pinus elliottii seed
LATIN NAME: PINUS ELLIOTTII
COMMON NAME: Slash Pine, Swamp Pine, Southern Florida Pine
The slash pine is one of the great timber trees of the American South, and it has helped build a whole region. It grows tall and straight, reaching twenty-five metres or more, with a narrow crown of long, shiny, dark green needles in bundles of two or three, and rough, dark bark that is deeply plated with age. The name comes from the slashes, the swampy, tree-covered ground where it grows, and it is a tree of the wet, warm coastal plains, while its timber is unusually strong for a pine, and for centuries it has been tapped for the resin, the turpentine and the pitch, making it one of the most valuable trees in North America.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The slash pine has an exceptionally rich record in forestry and industry research. It is one of the most important timber and naval-stores pines in the world, and the foresters have studied its growth, its breeding and its management for over a century, while the researchers have also examined its production of the resin, the turpentine and the pitch, which were vital to the naval stores industry. Its wood is unusually strong for a pine, and it has been studied for its use in the construction, the plywood and the paper pulp. The species has also been studied in the tree breeding, with the improved varieties developed for the faster growth and the better resin production. For a tree of such economic importance, the slash pine has a rich and distinguished record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
To grow the Slash Pine from seed, ecologically, the slash pine is a keystone of the southeastern coastal landscape. Its seeds feed the birds and the small mammals, its resinous canopy gives shelter for the wildlife, and it grows in the flat, swampy ground where many trees struggle, helping to hold the soil of the wet coastal plain. Its economic value is enormous: the strong timber is used for the construction, the plywood, the paper pulp and many other products, and the tree has been tapped for the resin and the turpentine for centuries, while it is also an important source of the pine straw, and it is grown for the timber across the warm South and beyond. To raise the slash pine, sow the seeds about a centimetre deep in pots of gritty, free-draining compost, keep them lightly watered in a warm, bright place, and grow the little trees on in the sun.
sow the seeds about a centimetre deep in pots of gritty, free-draining compost, keep the young pines lightly watered in a warm, bright place, and grow the little trees on in the sun.
LATIN NAME: Pinus elliottii
COMMON NAME: Slash Pine, Swamp Pine, Southern Florida Pine
The slash pine is one of the great timber trees of the American South, and it has helped build a whole region. It grows tall and straight, reaching twenty-five metres or more, with a narrow crown of long, shiny, dark green needles in bundles of two or three, and rough, dark bark that is deeply plated with age. The name comes from the “slashes”, the swampy, tree-covered ground where it grows, and it is a tree of the wet, warm coastal plains. Its timber is unusually strong for a pine, and for centuries it has been tapped for resin, turpentine and pitch, making it one of the most valuable trees in North America.
The slash pine belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae, and it is native to the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, from South Carolina through Florida and across to Louisiana. It grows in flat, swampy, sandy ground, and it is now planted widely for timber across the warm South and beyond.
Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide
Growing a slash pine from seed is easy and gives dependable results. The seeds sit inside the woody cones, which open to release them when ripe, and they germinate readily in warm, light conditions. Sow them in pots of free-draining compost, about half a centimetre deep, and keep them warm, bright and lightly moist. Germination usually begins within two to four weeks. Pot the seedlings on as they grow, giving them full sun, good drainage and plenty of moisture in warm weather. Plant them out in a warm, sunny spot once they are strong. A slash pine you have raised from seed will grow fast into a fine, straight timber tree.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The slash pine has an exceptionally rich record in forestry and industry research. It is one of the most important timber and naval-stores pines in the world, and foresters have studied its growth, its breeding and its management for over a century, while researchers have also examined its production of resin, turpentine and pitch, which were vital to the naval stores industry. Its wood is unusually strong for a pine, and it has been studied for its use in construction, plywood and paper pulp. The species has also been studied in tree breeding, with improved varieties developed for faster growth and better resin production. For a tree of such economic importance, the slash pine has a rich and distinguished record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the slash pine is a keystone of the southeastern coastal landscape. Its seeds feed birds and small mammals, its resinous canopy gives shelter for wildlife, and it grows in flat, swampy ground where many trees struggle, helping to hold the soil of the wet coastal plain.
Its economic value is enormous. The strong timber is used for construction, plywood, paper pulp and many other products, and the tree has been tapped for resin and turpentine for centuries, while it is also an important source of pine straw. It is grown for timber across the warm South and beyond, and for a grower it is a fast-growing, high-value tree that has helped build a region.