In 1971, loblolly pine seeds circled the moon when they were included in the Apollo 14 flight to the moon. Sycamore, sweetgum, redwood, and douglas fir seeds were also included on the mission. After their return to earth, seeds were germinated and resulting seedlings were planted next to their earth-bound counterparts. No difference was found from the controls, after years of comparison. As part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration, many of these loblolly “moon trees” were planted in locations as varied as the Pioneer Museum of Alabama in Troy, Alabama, the White House in Washington, D.C., and Appiano park in Tradate, Italy. A trip to the moon elevated the status of an already important tree.
“It’s probably a loblolly” is something I often hear people say when discussing a pine. They must know the odds are with this answer. Of all pines, it is estimated that loblollies make up over half of the standing pine volume in the southern United States. Due to its proliferation, the U.S. Forest Service says it is the second most common tree species in the United States, topped only by the red maple. It is the most commercially important tree in the Southeastern United States. It is valued in Arkansas as the state tree.
The loblolly pine, Pinus taeda, is a medium to large tree that can measure over 100 feet tall 
and have a spread of over 35 feet. The trunk diameter may be up to 5 feet. The tree is sometimes called bull pine due to the large size of its trunk, and oldfield pine due to the way it quickly colonizes abandoned fields. Limbs are ascending, with young trees retaining lower branches much longer than slash and longleaf pines. Older branches may droop, and they eventually shed to form a long, clear bole. The tree grows in an oval shape, and the crown is rounded and spreading. Young twigs are reddish-brown and scaly. The bark on young trees is somewhat scaly and reddish-brown, turning grayish-brown with age. Older trees have thick, ridged and furrowed bark with elongate, somewhat rounded and irregular plates. Very old trees have flat plates that are red-brown.
Needles on loblolly pines are 5 to 9 inches long, thick, slightly twisted, and appear dark yellowish or grayish green. They are held in fascicle bundles of 3, and rarely 2. Most needles drop in the fall and winter of their second season. Pollen cones are long, yellowish or redish brown, and grow on branch tips. Seed cones are initially yellow, turning to green. At maturity, cones are brown. They are rarely solitary, usually appear in clusters of 2 or 3, and sit on very short stalks or directly on the branch. Cones measure 3 to 6 inches in length, appearing egg-shaped or cylindrical. They usually drop soon after maturity. Cone scales have a diamond shape that is crossed by 
a distinct ridge with a stout, sharp spine in the middle. Mature cones are pictured both open and dry, and closed due to prevelent wet weather. Seeds are .2 to .25 inches long, with attached wings.
The loblolly pine’s northern range is limited by low temperatures, and its western range is limited by low rainfall. It is one of the fastest-growing southern pines, growing over 24 inches per year. Its rapid growth allows it to dominate open sites early. It grows best in full sunlight and moist but well-drained and acidic soils that are sandy, loamy, or clay. The tree can tolerate conditions of some flooding and moderate drought, but it tolerates fire poorly. When frequent forest fires were common, the tree was primarily found in moist lowlands and swampy areas where the mire 
reminded settlers of bubbling porridge, or lolly. The loblolly pine’s name references this association. Loblollies today rarely encounter forest fires that once limited them, and they have spread in invasive fashion far beyond former bounds. The tree is also spread by extensive planting for timber and pulpwood.
Loblolly wood is used primarily for pulpwood, because it is of lower quality than that of longleaf and shortleaf pine. However, the lumber is still valuable and is marketed as southern yellow pine. It is used for framing, furniture, plywood, composite boards, posts, poles, pilings, crates, boxes, pallets. Trees are sometimes planted to stabilize eroded or damaged soils, and they can be used as 
shade or ornamental trees. Bark is used for mulch. Needles are sometimes used for flower beds, but the longer needles of longleaf and slash pines are usually preferred.
Where I work, kids used to be very familiar with the “Pine Tree and Red Hill Agreement”. This document brought to their attention the fact that we provided for them the raw materials and environment for change, but what was made of this was up to them. The loblolly pine, with its broad trunk and attractive features, typified very well the raw possibilities available to them. This tree has value on many levels.
