VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Pinus palustris | Longleaf Pine 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Longleaf pine, a valued timber species, has clear, straight wood with
few defects [18].  It was used extensively in the past for timber and
ship building.  Most virgin stands have now been harvested.  Because
longleaf pine is not as easy to regenerate as other southern pine timber
species, it is not used as extensively as it once was.  Longleaf pine's
highly desirable wood, however, has stimulated efforts to regenerate it
[7,18].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Longleaf pine forests provide excellent habitat for bobwhite quail,
white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and fox squirrel.  Sixty-eight species
of birds utilize longleaf pine forests [45].  Birds, and mice,
squirrels, and other small mammals eat the large seeds.  Ants eat
germinating seeds, and razorback hogs eat the roots of seedlings [7,54].
Old-growth longleaf pine stands provide nesting habitat for the
endangered red-cockaded woodpecker [16].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Longleaf pine seed is more than 25 percent protein and more than
0.05 percent phosphorus [47].


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Longleaf pine is recommended for reforestation of dry, infertile, deep
sands in the southeastern United States.  Most of these sites were
formerly longleaf pine forests but were invaded by scrub oaks (Quercus
spp.) after timber harvesting [48].  Longleaf pine is of limited use for
rehabilitation of mine spoils in Alabama [50].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Longleaf pine's needles are used for mulch.  Resin is used in the
naval stores industry for gum turpentine and rosin production [7].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Longleaf pine communities are estimated to have once covered 59 to 87
million acres (24-35 million ha); now only 5 to 10 million acres (2-4
million ha) remain.  Of that remaining, most is second growth and
in poor condition [40,41].  Because of its timber value and because longleaf
pine communities house many endangered plant and animal species, forest
managers are attempting to regenerate more longleaf pine communities.

Natural regeneration of longleaf pine is difficult because of poor seed
production, heavy seed predation by animals, poor seedling survival, and
slow seedling growth.  Longleaf pine is best managed with even-aged
silviculture using a three-cut shelterwood system [2,5,18,25].  The
preparatory cut, 10 years before expected seed crop, should leave a
basal area of 60 to 70 square feet per acre (13.8-16.1 sq m/ha).  The
remaining trees will develop larger crowns and increase seed production.
The seed cut, 5 years before the expected seed crop, should leave a
basal area of 30 square feet per acre (6.9 sq m/ha).  The seedbed should
be prepared, usually with fire, when a good seed crop is evident from
large numbers of conelets.  Seed trees should be removed 1 to 2 years
after seedlings are established and before height growth has been
initiated [5,25].

The group selection method can be used to naturally regenerate
uneven-aged stands.  Up to 2 acres (0.8 ha) of trees should be cut so
discernible openings are created [2].

Methods for artificial regeneration of longleaf pine are detailed in
Rounsaville 1989 [45].

Disease and insects:  Longleaf pine is highly resistant to most diseases
and insects that infect other southern pines.  The main disease of
longleaf pine is brown-spot needle blight (Scirrhia acicola).
Defoliation suppresses and eventually kills grass-stage seedlings [7].
Infection of seedlings is less severe under a pine overstory than in the
open [4].  About 20 percent of seedlings are resistant to brown-spot
needle blight [17].  (See Fire Management).

Other diseases include pitch canker (Fusarium moniliforme var.
subglutinans), annosus root rot (Heterobasidion annosum), and cone rust
(Cronartium strobilinum).  Insects that attack longleaf pine include
black turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus terebrans), bark beetles (Ips
spp.), and seed bugs (Tetyra bipunctata and leptoglossus corculus),
which can decimate a seed crop [7].

Predation:  Despite fall germination, which minimizes the time seed lies
on the forest floor, predation by birds and small mammals can decimate a
seed crop [18].

Weather:  Because of the fall germination, low winter temperatures can
damage cotyledons.  March frosts can destroy flowers.  Hurricanes,
tornadoes, and lightning cause local damage [7,18].

Other considerations:  Moderate cattle grazing has no effect on longleaf
survival, but heavy grazing reduces young tree density by 20 percent
[54].  Hogs significantly reduce longleaf pine establishment and can
cause crop failure [30].

Related categories for Species: Pinus palustris | Longleaf Pine