hickory pine
- noun
- /ˈhɪkəri paɪn/
- US
- The hickory pine is known for its dark brown flaking bark and unique cone scales.
Examples
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The hickory pine is often found on the rocky slopes of the Appalachian Mountains.
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Some birds and squirrels feed on the seeds of the hickory pine cones.
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Foresters have noted the distinctive bark patterns of the hickory pine.
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Look at that hickory pine over there!
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The hickory pine grows abundantly in the Appalachian region.
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Some birds and squirrels enjoy eating the seeds from the cones of the hickory pine.
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In the eastern United States, the hickory pine thrives in rocky mountainous areas.
Synonyms
A small pine tree with two needles together, peeling brown bark, and cones with sharp points
A small Appalachian pine with two thin needles per bundle and cones with pointed thorn-like scales
A small pine from eastern US mountains with dark brown peeling bark and cones with sharp points
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward noun–noun compound in which 'hickory' modifies 'pine', so a learner who knows both words will readily infer it denotes a type of pine tree associated with or resembling hickory. Botanical specifics (two-needled, bark, cone details) are specialized knowledge, but the core meaning 'a kind of pine tree' is transparently derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
Hickory pine may come from early people who thought this small pine looked like a hickory because its dark, flaking bark and sharp-tipped cones gave a similar rough look. So the name links the two words and explains why it means 'a small pine tree' found on rocky Appalachian slopes.