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All the needles on the bottoms of the trees I took the photo of are bare and missing or are brown and dead. Only the upper needles of the trees in the picture are green and are still on the tree and healthy. I don't think that because the needles are missing on the bottom portions of the trees are a sign always that the trees are unhealthy, but still you're right, trees that have those signs could mean that they are unhealthy as well, even though it may also be sometimes or often natural. Many trees in the preserve where I took the Pinus clausa photos looked like that on the bottom portions except for young trees, which are all green and full with always some brown needles mixed in, which is characteristic of Pinus clausa in my area as well as probably in nearly all or all Pinus clausa throughout their range from southeast Florida northward through central and northern and north-central Florida, west onto the Panhandle and into far southeastern Alabama (the trees are actually NOT endemic to Florida). I also made a mistake when I said this species was endangered, I just thought so because they grow slow and because I heard how people are destroying their Florida Scrub habitat where they are found, potentially causing them to be listed as endangered or threatened. In fact, because of that and their slow growth, I still don't know why they aren't listed as endangered or threatened by the state of Florida. It is very unusual. I think they should be listed and protected, along with their habitat. They are valuable native trees.
I think the brown or absent needles and bare branches on the bottom portions of Pinus clausa trees are mostly just natural, although I agree with you that in many other situations they could indicate unhealthy Sand Pines (Pinus clausa). I have noticed this absence of needles in my area alot, and in many natural areas even the tops of many Sand Pines look dead with brown needles and bare branches, so many Sand Pines in my area can easily be unhealthy like you said. So, while some of the situations I think are natural, I agree with you that many others are unnatural and signs of unhealthy Pinus clausa, since there seem to be many in my area that also seem unhealthy.
If you have any questions or facts to point out, you may reply.
Thanks for reminding me and giving me your opinions and fact on Pinus clausa!
