Pinus taea (Loblolly Pine) is one of several pines native to the southeastern United States. The trees reach a height of 30-35 m (100-115 ft) with a diameter of 0.4-1.5 m (1.5-5 ft). Exceptional specimens may reach 45 m (150 ft) tall, the largest of the southern pines. Its needles are in bundles of three, sometimes twisted, and measure 12-22 cm (5-9 inches) long: an intermediate length for southern pines, shorter than those of the Longleaf Pine or Slash Pine, but longer than those of the Shortleaf Pine and Spruce Pine. The cones are green, ripening pale buff-brown, 7-13 cm (3-5 inches) in length, 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2inches) broad when closed, opening to 4-6 cm (1.5-2.5 inches) wide, each scale bearing a sharp 3-6 mm spine.