Long Leaf Pine cones

Longleaf pines once covered an estimated 90 million acres in the SE region of the US. They now cover less than 3 percent of their original range. This tree is ...
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Longleaf pines once covered an estimated 90 million acres in the SE region of the US. They now cover less than 3 percent of their original range. This tree is on our 10 forested acres in the sandhills of Florida.
Longleaf pine seeds develop in cones and are dispersed by wind. When they fall to the ground, they must come in contact with soil to germinate. Historically leaf litter and debris were cleared away by forest fires that were sparked during lightning storms. When fire is suppressed, ground cover buildup prevents seeds from reaching the soil, and they can’t germinate. The seeds that are able to take root undergo an interesting life cycle that differs from most other conifers. Rather than spending its first few years growing in height, the longleaf pine goes through a grass stage.
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