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• Pinus rigida

Pinus rigida — pitch pine

Facts

The cone scales and sharp needles of pitch pine are thick and rigid, making this a distinctive and easy-to-remember species. In New England, it most commonly occurs in sandy barrens and coastal plains; it is the only moderately salt-tolerant pine species in the region. It relies on fire to clear areas of competitors and allow for colonization. This hardy species is extremely resilient to fire and herbivory by deer; it readily sends up new shoots in response to stress. Pine grosbeak, pine warbler, and many other birds find the seeds a welcome mid-winter food. The dense, resinous wood has long been used for ship-building and rough construction.

Habitat

Wetland margins (edges of wetlands), woodlands

Characteristics

• Fruits or seeds

  Seed cone base

  the base of the seed cone does not look hollow

  Seed cone bracts

  the bracts are covered by the seed cone scales

  Seed cone form

  the seed cone is longer than wide, with woody scales attached at the base

  Seed cone scales

  the visible portion of the scale of the closed seed cone is thickened at its base

  Seed cone shape

  the seed cone is ovoid (egg-shaped)

  Seed cone symmetry

  the seed cone is symmetrical

  Seed cone umbo position

  the raised portion is at the tip of the seed cone scale

  Seed cone umbo spine

  the seed cone scale has a sharp point on it

  Seed wings

  the seeds have wing-like projections

• Growth form

  Growth form

  the plant is a tree

• Leaves

  Leaf arrangement

  the needle-like leaves are in clusters or held on short shoots

  Leaf base

  NA

  Leaf clustering

  the needle-like leaves are in bundles or clusters of three

  Leaf cross-section

  the needle-like leaves are rounded, or flattened on one side (can be rolled between the fingers)

  Leaf duration

  the needle-like leaves remain green all winter

  Leaf form

  the leaves are needle-like

  Leaf glands

  there are no glands on the underside of the needle-like leaves

  Leaf stalks

  the needle-like leaves do not have a leaf stalk

  Leaf types

  there are two distinct types of needle-like leaves on the twig

  Leaves overlapping

  the needle-like leaves are separate and do not hide the twig surface

• Place

  Habitat

  • terrestrial
  • wetlands

  New England state

  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont

  Specific habitat

  • edges of wetlands
  • woodlands

• Stem, shoot, branch

  Bark resin blisters

  there are no resin blisters on the bark

  Branchlet thickness

  2–5 mm

  Leaves on shoots

  there are needle-like leaves growing in tight clusters on a short, knob-like shoot

  Twig bloom

  there is no bloom on the twig

  Twig hair type

  the twigs have few or no hairs on them

  Twig hairs

  the twig does not have hairs

Wetland status

Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)

New England distribution and conservation status

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae