Southern Florida Slash Pine, Wildewood Springs IIA.
I look up into the canopy of a southern Florida slash pine and it appears the tree has two types of pine cones. I pick up a sample of each one from the ground under the tree. I Google more information.
Here's what I learn:
All conifers are monoecious, which means that this slash pine tree contains separate male and female reproductive parts.
Slash pine female parts develop into shapes that we recognize as pine cones. However, the pine cone would not form if it wasn't for the catkin-like, purple male part.
Male part (left). Female (right).
The male part begins to develop in June and grows for weeks before entering a dormant state and remains so until midwinter when its pollen is shed (January – March). Its seeds are found between the scales of the woody female “cone.” Having done their job, the male gametes or “cones” let go and fall. (It’s a little more complicated than this, so here is a place to learn more.)
The cones of the Southern Florida slash pine are smaller than cones of other slash pines. The loblolly pine cone is larger.
Studying pine cones is a good way to identify conifers. Here is a link to a page to see a variety of cones.
Studying pine cones is a good way to identify conifers. Here is a link to a page to see a variety of cones.
The slash pine tree has a thick, long, taproot (think carrot-shaped).
Its "leaves" or pine needles usually come in a bundle of two.
A bundle of two needles next to two male cones.
Slash tree pine seeds are a major importance to wildlife. The seeds are eaten by chickadees, blue jays, nuthatches, pine siskins, quail, pine warblers, and other birds, as well as fox squirrels and gray squirrels.
A pine warbler. (Notice the needle bundles of two.)
One of my favorite times of the year is spring because I hear and see warblers. The pine warbler is a frequent visitor to the slash pines in the neighborhood. However, this tiny bird is in the treetop, so I need stillness and my binoculars for a good look.
Large slash pine trees are very important to cavity-nesting birds and wildlife (like the bald eagle and the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker).
Large slash pine trees are very important to cavity-nesting birds and wildlife (like the bald eagle and the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker).
