Loblolly Pine Tree

Loblolly Pine Tree - Pinus taeda

Loblolly Pine Tree - Pinus taeda. The Loblolly Pine tree has a straight trunk and grows relatively fast. This beautiful evergreen has yellowish and dark green needles that can grow up to ten inches in length. Its trunk can reach an astounding 100 feet in height, and it's diameter measures 4 feet on average. The trunk of the Loblolly Pine tree is coated with reddish-brown bark. This tree does produce both male and female cones, and they take about a year and a half to reach full maturity. The tree was given the name "loblolly" because this species of pine is common in lowlands and swampy areas. It is the 2nd most common species of tree found in the United States.

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) is native the southeastern portion of the United States. It can be found growing from Texas to Florida. It also grows north towards Delaware and New Jersey along the eastern side. Loblolly pine is also called southern yellow pine, old field pine, bull pine rosemary pine, and the North Carolina pine. It is the second most popular type of tree in the united states; the first is the red maple. The loblolly pine is the most regarded tree in the southern united states for its timber. This pine species is commonly found growing in swampy areas and lowlands. The loblolly pine is the largest of the southern pines. The needles measure four to eight inches in length and can sometimes appear slightly twisted and in bundles of three. Needles are hardy and can last up to two years before falling off. Most needles fall between the autumn and winter of their second year though some will fall before that due to insects, drought or bad weather. The loblolly pine seed cones are a light green color and can measure three to five inches in length and almost 2 inches in width when closed. When the seed cones open, it can be up to 2.5 inches in diameter; Once the seed cone ripens it color changes to a pale beige or light brown. Loblolly pines prefer growing in acidic clay soil. It is used for lumber and wood pulp and one it is one of the fastest growing pines. The loblolly pine can be found commercially growing at plantations; it is also the first species to have its genome sequenced.