Pond Pine
Pinus serotina
Family: Pinaceae
Natural History
Foliage of pond pine | Photo credit: Larry Korhnak, University of Florida
As can be inferred from its name, the pond pine prefers to grow in wet areas.
It is interesting to note that this water-loving tree is also adapted to fire. Pond pine has serotinous cones that open after exposure to fire and high heat. Additionally, this species will re-sprout needles from the trunk and limbs after a fire.
Like loblolly, pond pine cones persist on the tree for long periods of time. However, pond pine cones have a small stalk, are shorter, are more egg-shaped when closed, and squattier when open. Some books treat pond pine as a subspecies of pitch pine (Pinus rigida) and list it as Pinus rigida subsp. serotina.