| Species |
shortleaf pine  Pinus
echinata |
| Species Name |
spiny, for the cones |
| Sites and Soils |
Shortleaf pine is typical of dry upland sites, but can be found on
oldfields and floodplains. Best growth is on well-drained alluvial soils. |
| Ecology |
Like all hard pines , shortleaf pine is an
intolerant, disturbed site species. It is typically found on poor dry soils,
though not on strongly acidic soils which favor Virginia pine.
Occurs in pure stands or mixed with loblolly, Virginia or pitch pine, or with
dry site oaks (black, blackjack, chestnut, post,
scarlet, southern red) and hickories. On wetter
sites, shortleaf pine is common in mixed stands with sweetgum.
Shortleaf pine is moderately intolerant, but seedlings can persist in
considerable shade, and will grow quickly when released. This property is
unusual among hard pines. |
| Life History |
Shorleaf pine regenerates from seed, and, when young, from stump sprouts.
It bears seeds every year, with heavy seed crops at irregular intervals.
Pollination is by wind, and seeds are released to the wind. Seeds germinate in
late spring, or may enter the seed bank for
several years. Early growth is fairly rapid in full sun, but shaded seedlings
will persist. Young trees whose stems are damaged or killed by fire or other
injury will sprout from trace buds. This
ability is unusual in pines, occurring only in shortleaf and pitch
pines, among eastern species. |
| Interactions |
All pines are wind pollinated and ectomycorrhizal. Shortleaf pine wseeds
are wind dispersed. Seeds are important food for squirrels, grouse and other
birds and small mammals. Southern pines have a number of serious pests and
pathogens, including Nantucket pine tip moth, southern pine beetle, littleleaf
disease and fusiform rust. Shortleaf pine is resistant to fusiform rust, but
susceptible to the remainder, with littleleaf disease posing the greatest
threat. |
| Status |
Abundant, favored by land abandonment but discouraged by fire suppression.
Grown in plantations. |
| Range |
Southern, Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains to Appalachians, absent from
Mississippi River Valley. |
| Kentucky status |
Common; Decreased with fire suppression and logging. In recent years, the
Forest Service has planted shortleaf pine in the Daniel
Boone National Forest |
| Kentucky range |
Cumberland Plateau and Cumberland Mountains on sandstone. |
| Uses |
Shortleaf pine is an important species for timber, pulp and chips. Its
importance is increasing with plantation growth, breeding and improved
management. |
| Ornamental use |
Not commonly used, but specimen trees are beautiful on large sites with
well-drained soil. |
| Notes |
|
| Species |
pitch pinePinus rigida |
| Species Name |
stiff, rigid |
| Sites and Soils |
Best growth is on well-drained sandy loam soils, but it is most common on
dry, acidic uplands. |
| Ecology |
Pitch pine occurs on a huge variety of sites, from sandy coastal plains to
montane ridges or even on peat soils of coastal swamps. Pitch pine is
intolerant, and is usually outcompeted on the better sites. It is found in pure
stands, especially as scrubby trees on the poorest sites, or in mixture with
scrub oaks, upland
oaks, hickories or shortleaf
and virginia pines. Pitch pine is moderately resistant to
fire, but fire is both a principle agent of pitch pine mortality and the
principle creator of new niches for pitch pine regeneration. Fire suppression
policies have worked to the detriment of pitch pine, and many mixed pine-oak
stands are now dominated by oaks, sweetgum and other fire-susceptible species.
