Pinus elliottii

Pinus elliottii, or slash pine, is named after the “slashes,” another name for a swampy ground overgrown with trees and bushes. Slash pine is an important timber species and is used in the construction industry because its wood is heavy and strong. Because slash pine wood has a high resin content, it a valuable species for making railroad ties, poles, and piling. In addition, its bark, roots, and buds have been used medicinally for aches and pains. The plant is also used to make baskets and build houses. Slash pine is native to the U.S. and is in the Pinaceae (pine) family.

 
Photo Credit: © R.A. Howard. Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution.
Pinus elliottii
Common Name: slash pine
Plant Functional Group: Pine
Class > Order > Family: Pinopsida > Pinales > Pinaceae
What does the species look like?

Pinus elliotii is a perennial, erect, evergreen conifer, single-stemmed, reaching 60 to 100 feet in height when mature. Its bark is gray and scaly. The fine-textured foliage (long needles) is in bundles of two or three and is dark green. The male cones are red to yellow, occur in clusters, and release pollen when mature. The female cones are woody and glossy red-brown and have scales that are thin with fine prickles. Seeds, which mature within the scales, are brown, light, and winged. Slash pine has a long lifespan, sometimes living to be 200 years old.

  Slash pine grows in warm, humid, and damp conditions up to about 500 feet in elevation. It prefers moist, fine- to medium- textured soil conditions. It is intolerant of shade and salt, but can tolerate some drought and flooding. Slash pines are most common on pine "flatwood" soil areas of uplands.   The seeds of slash pines are eaten by birds and small mammals. The dense foliage provides cover and shelter for wildlife, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and bald eagles.
Where is the species found?
States & Provinces
AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX
Special Considerations for Observing

This species has separate male (pollen) and female (seed) cones.
Which phenophases should I observe?
Do you see...?
Needles Emerging needles
One or more emerging needles or needle bundles (fascicles) are visible on the plant. A needle or needle bundle is considered "emerging" once the green tip is visible along the newly developing stem (candle), but before the needles have begun to unfold and spread away at an angle from others in the bundle.
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How many needle bundles are emerging?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Young needles
One or more young, unfolded needles are visible on the plant. A needle is considered "young" and "unfolded" once it begins to spread away at an angle from other needles in the bundle (and is no longer pressed flat against them), but before it has reached full size or turned the darker green color or tougher texture of mature needles on the plant.

How many bundles with young needles are present?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Pollen cones Pollen cones
One or more fresh, male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones have overlapping scales that are initially tightly closed, then spread apart to open the cone and release pollen. Include cones that are unopened or open, but do not include wilted or dried cones that have already released all of their pollen.
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How many fresh pollen cones are present?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Open pollen cones
One or more open, fresh, male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones are considered "open" when the scales have spread apart to release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have already released all of their pollen.

What percentage of all fresh pollen cones (unopened plus open) on the plant are open?

  • Less than 5%
  • 5-24%
  • 25-49%
  • 50-74%
  • 75-94%
  • 95% or more
Pollen release
One or more male cones (strobili) on the plant release visible pollen grains when gently shaken or blown into your palm or onto a dark surface.
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How much pollen is released?

  • Little: Only a few grains are released.
  • Some: Many grains are released.
  • Lots: A layer of pollen covers your palm, or a cloud of pollen can be seen in the air when the wind blows

Seed cones Unripe seed cones
One or more unripe, female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Pinus elliottii, an unripe seed cone is green, purplish or brown with scales closed together.
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How many seed cones are unripe?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Ripe seed cones
One or more ripe, female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Pinus elliottii, a seed cone is considered ripe when it has turned brown and the scales have begun to spread apart to expose the seeds inside. Do not include empty cones that have already dropped all of their seeds.
More...

How many seed cones are ripe?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Recent cone or seed drop
One or more seed cones or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include empty seed cones that had long ago dropped all of their seeds but remained on the plant.
More...

How many seed cones have dropped seeds or have completely dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
What do these phenophases look like?

There is currently no photoguide available for this species. If you'd like help us create one, use the guidance document and species template provided here. Then send it via email to education@usanpn.org when it is complete.

USDA PLANTS profile for slash pine (USDA Symbol: PIEL )