Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii) Engelmann, 1880 |
Synonyms: Pinus heterophylla, Pinus taeda |
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Pinus elliottii is found in the southeastern United States from South Carolina west to east Texas, and south to the Florida Keys (Map). This fast-growing pine is widely used in silviculture and has been introduced in subtropical areas worldwide, e.g., in Brazil. Slash Pine grows in wet sandy soils in lowland to upland forests, pond margins, old fields, and on karst limestone in south Florida flatwoods; 0-150 m asl. P. elliottii reaches heights of 18-30 m with dbh 0.6-0.8 m. Bark orange-brown, irregularly furrowed, and thick, providing protection from ground fires. The leaves are needle-like, slender, slightly twisted, yellow- to blue-green in clusters of 2-3; 18-24 cm long. The cones are red-brown, conical, 5-18 cm in length. Slash Pine lives up to 200 years.