|
| Life History |
Pitch pine regenerates from seed and from stump sprouts when young. It
bears seed when quite young, often at only 3-5 years. Seeds are borne every
year, with heavy crops at irregular intervals. Seeds are dispersed to the wind
in the fall, but many cones remain closed, gradually opening and releasing
seeds over the winter, or even the following year. Some genotypes, particularly
in the New Jersey pine barrens, have serotinous
cones. Seeds germinate in the spring on bare mineral soil or occasionally on
organic matter, or may enter the seed bank for several years. Early growth is
rapid, up to 1 foot per year on the best sites, but can be extremely slow on
poor site. |
| Interactions |
Like all pines, pitch pine is ectomycorrhizal and wind pollinated. |
| Status |
Abundant; declining with fire suppression. |
| Range |
Central Appalachians to NE Atlantic Coastal Plain |
| Kentucky status |
common; decreasing with fire suppression |
| Kentucky range |
Cumberland Plateau and Cumberland Mountains, the Knobs. |
| Uses |
Useful for lumber and pulp, pitch pine does not occur in sufficient volume
to be important, especially compared with southern pines. |
| Ornamental use |
Not commonly used. |
| Notes |
|
| Species |
eastern white pinePinus
strobus |
| Species Name |
A tree which yields gum. |
| Sites and Soils |
Eastern white pine is found on a wide variety of sites, from bog margins
and lakeshores to dry rocky ridges. Best development is on mesic well-drained
loamy soils, especially on glacial eskers. |
| Ecology |
Eastern white pine is intermediate in tolerance, the most tolerant of
eastern pines, and is a gap-phase species. It
commonly forms pure stands, especially on glacial till in the northeast and lake
states. It also forms mixed stands with a huge array of hardwood and coniferous
species. On sandy soils, white pine may be mixed with red or jack pine, or with
aspen. On heavier soils, white pine may be found with sugar maple, beech and
other hardwoods, or with red spruce and eastern hemlock. White pine is common
in the understory of mixed hardwood forests, but is most often seen as a canopy
dominant or emergent,
often towering above the surrounding forest. White pine was one of the most
important and abundant trees of the Northern Hardwood and Lake States forests
prior to European settlement. The species was so useful and valuable that
stands of it were devastated by harvesting, particularly in the Lake States. The
devastation of the Lake States forest, mostly for white pine, was the most
destructive event in the history of American forestry. Most of the big pines
are now gone, though white pine is still an abundant species throughout its
original range. With the abandonment of farm lands throughout the northeastern
US and southeastern Canada, white pine has increased greatly in abundance as an
oldfield species. Similarly, fire suppression has favores white pine both
because of its high susceptibility to fire when young, and because succession
has favored more tolerant species. |
| Life History |
Eastern white pine reproduces from seed. Trees are wind pollinated and
bear some seed every year, with heavy seed crops at irregular intervals. Trees
may begin bearing as early as 5 years, but maximum seed production usually
occurs after 25 years of age. Seeds are dispersed by wind, and may enter the
seed bank and remain there for many years. Germination is in the spring and
requires moist soil and adequate sunlight. Early growth is fairly slow, but
once it is well established, white pine grows faster than almost any other
species, with height increments of up to 8 feet per year. Eastern white pine
reaches the greatest height and diameter of any eastern conifer, typically
reaching 150'x4'; Champion 220'x6', and reaches ages in excess of 400 years.
|
| Interactions |
White pine is ectomycorrhizal, and wind pollinated. Seeds are wind
dispersed. White pine has a large number of pests and pathogens, but these are
usually a serious problem only in plantations. White pine blister rust is a
lethal disease, which is occasionally seen in natural stands, but is a deadly
problem in plantations. White pine weevil does not kill the trees but destroys
the terminal leader (the topmost shoot), causing a crook in the stem and severly
degrading its value as a timber tree. As a result of these two problems, the
extensive white pine plantations established in the north early in the 20th
century were failures. |
| Status |
Abundant, increasing in recent years with abandonment of farm lands and
fire suppression. |
| Range |
Northeastern; New Brunswick to Pennsylvania, W. to Iowa, Minnesota,
Ontario. Range extends down Appalachians to N. Georgia, but as a fairly minor
component. |
| Kentucky status |
Common, increasing in Cumberland Plateau with fire suppression, but most
large trees have been eliminated by harvesting. |
| Kentucky range |
