Ironically, (click here) the tree that served humans as a source of fire is also one of the most highly evolved to survive it. The thick bark, for example, (as much as 2 inches thick on a mature tree), insulates the trunk against fire damage. The bark has another secret too, for underneath the bark lies dormant, epicormic buds which can sprout should a fire burn away all its needles. The tree can also regenerate from its basal roots which sink deep into the soil. And finally, pitch pine’s cones provide what writer Charles Fergus describes as the tree’s “ace in the hole.” The tree produces some cones that are serotinous — sealed from the inside with resin that require heat to open them. Should a fire kill the tree and its roots, it will also cause the serotinous cones to split open, scattering the seeds on freshly fire cleared soil....

The bark is dark grey, thick, rought and deeply furrowed with broad scaley ridges. These ridges will expose a brown underlayer. 

The pine cones are 1-1/4 to 2-3/4 inches long, egg shaped, yellow-brown. At maturity the cones will open to free their seeds, but, they remain attached to the tree.

The illustration below shows and eipcormic bud.