Life History and Disturbance Response of Pinus clausa (Sand Pine )
Family: Pinaceae
Guild: pioneer, dry-site, shade intolerant
Functional Lifeform: small-medium, evergreen conifer
Ecological Role: This small tree is most often encountered on sand ridges and sand hills near coastal areas. It grows well on excessively drained, infertile acid soils found in these locations. It is found in open stands growing with the evergreen oaks.
Lifespan, yrs (typical/max): 50/100
Shade Tolerance: intolerant
Height, m: up to 20m
Canopy Tree: yes
Pollination Agent: wind
Seeding, yrs (begins/optimal/declines): 5/?/?
Mast Frequency, yrs: 1yr or 4-6 depending on variety
New Cohorts Source: seed
Flowering Dates: early fall-early winter
Flowers/Cones Damaged by Frost: early fall for non-serotinous cones
Seed Banking: up to 5 yrs in cones
Cold Stratification Required: no
Seed Type/Dispersal Distance/Agent: winged/<100m/wind
Season of Germination: variable
Seedling Rooting System: seedlings develop a fine root system with many laterals
Sprouting: no
Establishment: Seedbed Preferences
Substrate: sand
Light: variable
Moisture: moist required
Temperature: neutral
Disturbance Response:
Fire: Although mature trees are have a low tolerance to fire due to thin bark, this species regenerates stands quickly as its serotinous combs release large amounts of seed following fire. Fire eliminates much of the scrub vegetation leaving an ideal seedbed for sand pine. The Choctawhatchee variety of sand pine has mostly non-serotinous cones.
Weather:
Air Pollution:
Exotics: