was used as substitute of loblolly pine and has been extensively planted in South Korea.[citation needed]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Farjon, A. (2013). "Pinus rigida". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42411A2978217. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42411A2978217.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ NRCS. "Pinus rigida". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  4. ^ a b Grimm, William Carey (1962). The Book Of Trees. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Stackpole Company (published 1966). p. 52.
  5. ^ Moore, Gerry; Kershner, Bruce; et al. (2008). National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. New York: Sterling. p. 756. ISBN 978-1-4027-3875-3.
  6. ^ Gucker, Corey L. (2007). "Pinus rigida". Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
  7. ^ "North American Native Trees". Retrieved 2017-05-01.