slash pine (Pinus elliottii)
Family: Pinaceae
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| Form:
This tree can reach 60-100 ft in height and 2-3 ft. in dbh. It has an ovid shaped crown when growing in the open and a relatively straight bole. |
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| Needles: Arrangement: 2-3 per fascicle and clustered at end of the twig Length: 6-9″ Other: slightly shiny |
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| Bark:
The bark is dark and scaly when young becoming orange-brown and plate-like with thin papery layers and deep fissures. |
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| Cones:
It has a stalked reddish-brown cone. |
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| Distinguishing Characteristics:
Look for the orange tint in the fissures, the shorter needle, and the smaller egg-shaped cone to distinguish slash from longleaf pine. |
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| Range:
It occurs north as far as Virginia and west to Texas, but is most prominent in along the coast in northern Florida. |
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| Silvics:
Slash pine is intolerant to shade. It grows well on hallow sands with high water table. |
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| Ecological and Cultural Importance:
It is quite susceptible to fire damage. The seeds are eaten by a variety of bird species and deer sometimes browse young seedlings. |
