Pinus echinata

Needles are about 4 inches long, in fascicles of 2’s and 3’s. Cones are less than 3 inches long and are persistent on trees for several years. Cinnamon-colored bark with resin pockets; water sprouts on trunk.

Seeds eaten by wild turkey, squirrels, and some song birds.

Dry, sandy and acidic soils of rocky wooded ravines, bluffs, and upland plains.

The woods of southern pines share many common properties. They are classed as moderately heavy, moderately hard, moderately strong, stiff, and moderately shock resistant. Heartwood is moderately resistant to decay. All southern pines have moderately large shrinkage when drying but stay in place well after they are seasoned. In nail-withdrawal resistance, they rank above hemlock, spruce, and Douglas-fir. Used mainly for building materials such as framing, sash, sheathing, subflooring, joists, and interior finish. As a result of techniques developed in recent years, much southern pine is cut into veneers for use in construction plywood. It is also used for boxes, crates, caskets, interior parts of furniture, woodenware, and novelties. Considerable amounts go into poles, pilings, cross ties, and mine timbers. Much southern pine is cut for pulpwood. Southern pines are used for obtaining wood turpentine, tar, and tar oils through the distillation process.