Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata)

Plantae>Coniferophyta>Pinopsida>Pinales>Pinaceae>Pinus echinata P. Miller

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) tree

A common large tree found throughout North Carolina. Most abundant in xeric (dry) sites, but also found in moister habitats.

Bennett Place, Durham Co., NC 9/9/06.

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) leaves

The leaves are about 7-13 cm long, shorter than those of Loblolly Pine (P. taeda) and longer than those of Virginia Pine (P. virginiana), though there is some overlap. There are normally 2 or 3 leaves to a bundle.

Durham Co., NC 9/9/06.

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata)

Cones are about 4-7 cm long. They prickles are fairly small and weak.

Durham Co., NC 9/9/06.

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata)

Durham Co., NC 9/9/06.

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) bark

The bark on large trees tends to be flakier and less deeply furrowed than that of Loblolly Pine.

Durham Co., NC 9/9/06.

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) bark

Orange Co., NC 4/12/08.

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) resin wells

There usually are small spots of resin on the bark, lacking in our other pine species.

Orange Co., NC 4/12/08.

More information:
Gymnosperm Database
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
US Forest Service Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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