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Pinus sylvestris

(Scotch Pine)

Overview

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A widespread European and Asian pine. The national tree of Scotland.

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Arabic:

Sanawbar, Sanawbar îqûsyâ

Common Names in Chinese:

Ou Zhou Chi Song

Common Names in Czech:

Borovice Lesní

Common Names in Danish:

Skov-Fyr

Common Names in Dutch:

Grove Den

Common Names in English:

Scotch Pine, Scots Pine, Baltic Redwood, Common Pine, Red Pine

Common Names in Estonian:

Harilik Mänd

Common Names in Finnish:

Mänty, Metsämänty

Common Names in French:

Pi Blanc (Catalan), Pi Royal (Catalan), Pin Commun, Pin D´auvergne, Pin D´ecosse, Pin De Genève, Pin De Haguenau, Pin De Norvège, Pin De Riga, Pin De Russie, Pin Rouge Du Nord, Pin Sylvestre, Pinasse

Common Names in German:

Föhre, Forche, Forle, Gemeine Föhre, Gemeine Kiefer, Gewöhnliche Wald-Kiefer, Nordische Kiefer, Wald-Föhre, Waldkiefer

Common Names in Hungarian:

Erdei Fenyo

Common Names in Italian:

Pino Commune, Pino Salvatico, Pino Silvestre

Common Names in Japanese:

Yooroppa Aka Matsu

Common Names in Norwegian:

Furu

Common Names in Polish:

Sosna Pospolita, Sosna Zwyczajna

Common Names in Portuguese:

Piñeiro Silvestre (Galician), Pinheiro Silvestre, Pinheiro-Da-Casquinha, Pinheiro-De-Riga, Pinho De Riga, Pinho Silvestre, Pino Bravo (Galician)

Common Names in Russian:

Sosna Lesnaia, Sosna Lesnaya, Sosna Obiknovennaya, Sosna Obyknovennaia

Common Names in Slovak:

Borovica Sosna

Common Names in Spanish:

Pino Albar, Pino Blancal, Pino Común, Pino De Valsaín, Pino Norte, Pino Real, Pino Rojal, Pino Royano, Pino Royo, Pino Serrano, Pino Silvestre, Pino Sylvestris

Common Names in Swedish:

Tall

Description

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Family Pinaceae

Trees or rarely shrubs , evergreen or deciduous, monoecious. Branchlets often dimorphic : long branchlets with clearly spirally arranged , sometimes scalelike leaves; short branchlets often reduced to slow growing lateral spurs bearing dense clusters of leaves at apex. Leaves solitary or in bundles of (1 or) 2-5(-8) when basally subtended by a leaf sheath ; leaf blade linear or needlelike, not decurrent. Cones unisexual . Pollen cones solitary or clustered, with numerous spirally arranged microsporophylls ; microsporophyll with 2 microsporangia; pollen usually 2-saccate (nonsaccate in Cedrus, Larix, Pseudotsuga, and most species of Tsuga) . Seed cones erect or pendulous, maturing in 1st, 2nd, or occasionally 3rd year, dehiscent or occasionally indehiscent, with many spirally arranged ovulate scales and bracts; ovulate scales usually smaller than bracts at pollination, with 2 upright ovules adaxially, free or only basally adnate with bracts, maturing into seed scales. Seed scales appressed , woody or leathery, variable in shape and size, with 2 seeds adaxially, persistent or deciduous after cone maturity. Bracts free or adnate basally with seed scales, well developed or rudimentary , exserted or included . Seeds terminally winged (except in some species of Pinus) . Cotyledons 2-18. Germination hypogeal or epigeal. 2n = 24* (almost always) .

Ten or eleven genera and ca. 235 species: N hemisphere; ten genera (two endemic) and 108 species (43 endemic, 24 introduced ) in China.

Species of the Pinaceae are among the most valuable and commercially important plants in the world. Most species are trees, and are often excellent sources of lumber, wood products, and resins; many are cultivated for afforestation and as ornamentals .[1]

Genus Pinus

Trees or shrubs aromatic , evergreen ; crown usually conic when young, often rounded or flat-topped with age. Bark of older stems variously furrowed and plated, plates and/or ridges layered or scaly . Branches usually in pseudowhorls; shoots dimorphic with long shoots and short shoots; short shoots borne in close spirals from axils of scaly bracts and bearing fascicles of leaves (needles ) . Buds ovoid to cylindric , apex pointed (blunt ), usually resinous . Leaves dimorphic, spirally arranged ; foliage leaves (needles) (1--) 2--5(--6) per fascicle, persisting 2--12 or more years, terete or ± 2--3-angled and rounded on abaxial surface, sessile, sheathed at base by 12--15 overlapping scale leaves, these (at least firmer basal ones) persisting for life of fascicle or shed after first season ; resin canals 2 or more. Pollen cones in dense, spikelike cluster around base of current year's growth, mostly ovoid to cylindric-conic, tan to yellow, red, blue, or lavender. Seed cones maturing in 2(--3) years, shed early or variously persistent , pendent to ± erect , at maturity conic or cylindric, sessile or stalked , shedding seed soon after maturity or variously serotinous (not opening upon maturity but much later) ; scales persistent, woody or pliable, surface of exposed apical portion of each scale (apophysis) thickened, with umbo (exposed scale surface of young cone) represented by a scar (sometimes apiculate ) or extended into a hook, spur, claw , or prickle; bracts included . Seeds winged or wingless; cotyledons (3--) 6--10(--18) . x =12.

