Pinus rigida

Pinus rigida, the pitch pine, is a small-to-medium-sized (6-30 m or 20-98 ft) pine. It’s a native of eastern North America. It can be found from central Maine to Georgia, as well as in two areas along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec and Ontario. It is found in environments which other species would find unsuitable for growth such as acidic, sandy, and low nutrient soils. Sometimes, this species hybridizes with other species of pine such as loblolly ( Pius taeda), echinata and pond pines ( Pinus serrotina). Some botanists consider the latter a subspecies.

Description

It is irregular in shape, branches are usually twisted and it does a poor job at self-pruning. The needles are in fascicles (bundles) of three, about

6-13 cm (2+1/4-5 in) in length, and are stout (over 1 mm (0.04 in) broad) and often slightly twisted. The cones are 4-7 cm (1+1/2–2+3/4 in) long and oval with prickles on the scales. The trunks are typically straight and slightly curved. They are also covered with thick, irregularly shaped, large, bark plates. The regenerative capacity of pitch pine is exceptional. If the main trunk is damaged by fire, it can resprout with epicormic shoots. This is one of its many adaptations to fire, which also includes a thick bark to protect the sensitive cambium layer from heat. Burnt trees often form stunted, twisted trees with multiple trunks as a result of the resprouting. This characteristic also makes it a popular species for bonsai.

When young, pitch pine grows quickly. It can grow up to one foot per year in ideal conditions, until it reaches 50-60 years of age, when its growth slows down. By 90 years of age, the amount of annual height gain is minimal. Open-growth trees begin bearing cones in as little as three years, with shade-inhabiting pines taking a few years longer. Cones take two years to mature and seed dispersal occurs over the fall and winter and trees cannot self-pollinate. The total lifespan of pitch pine is about 200 years or longer

Uses

Pitch pine is not a major timber tree due to the frequency of multiple or crooked trunks; nor is it as fast-growing as other eastern American pines. However, it grows well on unfavorable sites. Because of its high resin content, the wood was resistant to decay and was used as a source of pitch and timber in the past. It was used to build elaborate wood structures, such as radio towers.

Pitch pine is used primarily for rough construction, pulp and crating. Pitch pine is a variable growth species that can make it very expensive. Large lengths can also be difficult to find.

Archaeology indicates that the Iroquois, Shinnecock, and Cherokee all utilized pitch pine. The Iroquois used the pitch to treat rheumatism, burns, cuts, and boils. Pitch also worked as a laxative. A pitch pine poultice was used by both the Iroquois and the Shinnecock to open boils and to treat abscesses. The Cherokee used pitch pine wood in canoe construction and for decorative carvings. The pitch pine can cross with shortleaf and pond loblolly pines. One of those crosses is the pitlolly pine (pinus x rigitaeda), a natural hybrid between the loblolly pine and the pitch pine. This hybrid is a combination of the tall stature of the loblolly and the cold-hardiness of the pitch pine. This hybrid was used as substitute of loblolly pine and has been extensively planted in South Korea.^{[citation needed]}

Distribution

Pitch pine is found mainly in the southern areas of the northeastern United States, from coastal Maine and Ohio to Kentucky and northern Georgia. A few stands occur in southern Quebec and Ontario. It is a pioneer species, and often becomes the first tree to plant a site after clearing it. In extreme conditions, it is a climax vegetation type. It is usually replaced by oaks or other hardwoods in most cases. This pine occupies a variety of habitats from dry acidic sandy uplands to swampy lowlands, and can survive in very poor conditions; it is the primary tree of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

Taxonomy

It was given its scientific name, Pinus rigida, by British botanist Philip Miller. It is part of the Pinaceae family and the subgenus Pinus, formerly Diploxylon.