Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Common forest trees of North Carolina

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  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-9672.jpg
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  • FOREST TREES SPRUCE PINE (Scrub Pine) (Pinus virginiana Mill.) THE spruce pine, scrub or southern jack pine, is found in greatest abundance over the upper and hilly parts of the State. It occurs often in pure stands in old fields and is very persistent in gullying, broken and very dry soils. It is one of our slower-growing pines. The side branches usually persist for many years, even after dying, thus giving SPRUCE PINE One-half natural size. a scrubby appearance to the tree which is responsible for one of its common names. The twisted and spreading leaves are borne two in a cluster. They vary from iy2 to 3 inches in length, are grayish green in color, and are shorter than those of any other pine native to the State. The fruit is a cone, or burr, averaging about 2 inches in length, narrow, and often slightly curved, with small prickles. Cones are produced almost every year, and, as they persist on the branches from 3 to 5 years, a tree top with many dry, open cones is characteristic of the species. The bark is thin, reddish brown, and broken into shallow plates. Even with age, the fissures in the bark are so shallow as to give a somewhat smooth appearance to the trunk of the tree. Except in the occasional large-sized trees, the wood is very knotty because of the persistence of the side branches. It is light and soft, but fairly durable in contact with the soil, so that it is being used to some extent for posts, poles and piling. The lumber is increasingly used for rough construction, but it warps easily with alternate wetting and drying. It is much used for paper pulp and firewood. 10
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