Species ca. 100 (38 in the flora with 37 native and 1 widely naturalized ) : widespread in north temperate and north tropical (mountainous) regions, North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, Eurasia (including 1 crossing equator in Sumatra), n Africa, Pacific Islands in Sumatra.

In many areas Pinus is a forest dominant, either early successional and thus weedy or often longer-lived and part of climax forest. Certain southern pines, especially fire successional species, have a "grass stage," i.e. , the stem of the young seedling elongates little during the first several years and bears many long, curved leaves, the plant then reminiscent of a dense clump of grass .

Nomenclature used here, and to a very large degree the taxonomy, follows Elbert L.Little Jr. (1971), former Chief Dendrologist, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Much work is being done with problematic groups, particularly complexes in Pinus contorta, the pinyons, the bristlecone pines, and P . ponderosa and related taxa. Considerable chemotaxonomic and genetic data are available on the genus, but coverage is far from comprehensive. Therefore, the conservative approach used in this treatment emphasizes external morphology.

Pine (Pinus) has been adopted by Arkansas as the state tree. Southern pine (Pinus spp.) is the state tree of Alabama.[2]

Physical Description

ID Features: Needles have a blue-green color. Two needles per fasicle. Needles have a blue-green appearance. Needles sharp-pointed. Bark peels to reveal a reddish color at the top of the tree.

Habit: An evergreen tree with a horizontal branching habit. In youth has a conical shape , becoming domed to flat-topped, spreading tree with age. Can be very attractive when mature . • Growth Form: Single stemShape and Orientation: Conical , becoming domed to irregular with age.

Flowers: Monoecious. Pollen cones yellow, young seed cones red-purple, becoming green in second year. • Bloom Period: Mid springFlower Color: inconspicuous, none • Flower Conspicuous: No

Seeds: Seed per Pound: 70720 • Seed Spread Rate: Slow • Seedling Vigor: Medium • Fruit: Dull grey-buff cone, 3-7cm long, small, conical . Held alone or in clusters of 2 or 3. Cones fall from tree at maturity. • Fruit/Seed Abundance: High • Fruit/Seed Color: Grey-brown • Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: No • Cold Stratification Required: Yes

Foliage: Stiff, serrated , green to blue-green needles . 2 needles per fasicle. Needles vary greatly in length , 4-9 cm long. Needles sometimes twisted up to 360 degrees . • Foliage Color: Green • Summer foliage: Stiff, serrated , green to blue-green needles . 2 needles per fasicle. Needles have a 360 degree twist. Needles vary greatly in length , 4-9 cm long. • Fall foliage: Evergreen , no fall color. Foliage on some trees develops a yellow cast in winter, particularly in colder regions. Needles persist 2-4 years. • Foliage Porosity Summer: Dense • Foliage Porosity Winter: Dense • Foliage Texture: Medium • Fall Conspicuous: No • Leaf Retention: Yes

Size/Age/Growth

Active Growth Period: Spring and summer • Growth Rate: Moderate. • Mature Height (feet): 20-40m • Maximum Height at 20 Years (feet): 12m • Size: 20-40m tall, with 5-8m spread (crown radius). • Vegetative Spread Rate: None • Lifespan: Long

Landscaping

Landscape Uses: Attractive specimen, good accent plant. Possible choice for difficult sites. Often used as a Christmas tree . Excellent in floral arrangements . Effective in mass. Effective screen when young. Useful for bark color. Shade tree . • Liabilities: Considerable genetic variation in needle colour and plant vigor due to large geographic range . Some trees are weak growers and have yellow-green needle colour. Very susceptible to pine wilt nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in cultivation in eastern North America. Can get Diplodia needlecast disease and pine needle scale insect.

Habitat

Forests , occasionally also in peat bogs (muskeg).

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 1,617 meters (0 to 5,305 feet).[3]

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: PerennialCoppice Potential: No • Progagated by Bulbs: No • Propagated by Bare Root: Yes • Propagated by Container: Yes • Propagated by Corms: No • Propagated by Cuttings: No • Propagated by Seed: Yes • Propagated by Sod: No • Propagated by Sprigs: No • Propagated by Tubers: No • Fruit/Seed Period Begin: SpringFruit/Seed Period End: Late winter • Fruit/Seed Persistence: No

Growth

Culture: Prefers a well-drained, acidic soil. Wind resistant. Transplants easily. Full sun . Very tolerant of infertile and dry soils.

