Virginia Pine

Appearance

''Pinus virginiana'' is a distinct pine in the United States and can be identified by a key characteristic the relatively short needles are twisted and come in bunches of two. The needles are typically two to eight centimeters in length. There is hair on the bracts and on the bud scales of the ''P. virginiana''. The leaf sheath of the ''P. virginiana'' is greater than 2.5 millimeters long. The cones of the ''P. virginiana'' only open after they are mature. The branches of the ''Pinus virginiana'' are flexible. They will bend when pressure is added to them. ''Pinus virginiana'' are between 9 and 18 meters tall. The bark of ''P. virginiana'' is red and brown in color, and also has the tendency to be rough with relatively small bark scales. The pollen cones are circular, almost elliptical and are 10–20 millimeters in size. They are the same color as the bark, typically. Seed cones are spread throughout the tree. The mature seed cones are much larger than the pollen cones. The ''P. virginiana'' prefers to grow in poor soils and dry loam or clay. They can grow on sandy soil, but this usually causes the tree to be smaller than the average ''P. virginiana''.

Naming

The etymology of the ''Pinus virginiana'' is as follows: ''Pinus'' is Latin for Pine and ''virginiana'' means of Virginia.

Distribution

''Pinus virginiana'' inhabit dry forested areas. The tree occurs in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Indiana, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware. In locations where the ''P. virginiana'' lives, rainfall is typically between 890 and 1400 millimeters. The average temperatures in the summer are between 21–24 degrees Celsius and in the winter it is around −4 to 4 degrees Celsius. ''Pinus virginiana'' is poorly adapted to fire, but if the tree is larger they are able to survive. Open growth Virginia pines may begin cone production at only 5 years old. There have been documented cases of trees as young as 18 months beginning to flower. Virginia pine is monecious and some self-pollination is possible, but a significant seed crop requires two trees. Cones take two complete growing seasons to develop. Pollination takes place 13 months after cone formation begins, and dispersal occurs the following autumn. Unlike some other pines, Virginia pine produces cones in all parts of the canopy.

Status

On the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the ''Pinus virginiana'' is considered a species that is of least concern. It is a species of least concern due to relative commonness as an early successional species. In areas of abandoned farmland in the eastern US, ''P. virginiana'' tends to be common.

Habitat

''Pinus virginiana'' inhabit dry forested areas. The tree occurs in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Indiana, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware. In locations where the ''P. virginiana'' lives, rainfall is typically between 890 and 1400 millimeters. The average temperatures in the summer are between 21–24 degrees Celsius and in the winter it is around −4 to 4 degrees Celsius. ''Pinus virginiana'' is poorly adapted to fire, but if the tree is larger they are able to survive. Open growth Virginia pines may begin cone production at only 5 years old. There have been documented cases of trees as young as 18 months beginning to flower. Virginia pine is monecious and some self-pollination is possible, but a significant seed crop requires two trees. Cones take two complete growing seasons to develop. Pollination takes place 13 months after cone formation begins, and dispersal occurs the following autumn. Unlike some other pines, Virginia pine produces cones in all parts of the canopy.

Uses

''Pinus virginiana'' was used historically as mine timbers, for railroad ties, and for fuel and tar. Currently, it is being planted as in reclamation sites for coal mining operations. ''Pinus virginiana'' can also be used for wood pulp, which is used to make paper, and for lumber. The wood weighs 32 pounds per foot.