Pinus glabra

"Spruce pine" redirects here. It may also refer to the sand pine.

Spruce pine
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Pinaceae
Genus:	Pinus
Subgenus:	Pinus
Species:	P. glabra
Binomial name
Pinus glabra Walter
Natural range of Pinus glabra

Pinus glabra, the spruce pine, is a tree found on the coastal plains of the southern United States, from southern South Carolina south to northern Florida and west to southern Louisiana. This pine is a straight-growing, medium-sized species, attaining heights of 20–35 m.

The leaves are needle-like, in bundles of two, 5–8 cm long, slender (1 mm thick), and glossy dark green. The small, slender cones are 4–6 cm long, with weak prickles on the scales that are soon shed.

Pinus glabra differs markedly from most other pines in that it does not occur in largely pure pine forests, but is typically found as scattered trees in moist woodland habitats in mixed hardwood forest. To be able to compete successfully in such habitats, it has adapted greater shade tolerance than most other pines.

• 

  Pinus glabra foliage and cone

• 

  Bark of mature Pinus glabra

References

• Flora of North America, Profile and map: Pinus glabra
• Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Pinus glabra. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
• USDA FS: Silvics of Trees of North America: Pinus glabra