Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)
Pitch pine, a native species of pine, can be identified by its needles of three. A rugged and salt-tolerant tree, it can grow in harsh, barren environments and needs disturbance to maintain its habitat. Named rigida due to its rigid cone scale and needles, pitch pine is a vital food source for the imperial moth caterpillars. The imperial moth is a species that is listed as “threatened” in Massachusetts. Pitch pine seeds are also a great source of winter food for many birds and other wildlife. Although currently of limited economic use, pitch pine was once a booming industry. Its sap was used to make pitch, tar, and turpentine. Due to its high resin content, “candlewood” was also used as a light source prior to the availability of other fuels, such as whale oil.
Recently due to the warming winters, the southern pine beetle, a rice grain-sized beetle native to North America, has made its way north to our shores. It is swiftly attacking our pitch pine forests. The landscape as we know it will change as these beetles eat their way across the island. The sight of the gnarled branches of these ubiquitous trees will disappear, changing the ecology of our natural communities and leaving a gap in our woodlands that young pitch pine sprouts will struggle to fill as they compete with other species, lack of disturbance, and development. Take the time to stop and admire these rugged trees while you can.