Pond Pine is a common and characteristic tree of pocosins and other wet habitats in the North Carolina Coastal Plain.

Scotland Co., NC 4/18/10.

Quite similar to the common Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) in leaf, Pond Pine is most easily identified by its female cones, which are as broad as long and have weak prickles.

The cones are late to open (serotina means 'late' in Latin), sometimes but not always waiting until after a fire.

Scotland Co., NC 4/18/10.

Side-by-side comparison of Loblolly Pine (left) and Pond Pine (right). They're difficult to tell apart without a close look at the cones.

Bladen Co., NC 10/19/2008.

Bladen Co., NC 10/19/2008.

Bladen Co., NC 10/19/2008.

An unopened cone.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

An open cone.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

Unlike Loblolly Pine, Pond Pine may sprout needles and short branches directly from the trunk. Pitch Pine (P. rigida) does the same, but grows in drier areas and only in the Mountains and upper Piedmont.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

Bladen Co., NC 10/19/2008.

Bladen Co., NC 10/19/2008.

Bladen Co., NC 3/25/07.

Pond Pine is generally smaller in stature than Loblolly and does not grow as straight.

Bladen Co., NC 3/25/07.

Typical pocosin trees — Pond Pine on right, Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus) on left, with a sapling Atlantic Whitecedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) in the middle.

Bladen Co., NC 3/25/07.

Scotland Co., NC 4/18/10.

Scotland Co., NC 4/18/10.