Common Name:

General Information

Pinus clausa is an evergreen is a much-branched, evergreen tree with a usually rounded crown; it can grow up to 21 metres tall. The bole can be straight and erect or leaning and crooked, it is up to 50cm in diameter[].
Although this species is too profusely branched to be important for saw timber, it is managed to produce a high volume of pulpwood in northern peninsular Florida[].
Pinus clausa is a widespread and common species that is not being exploited on a large scale and shows no signs of decline: it may even be increasing where other land uses are retreating as on marginal farmland. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast N. America - Alabama, Florida

Habitat

A fire successional species, growing in sand dunes and white sandhills; at elevations up to 60 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus clausa is not a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -5°c when fully dormant[]. Var. clausa, growing from North Carolina to Florida, experiences hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. Precipitation averages 1,350 mm per year, and varies from 50 - 75mm per month from October to April, with as much as 200 - 230mm per month in June, July, and August. The recorded temperature has ranged from -11°c to 41°c, with a mean frost-free period of 290 days. Var. immuginata experiences a slightly wetter, cooler climate. Precipitation averages 1,520mm per year, and varies from 100 - 110 mm per month from December to May. The recorded temperature has ranged from -17°c to 42°c, with a mean frost-free period of 265 days[].
Pine species in general require a sunny position if they are to grow well and, whilst the different species have their own soil preferences, most will thrive in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[, ]. This species is found in the wild on sandy, acid to strongly acid soils[]. Plants can experience the full brunt of hurricanes in their native range[].
The ovoid to broadly ovoid seed cones are 3 - 8cm long, taking two growing seasons to reach maturity. They shed their seeds soon after, the empty seed cones persisting on the tree for some years[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

The seeds of all Pinus species are more or less edible, and some are of good size and make very tasty and nutritious foods, often eaten in quantitiy. Others can be less desireable, either having a strongly resinous flavour, being bitter or, more commonly, rather too small and fiddly to make it very worthwhle even trying to eat them,
We have no specific information of the desireability of this species, though they are rather small (the size given includes the shell)[].
The dark brown to nearly black seeds are around 4mm long[].

A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[].

Medicinal

Oil of turpentine, obtained from the oleo-resin of all pine trees, is antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, rubefacient, stimulant and vermifuge[, ]. It is a valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections[]. It is also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza and TB[].
Applied externally in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers, it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of some plants, including wheat[].

Other Uses

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[].

Oleo-resins are present in the tissues of all species of pines, but these are often not present in sufficient quantity to make their extraction economically worthwhile[]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[, ]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[].
Oil of Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[] and is separated by distillation[, ]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for thinning and dissolving varnish and paints, a shoe polish, medicinal etc[, ].
Rosin is also obtained by distillation of pine resin. This is used in paper glue and soap manufacturing, as a constituent of varnishes and paints, and for coating the bows of stringed musical instruments such as violins[, ].
Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc[].

Pinus clausa is managedIn peninsular Florida to produce a high volume of pulpwood. It has low timber value due to numerous persistent dead limbs and often crooked trunks[].

Propagation

It is best to sow the seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise in late winter. A short stratification of 6 weeks at 4°c can improve the germination of stored seed[]. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two[]. Plants have a very sparse root system and the sooner they are planted into their permanent positions the better they will grow[]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm[]. We actually plant them out when they are about 5 - 10cm tall. So long as they are given a very good weed-excluding mulch they establish very well[]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[].
Cuttings. This method only works when taken from very young trees less than 10 years old. Use single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot. Disbudding the shoots some weeks before taking the cuttings can help. Cuttings are normally slow to grow away[].