What Is The State Tree of Arkansas?
Loblolly Pine is the State Tree of Arkansas. Pinus taeda is the scientific name of Loblolly Pine and it is commonly known as Loblolly Pine. It is also known as Arkansas pine, North Carolina pine, and Oldfield pine. Pinus are the genus of the Loblolly Pine and P. taeda is its species. The Arkansas’s State tree Loblolly Pine is belongs from the family of Pinaceae, which are native to the Southeastern United States, from central Texas east to Florida, and north to Delaware and southern New Jersey. Pines are among the most abundant and commercially imperative tree species. It is mostly important for timber and pulp round the world. That’s why it is widely spread and it is grown in different parts of the world. On basis of the facts that stated above, on June 23, 1939, the state General Assembly of Arkansas designated the Pine as the official state tree of Arkansas. Contradictory to popular credence, no specific type of pine tree was specified in the Session Law. There are at least four species of pines are considered as indigenous to the state of Arkansas and they are; shortleaf pine, loblolly pine, longleaf pine, and slash pine. It is not only the State tree of Arkansas but it is also State/national tree of many other countries or states with its variety.
Facts about Arkansas’s State Tree (Loblolly Pine)
- Common name: Loblolly Pine.
- Genus: Pinus
- Species: Pinus taeda
- Found in: native to the Southeastern United States, from central Texas east to Florida, and north to Delaware and southern New Jersey.
- Flower: The Loblolly Pines have produces both male and female flower in same tree. The male flowers are long, yellow-red color, and the female oval, yellow- purple color.
Bark: The bark of the Loblolly Pine trees is rather capricious. The juvenile plants bark are a bit - scaly, brown in color, which will ultimately develop to ribbed and wrinkled, with somewhat evident blocks and later it become red-brown scaly plates.
- Leaf: The leaves of the Loblolly Pine called ‘needle’, which are generating in bundles of three leaves, yellow-green, leathery and long. Its lengths are in between 6 to 9 inch.
- Fruits: The fruits of Loblolly Pine called ‘cone’. There are two types of cone have the pine trees, which one for generates pollen and another for develop and dropping the seeds. The smaller pollen cones can be generates an enormous amount of pollen per year and that are attached to new shoots. The seed-bearing cones are larger in size and woody types, which are generally attached with limbs on tinny stalks. The fruits have been matured in the period of September to October.
- Purpose: ornamental.
- Symbolism: Wisdom and longevity, peace, virtue, good luck, prosperity, and good health, fertility, masculinity, and winter.
The Pine is the easiest recognized plant by the peoples throughout the world. There are almost 115 species of the pines exist in the world (different opinions 105 to 125 species) most of which are native to the Northern Hemisphere. At least 36 significant species of pines are native to the Northern America and Canada out of which the 13 most exposed pines are; Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus),Western white pine (Pinus monticola),Sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana),Red pine (Pinus resinosa),Pitch pine (Pinus rigida),Jack pine (Pinus banksiana),Loblolly pine (Pinus palustris),Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata),Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda),Slash pine (Pinus elliottii), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana),Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta),Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa).
The Arkansas’s State tree the Loblolly Pine is one of the most precious conifer species in the South eastern United States. The tree is also outstandingly good at adapting to stern mountain atmosphere that makes it valuable types of plant for afforestation on high terrain and as a protection against erosion. It is also a well-liked ornamental tree in parks and open large gardens, giving steady plant it cannot growth rapidly on ample range locations. The height of the Loblolly pine tree is in between of 30–35 m (98–115 ft) with a diameter of 0.4–1.5 m (1.3–4.9 ft). Occasionally some species may reach 50 m (160 ft) tall, which are the biggest of the southern pines. The Loblolly pine is being the largest part of forestry wealth of southern United States with its commercial importance.
The Arkansas’s State tree the Loblolly Pine was played a vital role to the state economy of Arkansas since the Colonial Era, which is still going on. The essential commodities like resin, turpentine and timber those were needed for Navy ships and the merchants came from the pine tree. The pine has been still uses in various aspects due to its nature and availability and affordability. It has been used as building materials, as raw materials of paper, pulp and moldings Industries, also used for construction lumber, furniture and floors etc. It contains lot of medicinal properties like as; antioxidant, astringent, antiseptic, inflammatory, expectorant, and Vitamin C that is a potential remedy of cold-flu-cough, congestion and scurvy.
The Pine trees have been used as Christmas tree since 16th Century begins from the ancient Germany and then it occurs internationally from 19th century. Most of the Christian people throughout the world choose it as Christmas tree. It is also burly related with Christmas and the Christmas season. The branches of pine trees are tough enough to embrace ornaments, candles, and strings of lights. Its distinctive aroma attracts people frequently towards it.
To sum up, Pine is the people’s favorite State Tree of Arkansas, which symbolized Wisdom and longevity, peace, virtue, good luck, prosperity, and good health, fertility, masculinity, and winter. Although it is an official State tree symbol of Arkansas, it outstandingly represents and glorifies the spirit of Arkansas culture.
Ref:
https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/arkansas/state-tree/pine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arkansas_state_symbols
