BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Pinus virginiana | Virginia Pine 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Virginia pine is a native, medium-sized, two-needle pine.  Average
height at maturity (50 years of age) is 50 to 75 feet (15-23 m) on
better sites [7].  Its long horizontal branches are irregularly spaced
[5,19].  Open-grown trees have persistent, heavy branches to the ground
[25].  The trunk is relatively short, with an open, flat-topped crown
[12].  The needles are about 2 inches (5 cm) long.  The bark of young
stems is smooth; older stems have platy scales with shallow fissures
[14,25].  It is relatively short-lived; senescence usually occurs around
65 to 90 years.  It rarely lives beyond 150 years of age [12,14,15].  The
root system is relatively shallow except on deep sands, where the taproot
can be from 6.6 to 10 feet (2-3 m) deep [25].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Age of sexual maturity for open-grown Virginia pine is usually around 5
years of age.  Some precocious specimens have flowered at 18 months.
Sexual maturity may be delayed for up to 50 years of age in trees in
suppressed stands [7].  Virginia pine is a prolific seed producer
[15,29].  The cones open at maturity, and persist for at least several
years [14].  Most seeds are dispersed within 100 feet (30 m) of the
parent [7].  Exposed mineral soil is required for successful seedling
establishment; little to no shade is required.  Seedlings are tolerant
of lower soil moisture than most other pines, though growth is slower on
dry sites [7].
 
Asexual regeneration:  Sprouts on cut stumps of Virginia pine have been
reported, but are usually short lived [7].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Virginia pine grows soils derived from marine deposits, crystalline
rocks, sandstones and shales, and to a lesser extent, limestone [7].
Most of these soils are well- to excessively drained, sandy, and weakly
acidic [14,19,27,29].  The best growth of Virginia pine is on clay, loam,
or sandy loam.  Growth is poor on serpentine, shallow shale, or very
sandy soils [7].  Soil pH ranges from 4.6 to 7.9.  Virginia pine occurs
at elevations from 50 to 2,500 feet (15-760 m), with hilly topography
[7,27,58].
 
Tree associates not previously mentioned include scarlet oak (Q.
coccinea), hickories (Carya ovata, C. ovalis, C. glabra), blackgum
(Nyssa sylvatica), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), eastern hemlock
(Tsuga canadensis), and eastern white pine [7,33].  There is usually a
sparse shrub understory [27].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Obligate Initial Community Species 
 
Virginia pine is an aggressive invader of burned sites [5,14,37].  It is
intolerant of shade [7,14].  Virginia pine is a transitional type, and
is usually quickly replaced by tolerant hardwoods [7].  In pioneer
stands in Virginia, Virginia pine made up to 50 percent of the total
importance value.  Its importance decreases with stand age.  Mixed stands
with white oak, yellow-poplar and sweetgum are formed by mid-succession.
Late-successional stands are dominated by oaks and hickories, with very
little Virginia pine remaining [38,50].

Virginia pine is usually well represented in early stages of oldfield
succession on dry sites [40].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Virginia pine pollen is released from March to May, depending on
latitude [7,14].  Fertilization occurs in June, 13 months after
pollination.  Seeds mature by mid- to late August.  Cones mature by late
September to early November.  Seed dispersal begins in October and is
usually complete by January [7].

Related categories for Species: Pinus virginiana | Virginia Pine