User:John-Robert Boyd/Pinus serotina

Introduction
The pond pine, black bark pine, bay pine, marsh pine, or pocosin pine. Pinus serotina, is a pine tree found along the Southeastern portion of the Atlantic coastal plain of the United States, from southern New Jersey south to Florida and west to southern Alabama. Pond pine distribution maybe starting to move west towards Mississippi and Tennessee.

Description
This pine often has a crooked growth pattern and an irregular top and grows up to 21 meters (69 ft) high, rarely to 29 meters (95 ft). The needles are in bundles of three or four, and 15–20 cm (6–8 in) long. Pinus serotina will grow needles and little branches directly from the trunk, similar to the Pinus rigida (pitch pine), but the pitch pines will only grow in drier areas. The Pinus serotina is very similar to the common Pinus taeda (loblolly pine), but the key differences are they have direct needle growth from the truck, are smaller in size, and do not grow straight. The bark of the pond pine forms rough plates. They are a brownish-red color. The pond pines are not as cold hardy as the loblolly and pitch pines. It takes 18 years for the pond pine to reach full maturity. The almost round cones are 5–8 cm (2–3+1⁄4 in) long with small prickles on the scales. Its cones are usually serotinous, requiring fire to open. The pollen cones are cylinder-shaped with a yellow, brownish color, and are up to 1.8 inches long. Seed cones need two years to mature after pollination. In some cases, they will drop their seeds, but in most Pinus serotina, they will persist and hold their seeds. The color of the seed cones and seed scales is red-brown in color. The foliar sheaths measure 0.4 to 0.8 with long bases. The seeds are ovule in shape, being 0.2 and 0.24 in length, and have an angled tip colored a pale brown. For seeds to be used for regeneration, seed trees that are 23 to 25 cm (9 - 10 inches) in DBH and 30 years old are expected to produce 5,000 seeds.

Taxonomy
Pinus serotina, was described in 1803 by Andre Michaux. Pinus is a large genus of evergreen conifer trees. The species name serotina is derived from the persistently unopened cones that may remain closed for several years before they release their seeds; the opening is often in response to forest fires. It was viewed as a subspecies of Pinus tadea but is now viewed as a separate species altogether. Pinus serotina was once considered a subspecies of Pinus rigida (Pinus rigida subsp. serotina (1880)).

Habitat
Within the native ranges of Pinus serotina, it is mostly found in wet and poorly drained sites, most commonly near swamps, ponds, bays, marshes, and pocosins. Pinus serotina is commonly found in wet and poorly drained sites, but it will grow very well in mineral soils. Pond pines are very useful in preventing erosion and improving water quality. Pinus serotina, thrive in flatwoods, flatwoods bogs, savannas, and barrens. They can be found among long leaf pines due to their high flammability and the pond pines' need for fire to germinate. At the north end of its range, it intergrades and hybridizes with pitch pine (P. rigida); it is distinguished from that species by the longer needles and, on average, slightly larger cones. Some botanists treat pond pine as a subspecies of pitch pine. The Pinus serotina 's habitat includes ranges of a mild and humid climate. The average temperature ranges from 45 degrees F to 80 degrees F. The more extreme temperature ranges recorded for Pinus serotina are -10 degrees F and 110 degrees F. The average annual precipitation for Pinus serotina is between 44 and 55 inches.

Ecology
The Pinus serotina stands provide habitat and support for wildlife species. Particularly for birds and animals in wetlands and flatland environments. The pond pine is intolerant of shade. In order for reproduction to occur, Pinus serotina needs fire in the form of intense scorching or defoliation to be caused to the tree. The buds are dormant and protected by the tree's bark. When the tree is harmed in this way, the buds resume growth which can increase the number of clusters of buds and short shoots. Which means 15 to 20 seed trees are needed per hectare (6 to 8 acres) for the sufficient seed set. Scarification is needed for seed fall burning is the most effective process for seedling establishment. Without the heat from a fire the seed fall is limited by the serotinous cones of pond pine. The pond pine seedling growth is often limited by the moisture in the soil, lack of nutrients, and competition. Under severe conditions pond pine seedlings grow as little as 30cm (12 inches) or less per year.

Uses
Even though the Pinus serotina has poor form and slow growth, it produces tree stands of pulpwood and saw timber where other trees will not grow. Tan or green dyes can be obtained from the needles of the Pinus serotina. A vanillin flavoring is obtained from the byproducts of the pulpwood's resins. It is suggested that Pinus serotina is a valuable remedy to treat the kidney, and a blander is administered as a rub or steam bath. It is also suggested that Pinus serotina is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membrane and respiratory complaints.

Diseases and other problems
Several species of bark beetles attack southern pines, such as the Sothern pine beetle, three species of the Ips engraver beetles, and the black turpentine beetle. All species of these beetles grind through conducting tissues, which move nutrients throughout the tree after the beetles spread, making it to where the tree cannot get nutrients up the truck. Leading to the tree needles fading from green, light green, yellow, to red, then, of course, leading to the death of the tree. These trees also face the eastern pine weevil and are susceptible to wind damages. The Pinus serotina also faces red heart disease (Phellinus pini), a fungal disease that kills most pine trees.

Conservation statues
The primary threat to the Pinus serotina is habitat loss, which are the wet flatlands, peat-rich soils, and sandy, wet flatlands. Pinus serotina, allowing for young trees to regenerate by coppicing. So it allows for disturbances to persist and recruit. Leaving the pond pine at a conservation status of lower risk. Pinus serotina, being on the IUCN Red List it is a least concern (LC) for extinction.