Cumberland Plateau and Cumberland Mountains; occasional trees in other
parts of the state |
| Uses |
Eastern white pine was once the most valuable timber tree in North America,
in terms of total value of timber produced. It was destructively logged, and
plantations were never successful. Today, white pine is of minor commercial
importance, thugh its value is increasing. As a pulp species, it is being grown
in plantations in Ohio. Eastern white pine should continue to increase in
abundance and value, but will never return to its former stature. |
| Ornamental use |
Eastern white pine is a magnificent ornamental tree for very large sites
with well-drained soil where compaction is not severe. On very fertile sites, it
may grow too fast, leaving gaps between branches of up to 8 ft. This may make
it unattractive when young, particularly if it is used for screening. Limiting
soil fertility will avoid the problem. White pine is at its most attractive
when used as group plantings in parks and golf courses. Eastern white pine is
easily the most attractive ornamental pine, and suffers from few pests and
pathogens in the landscape. |
| Notes |
White pine was important in the settlement of America and the events that
led to the founding of the United States. Prized for ships mast, white pine
was in great demand by the British navy. Trees of mast quality were blazed by
royal minions, and it was illegal for colonists to use them. White pine was
also valued for construction and furniture, because the wood was soft and easy
to work, and because the available timber volume was huge. The colonists needed
the timber as much as the Crown did, and this was an important factor in the
conflicts which culminated in the American Revolution. |
| Species |
Scotch pinePinus
sylvestris |
| Species Name |
of the forest |
| Sites and Soils |
Scotch pine is an intolerant, disturbed site species originally of
plantations in North America, now an occasional escape on upland sites. |
| Ecology |
Scotch pine was introduced to the US and Canada as a plantation species in
the early 20th century. It was introduced mainly because foresters were ignorant
of the ecology of North American species, and turned to a European species with
well-known behavior in plantations. Extensive plantations were established
throughout the northeastern US and southern Canada. The genetic stock of the
seeds was poor, and the plantations were usually not properly thinned, resulting
in the failure of most plantations to reach commercial importance. Scotch pine
has also been grown as a Christmas tree species. Scotch pine is not extensively
naturalized, but is found in scattered sites throughout the region where it was
originally planted. |
| Life History |
The life history of Scotch pine is similar to that of pitch
pine |
| Interactions |
See pitch pine |
| Status |
Infrequent; probably declining as plantations are replaced scotch pine with
native species. |
| Range |
Europe and Asia, the largest range of any pine. In the US in old
plantations throughout the northeastern US and southern Canada; naturalized in
scattered locations in the same region. |
| Kentucky status |
rare, except as ornamental or in Christmas tree plantations, occasional
escapes. |
| Kentucky range |
not native |
| Uses |
Christmas tree; ornamental. |
| Ornamental use |
Scotch pine is an unattractive ornamental when compared to almost any other
tree. |
| Notes |
|
| Species |
loblolly pine,
Pinus taeda |
| Species Name |
torch (of pine pitch). A loblolly is a swamp. |
| Sites and Soils |
Loblolly pine occurs on poorly drained soils wet to dry soils on disturbed
sites. |
| Ecology |
Loblolly pine, the most important timber tree in the United States, grows
throughout the Piedmont and the Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plains on disturbed
sites. It forms pure stands, especially after abandonment of farms. It also
occurs in mixture with a wide range of hardwoods, particularly oaks and
sweetgum. Loblolly pine is moderately intolerant. |
| Life History |
tba |
| Interactions |
tba |
| Status |
abundant. Increasing in plantations; Increased greatly with abandonment
of farm lands on the Piedmont in the early part of the 20th century. |
| Range |
Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains, Piedmont. Absent from most of the
Mississippi River Valley. |
| Kentucky status |
Not native; planted in western 1/2 of state, especially on surface mine
spoils. These stands are heavily damaged in exceptionally cold winters. Cold
tolerant genotypes of loblolly pine have been planted in some western counties.
|
| Kentucky range |
Not native; planted in Shawnee Hills, and possibly naturalized locally. |
| Uses |
Loblolly pine is the most important timber tree in the United States, for
sawwood, pulp composite products. Extensive plantations have been established,
and breeding and improved management have dramatically increased yields.
