Pinus echinata, the听shortleaf pine,听is a species of听听native to the听听补苍诲听.
Description
罢丑别听听is variable in form, sometimes straight, sometimes crooked, with an irregular crown. The tree reaches heights of 20鈥�45 metres (65鈥�150 feet) with a trunk diameter of听0.5鈥�0.9听m (1+1鈦�2鈥�3听蹿迟).
罢丑别听听are needle-like, in听听(bundles) of two and three mixed together, and from听7鈥�11 centimetres (2+3鈦�4鈥�4+1鈦�4听inches) long. 罢丑别听听are听4鈥�7听cm (1+1鈦�2鈥�2+3鈦�4听in) long, with thin scales with a transverse keel and a short prickle. They open at maturity but are persistent.听Shortleaf pine seedlings develop a persistent J-shaped crook near the ground surface.听Axillary and other buds form near the crook and initiate growth if the upper stem is killed by fire or is severed.
罢丑别听听has resin pockets, which form small depressions, less than听1 millimetre (1鈦�32听in) in diameter. This feature can be used to distinguish听P.听echinata听from all other听Pinus听species within its native range.
Taxonomy
The Latin听听of听echinata听refers to听, from听echinus.
Distribution and habitat
Shortleaf pine has the largest range of the southern US yellow pines. It is found from southernmost听, south to northern听, west to eastern听听补苍诲听.
This pine occupies a variety of habitats from rocky uplands to wet flood plains.
Ecology
With frequent fire, the species creates a savanna, with a very diverse听听and prime habitat for the听.
The tree frequently听听naturally with听听补苍诲听听where their ranges intersect. Hybridization with loblolly pine has become increasingly frequent in recent decades and results in a loss of听.
Uses
This pine is a source of听,听听, and听听for a variety of uses. The shortleaf pine is one of the southern US ""; it is also occasionally called southern yellow pine or the shortstraw pine.
