Pinaceae Needles are fascicled, in groups of 3, about 17 inches long, drooping, evergreen, and flexible. Foliage is arranged in tufts on ends of branches.
Twigs are stout, red-brown and scaly with prominent silvery white buds.
Bark is red-brown and plated. Cones are about 11 inches long, brown-gray and armed with prickles. Longleaf pine is found on well-drained sandy soils and on swamp edges in the southeast Coastal Plain. Intolerant of shade. Click on photo to enlarge.