Slash Pine

(Pinus elliottii)

Color Photograph: © Nearctica.com, Inc.

Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)

Identifying Characters: Needles are primarily in groups of two, but occasionaly in bundles of three; needles are 8 to 12 inches long, much longer than in other southeastern hard pine species with needles in bundles of two; cones are 3 to 6 inches long.

Similar Species: Slash Pine is one of several hard pine species in the southeastern United States. The needles of Slash Pine are 8 to 12 inches long. In contrast the needles of Shortleaf Pine are 3 to 5 inches long and evener shorter in Sand Pine, Virginia Pine, Spruce Pine, and Table-Mountain Pine (less than 4 inches). The needles of Loblolly Pine are always in bundles of three.

Measurements: Mature trees are 80 to 100 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet in diameter.

Cones: Cones 2 to 6 inches long, oval and cylindrical; scales with a minute apical spine.

Needles: Needles in bundles of two or three, primarily two; color is dark green or blue-green and 8 to 12 inches long; sheaths of needle bundles not deciduous; needles stiff.

Bark: Bark 0.75 to 1.5 inches thick, separating freely on the surface into large thin scales; color gray mixed with reddish-tan.

Native Range: Slash Pine has the smallest native range of the four major southern pines. The range extends over 8° latitude and 10° longitude, and 45 percent of the present growing stock is in Georgia. Slash Pine grows naturally from Georgetown County, South Carolina, south to central Florida, and west to Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Its native range includes the lower Coastal Plain, part of the middle Coastal Plain, and the hills of south Georgia. The species has been established by planting as far north as Tennessee, in north central Georgia, and Alabama. It has also been planted and direct-seeded in Louisiana and eastern Texas where it now reproduces naturally. (Silvics of North America. 1990. Agriculture Handbook 654.)

Habitat: Slash Pine was originally found in moist, but well drained and aerated soils, of the southeastern United States, particularly along pond, stream, and lake margins. This habitat preference is a reflection of the susceptibility of the seedlings to fire. With the advent of fire protection, Slash Pine has spread to drier soils.