Search for

Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Weathering Scientific Name Pinus palustris Trade Name Longleaf pine Family Name Pinaceae Common Names American pitch pine, Cedar pine, Florida longleaf pine, Florida yellow pine, Georgia pine, Georgia yellow pine, Hard pine, Heart pine, Long leaf pitch pine, Longleaf pine, Longleaf pitch pine, Longstraw pine, Palustris pine, Palustris-den, Pine, Pitch pine, Southern yellow pine, Spruce pine, Straw pine, Texas yellow pine, Walter pine, Yellow pine Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] United States Common Uses Agricultural implements, Barge fenders, Beams, Boards, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: masts, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chemical derivatives, Crossties, Decks, Decorative veneer, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Dressed boards, Factory construction, Fiberboard, Figured veneer, Flooring, Furniture, Harbor work, Hardboards, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Lock gates, Lumber, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Naval architecture, Paneling , Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Piling, Planks, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Rough boards/dimension stock, Rough construction, Sporting Goods, Structural plywood, Structural work, Studs, Sub-flooring, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Widespread, abundant and globally secure Some long-term concern for the species May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery Data source is Nature Conservancy Distribution Overview The species is found in well-drained sandy soils of flatlands and sandhills, and often grows in pure stands. Its range is mainly confined to the sandy and gravelly deposits of the Coastal Plains, from southeastern Virginia to eastern Florida, and west to eastern Texas. Longleaf pine essentiallys grow at sea level, usually below 600 feet (183 m), but is also found at elevations of up to 2000 feet (615 m) in the foothilhs of Piedmont. Heartwood Color Brown Red White Yellow Orange Pink Purple Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Pale brown White to cream Pale red to pink Brown Yellow, but may contain blue-black sap stain Red Light yellow, orange, and red Slow-Growth Longleaf pine usually recovered from structural timbers in pre-1900 warehouses and factories, or as sunken logs from river bottoms have a yellow heratwood after cutting, but the color turns to a deep pinkish tan to warm reddish brown within weeks because of high resin content The tree is believed to develop heartwood late in its life (18 years). Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red White to yellow Paler than heartwood Whitish to yellowish, orange-white, or pale yellow Well defined Variable width Grain Figure Growth rings (figure) Straight Distinct (figure) Even Clear growth rings (figure) Straight Distinct figure Straight and uneven Contrast between transition from earlywood to latewood is described as striking in its abruptness. Texture Fine Medium Even or uniform Uniform Coarse Fine Medium Medium coarse to coarse Coarse Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin exudation Latex or other ducts Gum/resin streaks Natural Durability Non-durable Durable Moderately durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Very durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from marine borers Durable Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderate resistance Heartwood is fairly resistant to termites and other insects Easily treated with chemical preservatives allowing it to be used in exterior applications Weathering Good Odor Has an odor Very fine Distinct (figure) Non-Descriptive resinous odor No specific taste Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Resin Content Sapwood contains 2% resin Heartwood contains 7% to 10% resin Heartwood butt logs and stumps contain 15% to 25% resin Longleaf pine is also the primary source of naval stores, such as turpentine and resin Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed UK=L US=T146C6S/T12C5S UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Regular T13-C6(4/4); T12-C5 (8/4) Schedule L (4/4) United Kingdom Dry at a slow speed Different kiln schedules recommended for highest quality stock Drying Defects Resin Exudation Ring Shakes Discoloration Distortion Slight surface checking Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Slight end splitting Severe surface checking Severe end splitting No twisting or warping No cupping, generally Excessive drying temperatures may cause checks, splits and brown sapwood stains Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Gum Exudation Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Easy Moderate Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 60-70 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is greater than 70 m Bark width is 30-40 mm Bark width is 40-50 mm Bark width is 25-30 mm Tree height is 10-20 m Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Little Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Moderate cutting resistance Long pitch saws recommended Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Medium Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Very good nail-holding properties Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Responds fairly well to ordinary machine tools, with moderate cutting resistance It planes, turns, moulds, bores, and mortises fairly well to yield generally clean finishes High resin content may be troublesome since cutters tend to gum up Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Incising before treatment is unnecessary Heartwood is moderately resistant Cellular structure allwos deep, uniform penetration Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Responds fairly wel to hand tools, with moderate cutting resistance Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy