You might want to check the American Forests web site to see what they list as the champion - maybe they don't even have one (not all species have current nominations).

Definitely my favorite pine and I think a good case can be made for raising it to the species rank as Debreczy has done in the new Conifers book (as Pinus densa). Yes, there is introgression with var. elliottii, but the differences are quite clear.

Looks just like an oak.

Dax

My favorite too.

"I think a good case can be made for raising it to the species rank as Debreczy has done in the new Conifers book (as Pinus densa). Yes, there is introgression with var. elliottii, but the differences are quite clear"

One could equally make a good case for treating it as a variety of Pinus caribaea; location-wise, it occurs nearly midway between Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis and Pinus caribaea var. caribaea, and is quite similar to both.

Though I'd also say that Pinus (caribaea var.) hondurensis is an even better case for a split; it is very distinct from typical Pinus caribaea.

Resin

Yes I agree, especially for the populations from Big Pine Key and far south Florida. They are very similar to P. caribaea var. hondurensis. Living here for 5 years now, I see the distinctiveness of var. densa even more. P. palustris from the far southern end of its range is also quite distinct with even longer, droopier needles and cones with larger umbo on the cone scales.