BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Pinus elliottii | Slash Pine 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Slash pine is a native evergreen conifer with thick platy bark and
relatively long needles.  It grows rapidly and lives approximately 200
years.  Slash pine has an extensive lateral root system and a moderate
taproot [24].  The typical slash pine variety has a straight bole and a
narrow ovoid crown.  Mature trees of this variety vary in height from 60
to 100 feet (18-30.5 m) and average 24 inches (61 cm) in d.b.h. [13].

The two varieties differ considerably in morphology.  South Florida
slash pine has longer needles, smaller cones, denser wood, and a thicker
and longer taproot [24].  The trunk forks into large spreading branches
which form a broad, rounded crown [13,46]].  Mature trees attain only 56
feet (17 m) in height.  The relatively short stature of south Florida
slash pine probably evolved to avoid tropical storm damage [21].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte (mesophanerophyte)


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Seed production and dissemination:  Slash pine is monoecious.  Trees
usually begin producing cones between 10 and 15 years of age.  Good cone
crops occur every 3 years for the typical variety and every 4 years for
the south Florida variety.  Ninety percent of the light, winged seeds
fall within 150 feet (46 m) of the source tree [24].

Germination and seedling development:  Germination is epigeal and occurs
within 2 weeks of seedfall.  Slash pine seeds have good viablility.
Exposed mineral soil enhances germination [24].

Open-grown seedlings of the typical slash pine variety grow 16 inches
(41 cm) in the first year.  Root development is best in clayey soil and
worst in sandy soil [24].

Seedlings of the south Florida variety have a 2- to 6-year grass stage
similar to that of longleaf pine.  During the grass stage, seedlings
develop an extensive root system and a thick root collar.  Once
initiated, height growth is rapid [13].  South Florida slash pine
seedlings are more drought and flood tolerant than those of the typical
variety [1,2].

Vegetative reproduction:  South Florida slash pine grass-stage seedlings
can sprout from the root collar if top-killed [24].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Slash pine grows in a warm, humid climate and up to about 500 feet (150
m) in elevation.  Slash pine grows best on mesic flatwood sites and on
pond or stream margins where soil moisture is ample but not excessive,
and drainage is poor [24].  Established stands grow well on flooded
sites, but flooding restricts seedling establishment [14].  Soils
include Spodosols, Ultisols, and Entisols.  Slash pine's native range
was probably more restricted by frequent fire than by soil types or soil
moisture.  With fire suppression, slash pine has spread to drier sites
[2,14].

The south Florida slash pine variety grows from near sea level to about
70 feet (20 m) in elevation [8].  This variety grows in a wide range of
conditions, from wet sites in the northern part of its range to
well-drained sandy soils and rocky limestone outcrops in the South
[2,21].

Tree associates of slash pine include live oak (Quercus virginiana),
water oak (Q. nigra), post oak (Q. stellata), blackjack oak (Q.
marilandica), myrtle oak (Q. myrtifolia), bluejack oak (Q. incana),
turkey oak (Q. laevis), southern red cedar (Juniperus silicicola), pond
cypress (Taxodium ascendens), cabbage palmetto (Sabal palmetto), red
maple (Acer rubrum), and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) [8].

Understory species on drier sites include pineland threeawn (Aristida
stricta), bluestem (Andropogon spp.), saw-palmetto (Serenoa repens),
gallberry (Ilex glabra), fetterbush (Lyonia lucida), and pitcher plant
(Sarracenia spp.).  On moist to wet sites, understory species include
southern bayberry (Myrica cerifera), buckwheat-tree (Cliftonia
monophylla), yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), and dahoon (I. cassine).
Undergrowth on very wet sites is primarily Sphagnum spp. [8].

More than fifteen species of herbs are endemic to the Miami rock ridge
pinelands where south Florida slash pine dominates [36].



SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Slash pine is relatively intolerant of competition and intolerant of
shade [24].  It will reproduce in small openings and invade open
longleaf pine stands, but growth is reduced by competition and partial
shade [22].  Slash pine invades fallow agricultural fields and disturbed
areas.  It will invade longleaf pine stands where fire has been absent
for at least 5 to 6 years.  In the absence of fire, slash pine flatwoods
are replaced by southern mixed hardwood forests on drier sites and by
bayheads on wetter sites [29].

South Florida slash pine may be an edaphic or fire climax on flatwood
sites [8].  In the absence of fire, this variety is also replaced by
hardwoods.  In pine rocklands, hardwood succession is rapid, but in pine
flatwoods, vegetative changes occur more slowly [42].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Male strobili begin to develop in June, grow for several weeks, and then
go dormant until midwinter.  Pollen is shed from late January to
February.  Female strobili begin to develop in late August and grow
until they are fully developed.  Cones mature in September,
approximately 20 months after pollinization.  Seed fall is in October
[24].

Related categories for Species: Pinus elliottii | Slash Pine