Contains 7 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Pines are immensely important for innumerable species of wildlife, and in many habitats pines are the dominant tree, especially in pyrogenic communities. Human uses include its pine bark (Duryea 2000), pine straw (Duryea 2000; Minogue et al. 2007), oleoresin (naval stores; Grissino-Mayer et al. 2001), and timber (Hall & Maxwell 1911). Oleoresin is rich in terpenes and can be separated into turpentine (volatile) and rosin. Oleoresin was historically tapped from living trees, but often now turpentine, rosins, and other products are refined from the processing of pulp or stumps (Gamble 1921; Howard & Westby 2013; Susaeta et al. 2014). The applications of pine terpenes are very diverse (Zinkel 1981; Rodrigues-Corrêa et al. 2012).
Classification
Citation
PINUS Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1000. 1753.
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TYPE: Pinus sylvestris Linnaeus Lectotypified by Britton & A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 1: 56. 1913.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinus clausa | SAND PINE | Native U (WAP) | ||
| Pinus echinata | SHORTLEAF PINE; YELLOW PINE | Native | ||
| Pinus elliottii | SLASH PINE | Native FACW (NWPL) AD (WAP) | ||
| Pinus glabra | SPRUCE PINE | Native FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Pinus palustris | LONGLEAF PINE | Native FACU (NWPL) U (WAP) | ||
| Pinus serotina | POND PINE | Native FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Pinus taeda | LOBLOLLY PINE | Native FAC (NWPL) AD (WAP) |
[Family identification key]
1. Leaf sheath mostly 0.3-1 cm long; leaves usually in fascicles of 2; leaves mostly 5-11 cm long
2
1. Leaf sheath mostly 1-2.5 cm long; leaves in fascicles of 2-3; leaves mostly 12-45 cm long
4
2. Twigs roughened and cracking below leafy portion; bark plates often with evident dimple-like resin pockets
2. Twigs smooth below leafy portion; bark plates without dimple-like resin pockets
3
3. Bark on upper part of trunk reddish to red-brown, platy; umbo usually armed with a prickle; upper surface of female cone scale with dark red-brown, purple, or purple-gray border at the apex, sharply contrasting with the rest of the scale; female cone scale umbo usually with a strong prickle; of xeric habitats
3. Bark on upper part of trunk gray, generally smooth; upper surface of female cone scale with an inconspicuous light-colored band at the apex, not contrasting sharply with the rest of the scale; female cone scale umbo unarmed or with a weak prickle; mostly of mesic to hydric habitats
4. Leaves mostly under 20 cm; male cones yellowish to brownish
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4. Leaves 15-45 cm; male cones purplish
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5. Trunks commonly with adventitious shoots; female cones variably serotinous, long-persistent, nearly as wide as long; female cone scale umbo with short, weak prickle or none; adaxial surface of seed-cone scales with dark red-brown border distally; leaves drying light green
5. Trunks without adventitious shoots; female cones not serotinous, not persistent, ca. 1.5 times longer than broad; female cone scale umbo with a stout prickle; adaxial surface of seed-cone scales lacking dark border distally; leaves drying dark green
6. Leafy stems often 12 mm or less thick, with the leaf fascicles spicate and bottlebrush-like along the stem; terminal buds cylindric, silvery brown, 1.5-2 cm long; fascicles of 2-3 leaves; leaves mostly 15-20 cm long; female cones mostly 9-18 cm long, apophyses lustrous
6. Leafy stems often more than 12 mm thick, with the leaf fascicles in dense pom-pom like tufts; terminal buds ovoid, silvery white, 3-4 cm long; fascicles of 3 leaves; leaves 20-45 cm long; female cones 15-25 cm, apophyses dull