Loblolly pine represents a model for the United States as we move toward truly
sustainable forestry. |
| Ornamental use |
Not commonly used. |
| Notes |
|
| Species |
Virginia pine,
Pinus virginiana |
| Species Name |
of Virginia |
| Sites and Soils |
Virginia pine occurs on extremely poor disturbed sites, usually on dry,
sandy uplands, but also found on heavier soils and mine spoil. |
| Ecology |
Virginia pine is an extremely intolerant, small tree of heavily disturbed
sites. It is a common pioneer after heavy disturbances, especially fire. It is
also an oldfield species, and is an important pioneer of heavily eroded sites
and abandoned mine spoils, where nothing else will grow. Virginia pine usually
occurs in pure stands, or in mixture with poor site oaks and other pines. As an
intolerant, short-lived species and is quickly replaced in succession, except on
very poor sites, where populations may be self-sustaining (simply because other
species cannot survive). |
| Life History |
tba |
| Interactions |
tba |
| Status |
Abundant; increased with abandonment of farm land, erosion of abandoned
lands and mine spoils. |
| Range |
Appalachians and Piedmont; Atlantic Coastal Plain in Va, Md, De, NJ. |
| Kentucky status |
Common; increased with abandonment of land, particularly surface mines, and
on road cuts. Arson fires have also favored this species. |
| Kentucky range |
Cumberland Plateau and Cumberland Mountains, the Knobs, and some sites in
the Highland Rim and Shawnee Hills. |
| Uses |
A minor pulp species. Virginia pine is most important for its ecological
role, particularly in beginning the rehabilitation process of abandoned mine
sites. |
| Ornamental use |
Not used. |
| Notes |
|
| Species |
eastern hemlock,
Tsuga canadensis |
| Species Name |
of Canada |
| Sites and Soils |
Eastern hemlock occurs on cool mesic slopes, coves, valleys and lakeshores,
and, to the north, on low rolling hills and glacial ridges. |
| Ecology |
Eastern hemlock has an unusual requirement which determines its position in
the forest: it grows only where there is cool, moist air. In montane areas,
cool moist air flows in the evening down ravines or declevities in the slope,
collecting near creeks and in coves. It is here that hemlock is found. In the
northern hardwood forest, cool air drainages are more widespread, and hemlock is
consequently found on a greater variety of sites. Hemlock occurs occasionally
in pure stands, more commonly in mixed stands with site-demanding species such
as white pine, northern red oak, sugar maple, American beech and white ash. One
of the most tolerant of all trees, hemlock can become established in dense
shade, and grows extremely slowly. On release (e.g. gap formation), annual
growth of hemlock may increase 10-fold. |
| Life History |
tba |
| Interactions |
tba |
| Status |
Abundant; stable, but now seriously threatened by an introduced insect, the
hemlock wooly adelgid, and by climate change. See further discussion on the
climate change pages. |
| Range |
Northeastern, Lake States and Appalachians, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
S. to Georgia , W. to Wisconsin. Disjunct populations in Alabama, Illinois,
Minnesota. |
| Kentucky status |
Abundant; stable but threatened by hemlock wooly adelgid and climate
change. |
| Kentucky range |
Cumberland Plateau and Cumberland Mountains; also occasional in the Green
River valley. |
| Uses |
Not presently important as a timber tree. Wood is prone to checking, and
must be kiln dried. In early days of logging in northeast, hemlock was valued
for its bark, an important source of tannin for the leather industry. Because
the wood was useless, kiln drying not having been invented yet, the trees were
felled and stripped of their bark, which was then milled for tannin extraction.
Trees were often felled into lakes, to make the task of stripping the bark and
turning logs easier. These logs eventually sank and were preserved by the
water. A century later, many were extracted from northern lakes and sent to the
mill, still in a perfect state of preservation. |
| Ornamental use |
Eastern hemlock is an important and beautiful ornamental for cool, moist
sites, especially in cold air drainages. In drier sites, hemlock suffers from
many pests and pathogens, and from generally poor vigor. Such sites should be
avoided. As climate changes over the next hundred years, appropriate sites will
become less common, and the species more difficult to manage. The hemlock wooly
adelgid is also a serious threat to ornamental use of the species. |
| Notes |
|
