Endemic to the southern Appalachians, Table Mountain Pine is fairly common on dry, rocky ridges in the Mountain province of North Carolina.

Tending towards being short and squat, the tree's form is usually rounded with many arching branches. Not the best form for lumber, but it is ornamental.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

Like the more common and widespread Virginia Pine, the leaves are short and come two in a fascicle, but the large, stout, ovoid female cones are quite different from the smaller cones of Virginia Pine.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

The prickles on the cones are very stout. Cones are attached directly to the branches.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

Cones are usually clustered.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

Immature cones.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

The bark on branches is reddish-brown and flaky.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

The bark on trunks is dark gray-brown and scaly.

Alleghany Co., NC 5/29/05.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.