Scientific Name
Pinus clausa
Trade Name
Sand Pine
Family Name
Betulaceae
Common Names
Sand pine, Scrub pine, Spruce pine
Regions of Distribution
North America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Canada, United States
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure | ||||||||||||
| Very rare | ||||||||||||
| Rare in its natural habitat | ||||||||||||
| Locally found in a restricted range | ||||||||||||
| Locally found in a restricted range | ||||||||||||
| Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range | ||||||||||||
| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center | ||||||||||||
| Data source is Nature Conservancy | ||||||||||||
| Abundant in some locations |
Rare in its natural habitats in Florida and Alabama in the US
Distribution Overview
This species occurs almost exclusively in Florida, where it is found in two separate regions about 125 miles (200 km) apart. Primary growth site is in central Florida, and the secondary site is located in the western part of the state. The species grows from sea level to an elevation of about 200 feet (60 m). Its range extends to Fort Lauderdale on the Atlantic Coast, and to Tampa on the Gulf Coast. The species is also reported to extend westward into Alabama. Sand pine trees growing in the western part of its range are typified by cones that open when mature, but those growing in central Florida are reported to open and release their seeds only after a severe fire sweeps through its range. The habitat in both areas are, however, believed to be fragmented and are continually being depleted by development. The tree prefers well-drained sandy soils, and is often found in pure stands.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Ages to dark rich shade of reddish-brown upon exposure |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Yellowish | ||||||||||||
| Whitish |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight |
| Straight |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Coarse |
Natural Durability
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to termites |
Odor
| Has an odor | ||||||||||||
| Has a taste |
Drying Defects
| Discoloration | ||||||||||||
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Distortion |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Slowly | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries at a moderate speed | ||||||||||||
| Naturally dries quickly |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 40-50 m | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood width is 5-10 cm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 50-60 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 60-70 m |
Blunting Effect
| Little |
Boring
| Fairly easy to very easy | ||||||||||||
| Very good to excellent results |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Stability – Medium Movement |
Nailing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Moderately resistant to preservative treatment |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Responds Readily |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Sanding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Screwing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Veneering Qualities
| Suitable for peeling | ||||||||||||
| Veneers moderately easy | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to veneer | ||||||||||||
| Veneers easily |
Steam Bending
| Unsuitable |
Painting
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Varnishing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Strength Properties
| Hardness = medium | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 7350 | 11368 | psi |
| Crushing Strength | 441 | 819 | psi |
| Hardness | 715 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 3371 | 6782 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1000 | 1382 | 1000 psi |
| Work to Maximum Load | 9 | 9 | inch-lbs/in3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.32 | ||
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 10 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 516 | 799 | kg/cm2 |
| Crushing Strength | 31 | 57 | kg/cm2 |
| Hardness | 324 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 237 | 476 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 70 | 97 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Work to Maximum Load | 0.63 | 0.63 | cm-kg/cm3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.32 | ||
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | % |
References
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin.
Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees – Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.
Mirov, N.T. 1967. The Genus PINUS. The Ronald Press Company, New York. LCC Card No. 67-14783.
Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.
USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook – Wood as an Engineering Material, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.
USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin