Pinus glabra

{{Short description|Species of conifer}}

{{Redirect|Spruce pine|text=It may also refer to the sand pine; for other uses, see Spruce Pine (disambiguation)}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Spruce pine

| image = Pinus glabra (Feb 13, 2019).jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Farjon, A. |date=2013 |title=Pinus glabra |volume=2013 |page=e.T42364A2975443 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42364A2975443.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}

| display_parents = 3

| genus = Pinus

| parent = Pinus subsect. Australes

| species = glabra

| authority = Walter

| range_map = Pinus glabra range map.png

| range_map_caption = 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.

Description

This pine is a straight-growing, medium-sized species, attaining heights of {{convert|20|to|40|m|ft}}. The leaves are needle-like, in bundles of two, {{convert|5|to|8|cm|in|-long|adj=mid}}, slender ({{convert|1|mm|in|-thick|adj=mid}}), and glossy dark green. The small, slender cones are {{convert|4|to|6|cm|in|-long|adj=mid}}, with weak prickles on the scales that are soon shed.{{cite book |author1=Moore, Gerry |author2=Kershner, Bruce |author3=Craig Tufts |author4=Daniel Mathews |author5=Gil Nelson |author6=Spellenberg, Richard |author7=Thieret, John W. |author8=Terry Purinton |author9=Block, Andrew |title=National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America |publisher=Sterling |location=New York |year=2008 |page=70 |isbn=978-1-4027-3875-3}}

Ecology

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 to greater shade tolerance than most other pines.{{eFloras|1|233500937|Pinus glabra |family=Pinaceae |first=Robert |last=Kral}}

Gallery

Image:Pinus_glabra.jpg|Pinus glabra foliage and cone

Image:Pinus_glabra_Bark.jpg|Bark of mature Pinus glabra

Image:Large Pinus glabra.jpg|Crown of mature Pinus glabra

References

{{Reflist}}