Habitat: Planted in plantations in Illinois, rarely escaped.
Range: New Jersey to Tennessee, south across Arkansas to eastern Texas, east to central Florida; not native in Illinois.
Distinguishing Features: The Loblolly Pine is distinguished by its stiff, long needles usually in clusters of 3 and by its long cones. It is similar to Shortleaf Pine but has longer needles and cones.
WATER ELM
Planera aquatica Gmel.
Other Name: Planer-tree.
Growth Form: Small tree to 30 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 10 inches; crown broadly rounded, with slender branchlets.
Bark: Gray or pale brown, smooth at first but later splitting into large scales.
Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown to gray, usually smooth; leaf scars alternate, nearly circular, each with 3 bundle traces.
Buds: Slender, pointed, brownish, smooth or somewhat hairy, up to ¼ inch long.