DENDROLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Loblolly Pines are one of the fastest growing southern pines and are very adaptive. These native trees can be identified by the number of needles in an individual cluster. Loblolly Pines have three needles per cluster as compared to other pines that have two or five needles per cluster.

Detailed explanation-2: -Leaf: Evergreen needles, 6 to 9 inches long, with (usually) three yellow-green needles per fascicle. Flower: Species is monoecious; males long cylindrical, red to yellow, in clusters at branch tips; females yellow to purple.

Detailed explanation-3: -Distinguish between the two by looking for loblolly pine characteristics: loblolly pines always grow with three needles per fascicle, loblolly cones persist on the tree for a longer time than slash pine cones, and the prickles on the cones of loblolly pine are thicker and stiffer than those on the cones of slash pine.

Detailed explanation-4: -White Pine has 5 needles per cluster; needles are short and shiny. Red Pine has 2 needles per cluster; needles are long and matte. all remaining species have 2 or 3 needles per bundle.