Skip to content
logo
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Donate
search
newsearch
  • Close
  • Home
  • Events
  • News
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Who We Are
    • About The Alliance
      • Staff
      • Board of Directors
  • What is Longleaf?
    • The Tree
      • Life Stages
      • The History
      • The Economics
      • The Misconceptions
    • The Ecosystem
      • Built by Fire
      • Habitats
      • Species Diversity
    • Restoration & Management
      • Groundcover Restoration
      • Herbicides
      • Longleaf Regeneration
      • Prescribed Fire
    • Photo Gallery
  • What We Do
    • Restoration Through Partnerships
      • America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative
      • LEO
      • Corporate Sustainability Programs
      • Nurseries
    • Longleaf Assistance
    • Conserving Diverse Forests
      • Rare Species
      • Forests & Water
      • Georgia Sentinel Landscape Prescribed Fire
    • Education & Outreach
      • Longleaf Academy Program
      • Biennial Longleaf Conference
      • Burner Bob®
      • Next Generation
      • The Longleaf Leader
      • The Longleaf Library
      • The Owen Fellowship
  • What You Can Do
    • Support The Alliance
    • Conservation Partners
    • Get Involved
    • Merchandise
    • Subscribe

The Tree

HomeWhat is Longleaf?The TreeThe History

The History

The average American's view of the natural communities of the Southeastern U.S. is that it is comprised mainly of swamps, alligators, and big, old moss-hung cypress trees. On the contrary to this view, when early explorers visited the southeastern region they saw "a vast forest of the most stately pine trees that can be imagined, planted by nature at a moderate distance...enameled with a variety of flowering shrubs." Fire defined where the longleaf pine forest was found and fostered an ecosystem diverse in plants and animals.

Longleaf pine's domain was vast. By all accounts, the longleaf pine forest dominated the southern landscape. Starting in southeast Virginia, the longleaf pine forest stretched southward through nine states eventually stopping in east Texas (over 140,000 square miles).

For countless generations, cultures were both transformed by and helped to transform the longleaf piney woods. However, starting about 150 years ago, over-exploitation of the longleaf pine forest accelerated tremendously and the face of the southern landscape changed radically.

Chemical stimulation to gum yield - chipper and acid application at Olustee, Florida. October, 1942. Photo by C. S. Shopmeyer, U.S. Forest Service.
Chemical stimulation to gum yield - chipper and acid application at Olustee, Florida. October, 1942. Photo by C. S. Shopmeyer, U.S. Forest Service.
Distilleries produced refined turpentine and rosin from crude pine resin. Florida. Photo by Panshin, et al. U.S. Forest Service.
Distilleries produced refined turpentine and rosin from crude pine resin. Florida. Photo by Panshin, et al. U.S. Forest Service.
Naval stores orchard using the cup and gutter technique to collect resin—a less intrusive method compared to the early practice of "boxing." Photo by Panshin, et al. U.S. Forest Service.
Naval stores orchard using the cup and gutter technique to collect resin—a less intrusive method compared to the early practice of "boxing." Photo by Panshin, et al. U.S. Forest Service.
Turpentine tools: 1. Broad axe; 2. Gutter chisel or Pringle axe; 3. Maul; 4. Hogal; 5. Hack; 6. Puller; 7. Push down scraper; 8. Pull down scraper; 9. Apron and gutter puller; 10. Dip iron. Photo by U.S. Forest Service.
Turpentine tools: 1. Broad axe; 2. Gutter chisel or Pringle axe; 3. Maul; 4. Hogal; 5. Hack; 6. Puller; 7. Push down scraper; 8. Pull down scraper; 9. Apron and gutter puller; 10. Dip iron. Photo by U.S. Forest Service.

BROWSE THIS SECTION

  • The Tree
    • Life Stages
    • The Economics
    • The History
    • The Misconceptions
  • The Ecosystem
    • Built by Fire
    • Habitats
    • Species Diversity
  • Restoration & Management
    • Groundcover Restoration
    • Herbicides
    • Longleaf Regeneration
    • Prescribed Fire
  • Photo Gallery

From our feed

Another awesome learning opportunity for your cale Another awesome learning opportunity for your calendar -  this time in Georgia!The Longleaf Management Field Day at Dixon Memorial State Forest on May 25th  will include discussions and stops to observe site prep considerations, the effects of prescribed fire, and forest resource opportunities including pine straw production. If you currently have longleaf on your property or are considering planting it, this is a great opportunity to learn more.Topics will include:– Site Preparation– Wildlife Habitat Management– Prescribed Burning– Income Streams– Cost-Share ProgramsHosted in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Okefenokee-Osceola Local Implementation, Georgia Tree Farm, and Georgia Conservancy. Sign up at longleafalliance.org > events (link in bio).P.S. This event is great compliment to two FREE events happening this week: Longleaf Management Virtual Webinar on May 18th and the Forestry & Wildlife Expo on May 21st!
Are you a landowner who currently has longleaf pin Are you a landowner who currently has longleaf pine on your property or are you considering planting it?How you choose to manage your longleaf can depend on your property, objectives, management costs, potential income, and any available financial incentives.Join The Longleaf Alliance and our partners on May 18th for a one-hour virtual webinar discussing longleaf pine management:– Managing Longleaf for Timber – Mark McClellan, Georgia Forestry Commission– Managing Longleaf for Wildlife – Anthony Kroeger, Georgia Department of Natural Resources– Managing Longleaf for Non-Timber Resources – Wendy Ledbetter, The Longleaf AllianceThis FREE virtual event is hosted by the Okefenokee-Osceola Local Implementation Team with sponsorship by The Nature Conservancy. Advanced registration is required. Sign up now at longleafalliance.org > events (link in bio).
Growing-season prescribed fire can promote viable Growing-season prescribed fire can promote viable wiregrass seed production, increase wildflower abundance, and control hardwoods. 🔥For sites that have already seen winter burns, evaluate the stands for desired fire effects. If you are not satisfied with the results, you may consider a shift in the timing of your burning. Watch this video to hear why Jerome Murphy did so!P.S. Watch the full prescribed fire video on our YouTube channel (link in bio).
Who inspires you in the longleaf community? Cele Who inspires you in the longleaf community? Celebrate those worthy individuals and teams while also giving them a platform to inspire others in the entire longleaf community! Nominations for the 🏆 2022 Regional Longleaf Award 🏆 are being accepted until June 10th! Details at longleafconference.com > awards (link in bio)
Load More

Conservation partners

https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ip_jpg-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/PRT_ID_green_tag_L-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Bartlett-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/AMB-marque-black-e1616079416743.png
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Blantons-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/advantage-forestry-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/PCA-Logo-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Whitfield-Logo-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Aria-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/gp_stack_logo-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ifco-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ArborGen-2018-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FIA-Stacked-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/McLeod-Rhodes-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/RMS-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Meeks-resized.jpg
https://longleafalliance.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/logofinalwithtagline-resized.jpg
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • What is Longleaf?
  • What We Do
  • What You Can Do
  • The Longleaf Library
  • Photo Gallery
  • Merchandise
  • Events
  • News
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
footer-logo

12130 Dixon Center Road
Andalusia, Alabama 36420
Phone: 334.427.1029







©2021 The Longleaf Alliance
site by HLJ Creative