Pitch Pine, Shortleaf Pine & Virginia Pine compared

Pitch Pine and Shortleaf Pine are very common in the Pine Barrens. Virginia Pine can be found in a few scattered areas, but is very common in those few areas.

I took samples of cones and needles from trees and branches on the ground. They can be seen in the slideshow/video. All cone measurements are of open cones.

Pitch Pine cones and needles- measurements:
From the samples I measured, the cones averaged 2¼" wide by 2" high. The largest cones were 2¾" wide by 3" high.
Most of the needles were between 4" and 5" long, with some being 5¼" long. They are in bundles of three.

Shortleaf Pine cones and needles- measurements:
From the samples I measured, the cones averaged 1¼" wide by 2½" to 2¾" high.
Most of the needles were 2½" to 3" long. They are in bundles of 2.

Virginia Pine cones and needles- measurements:
From the samples I measured, the cones averaged 1¾" wide by 1¾" high.
Most of the needles were 1½" to 1¾" long. They are in bundles of 2.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Pine Barrens
• New Jersey
• nature
• outdoors
• pine trees

[C4xFilms]

Sorry MillerMeteor my attempt at a... Joke of sorts. I like wildlife too don't get me wrong but I was joking around and I hope I did not offend you.

[MillerMeteor74]

@C4xFilms Oh okay. Well some of my friends have been dealing with haters lately, so I'm a little on the defensive.

[C4xFilmsLegacy]

Pitch Pine Latin name is Pinus Rigida NOT MAKING IT UP

[MillerMeteor74]

@C4xFilmsLegacy Why are you saying this? And what's with the part about not making it up?? I know the Latin name. Why make this comment?

[C4xFilms]

@MillerMeteor74 Haters, huh? People have to learn to appreciate nature. Haters tick me off.

[GoddessofPoetry9]

Yummy!!! 

[C4xFilms]

By the way it is C4xFilmsLegacy, I'm just on a different account.

[Kamoyaker]

Good plant ID vid. Love those Pitch Pines.

[MillerMeteor74]

@VirgilB01

Actually cones that are open all the time are much more common than the cones that are closed all the time.

As for fire towers, I climbed the Batsto tower one time when there was a watcher in it, and I talked with him for a half hour or whatever. At the time there were a couple of fires happening, and I could see the smoke. It was cool to see from up there.

[VirgilB01]

@MillerMeteor74 - Ok then, I thought 'summer heat' would also open those cones. Years ago I remember going fishing in the pines with a friend. The sun was so hot I almost passed out. Didn't take much for fires to start, The fire warden would kill you if he seen you with a cigarette in your mouth. He could spot the smoke all the way from the fire tower. Always make me wonder how cones are open on a tree that shows no sign of ever being burned.