Pinus taeda L.

Medium-sized to large, open tree. Bark lightly to moderately fissured, grey on surface, pinkish beneath; ridges between fissures broad. Shoots greenish or yellowish, glabrous. Buds ± broad-cylindric, not or scarcely resinous; scales reddish brown, free and often spreading, prominently fimbriate. Lvs 3 per fascicle, mostly in terminal tufts, (9)–13–21 cm × 1–1.3 mm, semi-rigid, bright green; resin canals median; sheaths usually 0.5–1 cm long on mature lvs. ♂ strobili 1.5–2 cm long, narrow-cylindric. Conelets sessile or nearly so; scales sharply mucronate. Mature cones ± pendent, deciduous, falling intact, sessile, 7–12 × 5–8 cm when open, ovoid-oblong or almost oblong, brown, dehiscent, symmetric; apophyses ± flattened except for horizontal keel; umbo with recurved spine c. 3–5 mm long. Seed wing oblong-obovoid, c. 2 cm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]