Pinus taeda
| Loblolly Pine | |
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| Loblolly pine trees | |
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| Species: | P. taeda
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| Binomial name | |
| Pinus taeda | |
Loblolly Pine (also known as North Carolina pine or Pinus taeda ) is one of several pines native to the American South, being particularly dominant in the eastern half of North Carolina (where there are huge expanses consisting solely of lobolly pine trees, as opposed to the rest of the South, where forests contain loblolly pines but also many other species of trees). It is one of the varieties of Southern yellow pine.
The trees reach a height of 100-115 ft (30-35 m) with a diameter of 1.5-5 ft (0.4-1.5 m). Exceptional specimens may reach 150 ft (45 m) tall, the largest of the Southern pines. Its needles are in bundles of three, sometimes twisted, and measure 5-9 inches (12-22 cm) long: an intermediate length for Southern pines, shorter than those of the Longleaf Pine or Slash Pine, but longer than those of the Shortleaf Pine and Spruce Pine. The cones are green, ripening pale buff-brown, 3-5 inches (7-13 cm) in length, 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) broad when closed, opening to 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) wide, each scale bearing a sharp 3-6 mm spine.
The word loblolly means "low, wet place", but these trees are not limited to that specific habitat. Loblollies grow well in acidic clay soil, which is common throughout the South, and are thus often found in large stands in rural places. Other old names, now rarely used, include: Oldfield Pine, due to loblolly's status as an early colonizer of abandoned fields; Bull Pine, due to its size (several other yellow pines are also often so named, especially large isolated specimens); and Rosemary Pine, due to loblolly's distinctive fragrance compared to the other Southern pines (the fragrance is more akin to that of gin than rosemary).
With the advent of fire control, loblolly pines have come to prevalence in some parts of the Deep South that were once populated with greater numbers of Longleaf Pine and, especially in northern Florida, Slash Pine.
Loblolly's rate of growth is rapid, even among the generally fast-growing Southern pines. The yellowish, resinous wood is highly prized for lumber, but is also used for pulp fibers. This tree is commercially grown in extensive plantations, along with Slash Pine.
Loblolly pine is the pine of the "Lost Pines" area around Bastrop, Texas, and in McKinney Roughs along the Texas Colorado River. These are isolated populations on areas of acidic sandy soil, surrounded by alkaline clays that are poor for pine growth.
The famous "Eisenhower Tree" on the 17th hole of Augusta National Golf Club is a loblolly pine. U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, an Augusta National member, hit the tree so many times that, at a 1956 club meeting, he proposed that it be cut down. Not wanting to offend the President, the club's chairman, Clifford Roberts, immediately adjourned the meeting rather than reject the request outright.
Loblolly pine needles usually last up to two years before they fall, which gives the species its evergreen character. Although some needles fall throughout the year due to severe weather, insect damage, and drought, most needles fall during the autumn and winter of their second year.
The loblolly pine is the state tree of Arkansas.
References and external links
- Template:IUCN2006
- Flora of North America: Pinus taeda
- Pinus taeda images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu
- EnviroFX plants Lobblolly Pine Trees when you buy carbon credits
- Higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels may help the loblolly pine endure ice storms - LiveScience.com
- Arigoni, John A. (2008-04-28). "Rooted Resources: A Theoretical Examination of Loblolly Biomass Usage" (PDF). Princeton University.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - Loblolly Pine Calculator
- USDA FS: Silvics of Trees of North America: Pinus taeda