Pitch pine

MFA Acc. #: 25.620

Description

A medium size North American pine tree, Pinus rigida, found generally in mid-Atlantic states. The pitch pine is not a major lumber tree but has been used for ship building, mine timbers, and railroad ties. Nowadays the tree is used mainly for rough construction, pulp, crating, and fuel. Pitch pineyield pitch and (oil) turpentine. The wood's high resin content preserves it from decay.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Pinus rigida; pichepin (Fr.)

Pitch pine (Pinus rigida)

Other Properties

Evergreen needles: 2 1/2 to 5 inches (6-13 cm ) long

Cones: ovoid, 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm) long, light brown in color

Bark: mature trees have brownish thick flat plates with deep furrows

Height: may reach 80 feet (25 m)

Density	52-53 ppcf

Additional Images

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  Pitch pine (Pinus rigida)

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  Pitch pine (Pinus rigida)

Authority

• Random House, Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=52-53 ppcf (0.83-0.85 g/cm3)