A medium pine of southeastern plantations and natural areas.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Pinus elliottii, commonly known as slash pine, is a conifer tree native to the Southeastern United States. Slash pine is named after the "slashes" – swampy ground overgrown with trees and bushes – that constitute its habitat. Other common names include swamp pine, yellow slash pine, and southern Florida pine. Slash pine has two different varieties: P. e. var. elliottii and P. e. var. densa. Historically, slash pine has been an important economic timber for naval stores, turpentine, and resin. The wood of slash pine is known for its unusually high strength, especially for a pine. It exceeds many hardwoods and is even comparable to very dense woods such as black ironwood.
Source: Wikipedia — Pinus elliottii Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium pine with bundles of 3 long needles; cone-shaped crown; cones 6–13 cm.
Similar species. Loblolly Pine (similar; different scale arrangement). Other southern pines.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Common pine of southeastern US plantations; closely related to Loblolly Pine.
§ Range
Southeastern US
§ Habitat
Southern pine plantations
§ Threats
Habitat loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the slash pine is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support southern pine conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Pinus elliottii
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Pinus elliottii
- iNaturalist · taxon 126839
- IUCN Red List — search for Pinus elliottii
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Pinus elliottii
§ Sources cited
- USDA Forest Service Silvics Manual
