{{Short description|Species of conifer}} {{Speciesbox | image = Pinus clausa.jpg | image_caption = | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Farjon, A. |date=2013 |title=''Pinus clausa'' |volume=2013 |article-number=e.T34050A2841499 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T34050A2841499.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | status2 = G4 | status2_system = TNC | status2_ref = <ref name="ns" /> | display_parents = 3 | genus = Pinus | parent = Pinus subsect. Contortae | species = clausa | authority = (Chapm. ex Engelm.) Sarg. | range_map = Pinus clausa range map 1.png | range_map_caption = Generalized natural range of ''Pinus clausa'' }}
'''''Pinus clausa''''' is a species of pine endemic to the Southeastern United States. Its common names include '''sand pine''', '''Florida spruce pine''',<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> and '''scrub pine'''.<ref>{{GRIN | accessdate = 20 December 2017}}</ref>
==Distribution== The tree is found in two separate locations, one across central peninsular Florida, and the other along the western Florida panhandle coast into the Alabama coast. There is a range gap of about {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=on}} between the populations (from the Ochlockonee River to Cedar Key).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Myers |first1=Roland L. |title=Ecosystems of Florida |publisher=University of Central Florida Press |year=1990 |isbn=0-8130-1022-5 |editor-last1=Myers |editor-first1=Ronald L. |location=Orlando, Florida |chapter=Scrub and High Pine |editor-last2=Ewel |editor-first2=John J. |editor-link2=John Ewel |pages=162–163}}</ref> The sand pines of the Florida peninsula and of the Florida panhandle coast differ enough to be classified into two varieties or races, ''Pinus clausa'' var. ''clausa'' ("Ocala"), on the peninsula, and ''P. clausa'' var. ''immuginata'' ("Choctawhatchee"), along the panhandle coast. While most panhandle sand pines (var. ''immuginata'') have non-serotinous, or open, cones, most of the peninsular sand pines (var. ''clausa'') have serotinous, or closed, cones.{{Sfn|Brendemuehl|1990|p=294}}
Sand pine is largely confined to the very infertile, excessively well-drained, sandy habitat of Florida scrub. It is often the only canopy tree in the Florida scrub ecosystem. Stands of sand pines in peninsular Florida tend to be dense and of the same age, while stands of sand pines along the panhandle coast tend to be more open than on the peninsula, and with trees of varying age.{{Sfn|Brendemuehl|1990|pp=294–295}}
==Description== ''Pinus clausa'' is a small, often shrubby tree from {{convert|5|-|10|m|ft|abbr=on}}, exceptionally to {{convert|21|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall. It is vulnerable to windfall, and stands in areas prone to hurricanes can be found leaning in the same direction.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Jennifer H. |date=1992 |title=Species: Pinus clausa |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/pincla/all.html |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Fire Effects Information System}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Earle |first=Christopher J. |date=3 March 2023 |title=Pinus clausa (sand pine) description |url=https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_clausa.php |access-date=30 May 2023 |website=The Gymnosperm Database}}</ref>
The leaves are needle-like, in pairs, {{convert|5|-|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, and its cones are {{convert|3|-|8|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500926|title=Pinus clausa in Flora of North America @ efloras.org|website=www.efloras.org}}</ref>
Over much of its range, it is fire-adapted to stand-replacing wildfires, with the cones remaining closed for many years (''clausa'' = closed), until a natural forest fire kills the mature trees and opens the cones. These then reseed the burnt ground. Some populations differ in having cones that open at maturity, with seed dispersal not relying on fires.<ref name="Moore2008">{{cite book |author1=Moore, Gerry |author2=Kershner, Bruce |author3=Craig Tufts |author4=Daniel Mathews |author5=Gil Nelson |author5-link=Gil Nelson |author6=Spellenberg, Richard |author7=Thieret, John W. |author8=Terry Purinton |author9=Block, Andrew |title=National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America |publisher=Sterling |location=New York |year=2008 |page=70 |isbn=978-1-4027-3875-3}}</ref> Without a fire every 20-60 years, Pinus clausa populations will be succeeded by oak and hickory.<ref name=":0" /> Most fires occur in the spring due to low water content in the needles and high winds. In addition, resin content is highest in the spring, causing extreme or uncontrollable fire behavior, such as a 1935 fire in Ocala National Forest that burned 5,670 acres (2,295 ha) in only 4 hours.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Ecosystems of Florida |date=1991 |publisher=University of Central Florida Press |isbn=978-0-8130-1022-9 |editor-last=Myers |editor-first=Ronald L. |edition=2. printing |location=Orlando |editor-last2=Ewel |editor-first2=John J.}}</ref> thumb|right|Sand Pine bark
==Uses== ''Pinus clausa'' woodlands are an important part of the Florida scrub ecosystem, and provide habitat for songbirds, birds of prey, grey and flying squirrels, as well as the endangered Florida sand skink and Florida scrub jay, among other species. It is one of the few canopy trees able to grow in arid, sandy, and hot locations with minimal care.<ref name=":0" />
While the dense branching and crooked trunks makes this tree unsuitable for wood production, it is often used for wood pulp.<ref name=":1" />
==References== {{Reflist | <ref name="ns">{{cite web |title=''Pinus clausa'' |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129195/Pinus_clausa |website=NatureServe Explorer |access-date=17 June 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
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==Sources== *{{Cite book |last1=Brendemuehl |first1=R. H. |title=Silvics of North America: Volume 1, Conifers |publisher=Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture |year=1990 |editor-last1=Burns |editor-first1=Russell M. |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=294–301 |chapter=''Pinus clausa'' Sand Pine |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ppInnEc6b4wC&dq=pinus+clausa&pg=PA294|lccn=86-600518 |editor-last2=Honkala |editor-first2=Barbara H. |series=Agriculture Handbook 654|isbn=978-0-16-027145-8 }}
==External links== {{Commons category|Pinus clausa|position=left}} * [http://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile?symbol=PICL ''Pinus clausa''.] USDA PLANTS. * [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500926 ''Pinus clausa''.] Flora of North America.
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1259309}} {{Authority control}}
clausa Category:Endemic flora of the United States Category:Flora of Florida Category:Trees of Northern America Category:Garden plants of North America Category:Ornamental trees Category:Plants used in bonsai