loblolly pine

Pinus taeda

The loblolly pine is a tall tree that grows straight and tall. It has long, green needles and produces big pine cones. These trees are important for wildlife and help make our air clean.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The loblolly pine is a tall, straight tree with a reddish-brown, scaly bark. It has long, slender needles, typically bundled in threes, giving its dense, oval-shaped crown a textured look. Its needles are distinctly longer than many other pine species.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPinopsidaOrderPinalesFamilyPinaceaeGenusPinus

loblolly pine

Interesting facts

Its name 'loblolly' might come from an old word for a thick porridge, referring to muddy places it grows!

Loblolly pines can shoot their seeds far from their cones when they dry out!

The sticky sap from loblolly pines was once used to help seal and waterproof wooden ships!

These super trees can produce so much pollen it looks like yellow clouds in the spring!

Special abilities

Loblolly pine grows quickly, which helps it reach sunlight fast and outcompete other plants.

Loblolly pine has a deep taproot that helps it stand firm in strong winds and find water far underground.

Measurements & details

Height: 2500-4500 cm
Spread: 600-1200 cm
Bloom Season: Late winter to early spring
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Wind

Ecological connections

eats

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

gathers and eats its seeds from cones

parasitizes

Southern Pine Beetle

Dendroctonus frontalis

bores into the bark, weakening the tree

shelters

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Sitta pusilla

nests in old snags, finding safe homes

eats

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses on young seedlings and tender shoots

Traits

Broadleaf Tree

Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.

Coniferous

Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones.

Evergreen

Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.

Nut Bearing

Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Timber

Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.

Ancient Lineage

This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Longevous

This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.