Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

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

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) leaves

Longleaf Pine is the characteristic tree of the North Carolina Coastal Plain, particularly the Sandhills region. Most abundant in sandy areas with regular fires, this large, long-lived tree also occurs in a few locations in the Piedmont. It is much less common than formerly, due to fire suppression and being replaced in plantations by faster growing species.

The needles, borne in bundles of three, average 12" or so long, much longer than those of Loblolly Pine (P. taeda) or any other species in the eastern US.

Moore Co., NC 7/1/07.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

The long leaves help protect the apical meristem from the hottest part of the frequent fires that occur (manmade and natural) in its habitat.

Moore Co., NC 4/18/10.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

The photo at left shows a young tree, just emerging from the "grass" stage, with fire-maintained Longleaf Pine savanna in the background. Young seedlings look like clumps of grass and stay in this stage for several years before they bolt. The grass-like leaves help prevent fires from getting hot enough to damage the terminal bud.

Carteret Co., NC 8/27/06.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

Detail of the terminal bud of a grass-stage Longleaf.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

A youngish Longleaf Pine

Moore Co., NC 4/18/10.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

Columbus Co., NC 9/29/2013.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

Columbus Co., NC 9/29/2013.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

Very old Longleaf Pines have a gnarled appearance.

Weymouth Woods, Moore Co., NC 4/18/10.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) savanna

Another view of the same frequently burned Longleaf Pine savanna.

Carteret Co., NC 8/27/06.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) savanna

This habitat, which is very scarce now because of fire suppression, is dominated by Wiregrass (Aristida stricta), but has a very high diversity of other flowering plants, many of them rare.

Despite the name palustris ('swamp' in Latin), Longleaf Pine is not common in swampy areas.

Carteret Co., NC 6/23/04.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) cone

The cones are much larger than those of other eastern US pine species, averaging about 8" long.

Carteret Co., NC 8/27/06.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) cone

Note the tiny seedling next to the cone.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) cone

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) seedling

A seedling. The whorl of single needles along the outside are the cotyledons.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) bark

The scaly bark of a mature tree is dark gray-brown.

Carteret Co., NC 8/27/06.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) bark

Scales of old bark shed to reveal reddish-brown younger bark.

Carteret Co., NC 6/23/04.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) bark

Carteret Co., NC 6/23/04.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) tar box

In some places you can still see where boxes were cut into the trunks of large Longleaf Pines to collect tar.

Weymouth Woods State Park, Moore Co., NC 3/22/08.