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Although not an endangered species, only a handful of old-growth stands of longleaf pine exist in the southeastern United States today. Longleaf forests provide habitat for numerous endangered plant and animal species (red-cockaded woodpecker). Razorback hogs eat the roots of longleaf seedlings. It has straight wood with few defects and has been used for ship building, construction, and erosion control. The oldest known living Longleaf pine is 459 years old and located in North Carolina. Dendrochronologists have used longleaf pines to study streamflow, ice storms, hurricanes, and fire history.
Longleaf pine is an evergreen, conifer tree growing 80 to 120 feet tall. Male and female cones are present on the same tree. The small, dark red to purple male cones bear pollen and the larger female cones start as dark purple and mature in their second year. Cones are produced when the tree matures at about 30 years of age. Pollination occurs by wind.
Longleaf pine grows in areas with hardwoods on moist coastal plain sites, and is most frequently located on sandy, well-drained sites.
Longleaf pine is a USA-NPN regional plant species. Regional species are ecologically or economically important but are distributed more locally than calibration species. The NPN integrates these observations to understand better plant responses within the different geographic regions of the nation. In addition, this species is an allergen. Observations on its phenology will provide valuable information to benefit people with allergies and the public health community.
Do you see...?
Emerging needles In at least 3 locations on the plant, an emerging needle or needle bundle is visible. A needle or needle bundle is considered "emerging" once the green tip is visible along the newly developing stem (candle), but before the needles have begun to unfold and spread away from others in the bundle. More...
Young unfolded needles In at least 3 locations on the plant, a young unfolded needle is visible. A needle is considered "young" and "unfolded" once it begins to spread away from other needles in the bundle (and is no longer pressed flat against them), but before it has reached full size and turned the darker green color of mature needles on the plant.
Pollen release In at least 3 locations on the plant, pollen is released from a male cone when it is gently shaken or blown.
Full pollen release For the whole plant, at least half (50%) of the male cones release pollen when gently shaken or blown.
Ripe seed cones In at least 3 locations on the plant, a ripe seed cone is visible. (For a more specific description of this phenophase, please check the plant species profile.)
