Synonyms: Table-mountain Pine.
Pinus pungens is generally short in stature and long-limbed, giving it a broad, squat appearance. Its cone scales each bear a long, stiff, stout, sharp spine. The needles are usually in clusters of two (sometimes 3) and very stiff, with sharp tips. The sharpness of both the cone-scale spines and the needles give the tree a heavily armored appearance. Cones persist on the tree for two or more years. Fire aids in opening of the cones and release of seeds, but some of the cones will eventually open even without fire. The species has declined in many areas due to fire suppression.
The primary range of Pinus pungens is in the Appalachians. It occurs as a disjunct, rare species in the Washington, DC, area, where it is a component of certain forests in the upper Anacostia watershed. There, "old-age Pinus pungens is well distributed, but produces a fairly small crown and canopy cover." (Simmons, et al., 2008).
Host to moth species including Pine Needleminer Moth and Nantucket Pine Tip Moth.
There are 26 records in the project database.
| GA | AL | WA | FR | CL | MO | HO | BA | BC | HA | CE | PG | AA | CV | CH | SM | KE | QA | CN | TA | DO | WI | SO | WO |
