longleaf

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), commonly called longleaf, is a tall evergreen conifer native to the southeastern United States. It typically reaches 25–35 meters in height and can exceed 40 meters in favorable conditions; trunk diameters commonly range from 0.6–1.2 meters. The bark is thick and reddish-brown, and the crown is straight and cylindrical in mature trees. Leaves occur in bundles of three and are among the longest pine needles, typically 20–45 centimeters long.

Longleaf pine once dominated extensive fire-adapted woodlands and savannas on well-drained sandy soils along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The ecosystem relies on regular, low-intensity fires to reduce hardwoods and maintain a grassy understory. Seedlings may spend many years in a "grass stage" before rapid height growth, a strategy that helps them survive fire. Fire suppression and land-use changes have greatly reduced its range.

Cones mature in about two years; seeds are released as the scales open, aided by heat and wind. The tree is valued for timber and historically for naval stores such as turpentine and pitch.

Conservation and restoration efforts emphasize reintroducing fire, protecting remaining stands, and replanting. The longleaf pine is the state tree of Alabama and remains a symbol of the Southeast's endangered but recoverable fire-maintained landscapes. The longleaf ecosystem supports high biodiversity, including species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker and gopher tortoise.