Common Name: Pitch Pine

General Information

Pinus palustris is an evergreen tree with a rounded crown; it can grow up to 47 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 120cm in diameter[].
A valued species for lumber and pulpwood, the tree is extensively harvested from the wild. It was once also important as a source of oleoresins and was extensively tapped for this purpose[].
Pinus palustris was once the most common pine in the Coastal Plains of southeast USA, perhaps covering 25 million hectares. Exploitation for timber and naval stores and conversion to farmland and pasture had reduced this by 1985 to less than 1.6 million ha. Outside protected areas the tendency through exploitation and planting or seeding of other pine species to replace this species is still ongoing, albeit at a lower rate than previously. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[].

Botanical References

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Range

South-eastern N. America - Virginia, south to Florida then west to Texas.

Habitat

Poor acid soils that are low in organic matter on sandhills, flats and scrubland; at elevations from sea level to 700 metres[], but usually near the coast[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus palustris is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -10°c when fully dormant. It grows best in areas with hot summers. In areas with cooler summers (even if the winters are mild), such as the maritime regions of the temperate zone, it often grows poorly, failing to properly ripen its wood and suffering frost damage over the winter[, ].
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[, ]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Established plants tolerate drought[].
There are, however, some trees that were 15 metres tall in south-eastern England in 1970[]. Trees in the wild grow slowly, taking about 150 years to reach maximum size and living 200 - 300 years[].
This is one of several Pinus species that have a juvenile life stage. After germinating, the seedlings produce secondary foliage but the central shoot does not elongate - at this stage the plant looks more like a bunchgrass than a pine. Especially when growing in shade, the plant can remain in this juvenile stage for several years, developing a large taproot but not increasing in height. If the light levels increase (due to removal of tree cover by fire, deforestation or some other reason) then the plant commences rapid height growth[]. It is believed that this is a form of protection from forest fires since the heat might pass over the small tree without killing it and leaving it without much competition[].
The tree regenerates best in areas subject to low intensity forest fires - the juvenile young plants growing away quickly when light levels increase as a result of plants dying in the fire[].
The ovoid-cylindrical seed cones are 15 - 25cm long. They take two years to mature, opening and shedding their seed whilst still attached to the tree[, , ].
Longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris ) is the state tree of North Carolina[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].
This species is notably resistant to fusiform rust[].

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 less small than many (the size given includes the shell)[].
The seeds are around 10mm 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[].
The turpentine was formerly used in the treatment of colic, chronic diarrhoea, worms, to arrest bleeding from tooth sockets and as a rubefacient[].

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[].

Carpets are woven from the leaves[].

An essential oil distilled from the needles is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a masking agent and perfume[].

This species is exceedingly rich in resinous secretions and is a major source of resin and turpentine in America[, , ]. 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[].

Wood - heavy, very hard, tough, strong, coarse grained, durable[, , ]. It weighs 44lb per cubic foot[]. It is largely used for construction, pulp, interiors of buildings, masts, fencing, fuel, flooring, charcoal[, , ].
Its wood is used for sawlogs, stage flooring, plywood, pulpwood and produces poles, fence posts, and piling as it makes straight stems largely free of branches when grown in closed stands[].

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[].