Sonderegger Pine Rare Naturally occurring hybrid (Longleaf x Loblolly)

Nomenclature: Pinus × sondereggeri H.H. Chapm. DERIVATION: In honor of V.H. Sonderegger, state forester of Louisiana. OTHER COMMON NAMES: Bastard pine.   Sonderegger pine, the only named southern pine hybrid, is a naturally occuring cross between loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.). It was originally described by H.H. Chapman (1922) who named it after its discover V.H. Sonderegger. This pine usually occurs singly or in small groups where both loblolly and longleaf pines overlap in range. Because the flowering of both parental trees usually occur at the same time of year, no phenological barrier exists, thus the two freely cross. Tree characteristics are normally intermediate between loblolly and longleaf. Because this hybrid pine posseses heavy limbs and long-needled foliage like P. palustris, one may confuse Sonderegger pine with longleaf pine. However, the striped brown bud of P. × sondereggeri is a distinguishing characteristic; longleaf possese