When looking across the lake from the lodge at work, there is a slash pine in view, standing alone. It has an irregular form and patches of dense, matted needles. This contrasts with the more uniform appearance of nearby tall, straight pines, and makes a beautiful view even more interesting.
The slash pine, Pinus elliottii, is native to the southeastern United States. It gets its name from the “slashes” cut into the bark to collect resinous pine sap for the turpentine industry. Areas of its most natural swampy habitat are called “slashes” due to the presence of the slash pines. The tree’s range was once limited to subtropical maritime forests and woodlands in low-lying regions, due to its susceptibility to damage from fires. This limited range was from southeastern Louisiana to southern South Carolina. Now that fires are no longer the problem it once was, the trees’ range has extended into drier areas and can be found throughout the southeastern United States. Other names that have been used for the slash pine are southern pine, yellow slash pine, swamp pine, and Cuban pine.
Growth of the slash pine is from 13 to 24 inches per year, which is a medium rate. It can reach heights of 100 feet and have trunk diameter of over 3 feet. The tree can live 200 years. Slash pines require a minimum of 4 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight. They grow best in well-drained and acidic soil which may be clay, loamy, or sandy. The slash pine is more tolerant of wet sites than other pines, but it is also tolerant of dry conditions. Shallow roots could damage sidewalks and driveways, so it is best to use this tree at a distance from areas of concern. It is also good to remain clear of limbs that could drop in ice storms and other weather conditions.
Features of the slash pine are distinctive. Needles 
are arranged in fascicles (bundles) of 3, and sometimes 2. Fascicle sheaths where needles are attached are longer than most species, 1/4 or more inches long. Needles are 7 to 11 inches long, thick, and appear straight in the bundle (not twisted). The needles appear dense and are often matted on branches. Matted areas often include clusters of dead needles. Shaded lower limbs drop, but an open-grown tree will keep more of its lower branches. These lower branches contribute to the tree’s irregular appearance. The trunk is not usually straight. Bark on the slash pine is red-brown and platy, similar to that of loblolly pine but not as thick. The surfaces of the plates have thin, loose layers that flake off readily, which is different from the solid plates of the loblolly. Cones are 2 ½ to 6 ½ inches long, oval, and tan in color. Seedling trees appear as trees, not as grass as do some pine seedling species. These features make the slash pine one of the easier pines to identify.
When I examined the tree by the lake at work, I saw three small insect holes filled with sticky sap. It is said that the North Carolina nickname “Tar Heel state” came from how the pine sap or tar of these trees would stick to the feet and shoes (and anything else!) of workers in the turpentine industry. In this industry, sap or rosin collected from slash pines was used in production of tar and pitch to seal ships. Turpentine and other products distilled from rosin continues to be important as a preservative for wood and other products, as a paint thinner, and as an antiseptic. As a preservative and sealant it has been used on wooden boats and on ropes used at sea. 
British sailors handling such rope have been referred to as “tars” due to the tar stains on their hands. As an antiseptic it is used in the making of pine tar soap which has been used to moisturize and treat carbuncles, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and other forms of dermatitis. The tar is used for hoof care on animals, and as an antiseptic and distasteful protectant for chickens being pecked in a flock. In athletics, rosin is applied to bats and hands for a better grip. Amber, which is dried rosin, has been used in science experimentation and in jewelry. Though products from pine sap continue to be important, the turpentine industry as it was has all but disappeared from the southeastern United States in this century. Turpentine is now more conveniently obtained when pine chips are heated in the pulp wood paper making process. China is currently the chief producer in the turpentine industry, with other countries important producers also. Each country taps species of pine best suited for that area.
Rosin production and other characteristics vary with species, and pines in Georgia are divided into three genetic groups:
- Southern yellow pine group. This group includes the slash pine, shortleaf pine, longleaf pine, loblolly pine, spruce pine, table mountain pine, and pond pine.
- White pine group. This group includes the Eastern white pine.
- Jack pine group. This group includes the sand pine and Virginia pine.
The Southern yellow pine is the state tree of Alabama, Arkansas, and North Carolina. This is due to the prevalence and importance of 
these trees in those states. The pines in that group are considered hard pines, with many having characteristics comparable to the red oak. Hard and dense, they are considered some of the strongest softwoods for lumber. The grain is generally straight, with a fine to medium texture. Rosin content is high, giving it a distinct odor. It works well and is ideal for load-bearing capacity and fastener-holding ability. It is extensively used for timber framing and construction, flooring, paneling, plywood, utility poles and woodworking.
The slash pine is a useful tree, important for timber and turpentine production. It is also 
a great ornamental when used in open areas. This tree is common to those living in the deep South, and an important part of the South.
Featured below is gum spirits of turpentine produced from slash pine trees in south Georgia. This product and similar items are available for purchase here through my participation in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Any purchase through this link helps maintain this website and is appreciated.
