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Catalog Data

Life Form:
Evergreen tree
Average Height:
30-60'
Bark Characteristics:
Young: smooth, reddish, scaly Mature: gray-brown, thick, shaggy
Cone Characteristics:
Seed cones are narrowly ovoid, red-brown, with rigid scales. Born in tree's crown. 1.5-3" long.
Foliage Characteristics:
Yellow-green, twisted needles with serrulate margins. 2 per fascicle. 1.5-3" long.
Structure:
Oval
Range:
E USA
Habitat:
Piedmont and lower slopes of Appalachian Mountains; sea coast in north, interior and higher altitudes in south. Humid and cool; 1-650 meters
Description:
As implied by its name, the Virginia pine is a native Virginian tree. Although it has an irregular growth form, and the needles can turn slightly yellow in the winter, it is a popular choice for Christmas trees in the south. Historically, the Virginia pine was used heavily by the Cherokee for medicinal purposes, and by non-Cherokee settlers for mines and to construct railroad tracks.
The Virginia pine is Endangered in New York.
Hardiness:
-20 - 20 F
Ethnobotanical Uses:
Cherokee used needles or gum to scent soap, and ashes from burned branches were thrown on hearth fire after death in a home.
Medicinal / Pharmaceutical:
Cherokee used various parts of tree to treat diarrhea, rheumatism, as a cold remedy, for fevers, for swollen breasts, hemorrhoids, for swollen testicles caused by mumps, tuberculosis, constipation, intestinal worms, colics, measles, hysterics, and venereal disease. Infusions also used as a stimulant.
Provenance:
From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
Topic:
Trees  Search this
Living Collections  Search this
Common Name:
Scrub Pine
Virginia Pine
Spruce Pine
Group:
[vascular plants]
Class:
Equisetopsida
Subclass:
Pinidae
Order:
Pinales
Family:
Pinaceae
Genus:
Pinus
Species:
virginiana
Accession Number:
2011-2991A
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
Data Source:
Smithsonian Gardens
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax7f6769ffd-9167-432e-9ad0-dee36a1d8aa3
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:ofeo-sg_2011-2991A