Soil: Adapted to Medium Textured: Adapted to Medium Textured Soils • Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: Yes • Anaerobic Tolerance: Medium • Salinity Tolerance: None • CaCO3 Tolerance: Low • Minimum pH: 4.5 • Maximum pH: 7.5 • Fertility Requirement: Medium

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full sun . • Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: Medium • Minimum Precipitation: 50cm • Maximum Precipitation: 250cm • Moisture Use: Medium

Temperature: Minimum Temperature (F): -65C (-85°F) according to N. T. Mirov (1967, The Genus Pinus, p. 440) • Minimum Frost Free Days: 90 • Cold Hardiness: 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b (in zones 7-9, only in cool-summer oceanic climates). (map)

Taxonomy

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Similar Species

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Members of the genus Pinus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 316 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

P. albicaulis (Whitebark Pine) · P. albicaulis 'Nana' (Whitebark Pine) · P. aristata (Bristlecone Pine) · P. aristata 'Sherwood Compact' (Sherwood Compact Pine) · P. arizonica (Arizona Pine) · P. arizonica Engelm. var. arizonica (Arizona Pine) · P. arizonica Engelm. var. stormiae Martinez (Arizona Pine) · P. arizonica var. stormiae (Arizona Pine) · P. armandii (Davids Pine) · P. attenuata (Knob-Cone Pine) · P. attenuatis (Knobcone Pine) · P. attenuradiata (Pine) · P. ayacahuite (Ayacahuite Pine) · P. balfouriana (Foxtail Pine) · P. balfouriana austrina (Foxtail Pine) · P. balfouriana balfouriana (Foxtail Pine) · P. banksiana (Black Pine) · P. banksiana 'Chippewa' (Jack Pine) · P. banksiana 'Girards Weeper' (Jack Pine) · P. banksiana 'Manomet' (Jack Pine) · P. banksiana 'Potters' (Jack Pine) · P. brutia (Afghan Pine) · P. brutia var. eldarica (Afganistan Pine) · P. brutia var. pityusa (Yel' Vostochnaya) · P. bungeana (Lace-Bark Pine) · P. bungeana 'Rowe Arboretum' (Chinese Lacebark Pine) · P. canariensis (Canary Island Pine) · P. canariensis f. brevifolia (Canary Island Pine) · P. caribaea (Caribbean Pine) · P. caribaea var. bahamensis (Caribbean Pine) · P. caribaea var. caribaea (Caribbean Pine) · P. caribaea var. hondurensis (Caribbean Pine) · P. cembra (Arolla Pine) · P. cembra L. 'Pygmaea' (Swiss Stone Pine) · P. cembra witches' broom (Swiss Stone Pine) · P. cembra 'Blue Mound' (Swiss Stone Pine) · P. cembra 'Chalet' (Arolla Pine) · P. cembra 'Compacta' (Swiss Stone Pine) · P. cembra 'Compacta Glauca' (Swiss Pine Or Arolla Pine) · P. cembra 'Glauca Nana' (Swiss Pine Or Arolla Pine) · P. cembra 'Klein' (Silver Whispers" Swiss Stone Pine) · P. cembra 'Nana' (Dwarf Swiss Stone Pine) · P. cembra 'Silver Sheen' (Swiss Pine Or Arolla Pine) · P. cembroides (Stoneseed Pinyon) · P. cembroides cembroides (Border Pinyon) · P. clausa (Sand Pine) · P. contorta (Bolander Beach Pine) · P. contorta bolanderi (Bolander Beach Pine) · P. contorta Douglas ex Loudon var. contorta (Lodgepole Pine) · P. contorta var. bolanderi (Bolander Beach Pine) · P. contorta var. contorta (Shore Pine) · P. contorta var. latifolia (Tall Lodgepole Pine) · P. contorta var. murrayana (Murray Lodgepole Pine) · P. contorta 'Spaan's Dwarf' (Coast Pine) · P. coulteri (Big Cone Pine) · P. densiflora (Japanese Red Pine) · P. densiflora Siebold & Zucc. var. funebris (Kom.) T.N.Liou & Q.L.Wang ex Silba (Japanese Red Pine) · P. densiflora Siebold & Zucc. 'Octo-partitu' (Japanese Red Pine) · P. densiflora Siebold & Zucc. 'Tanyosho' (Japanese Red Pine) · P. densiflora 'Aurea' (Golden Japanese Red Pine) · P. densiflora 'Glitzer's Weeping' (Japanese Red Pine) · P. densiflora 'Haybud' (Japanese Red Pine Haybud') · P. densiflora 'Oculis Draconis' (Dragon's Eye Pine) · P. densiflora 'Oculus-Draconis' (Dragon Eye Pine) · P. densiflora 'Pendula' (Weeping Japanese Red Pine) · P. densiflora 'Pygmaea' (Japanese Red Pine) · P. densiflora 'Umbraculifera' (Tanyosho Pine) · P. densiflora 'Umbraculifera Compacta' (Compact Tanyosho Pine) · P. densiflora 'Vibrant' (Japanese Red Pine) · P. durangensis (Durango Pine) · P. echinata (Arkansas Pine) · P. edulis (Colorado Pinyon) · P. edulis var. edulis (Twoneedle Pinyon) · P. elliottii (Honduras Pine) · P. elliottii Engelm. var. densa Little & K.W.Dorman (South Florida Slash Pine) · P. elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii (Honduras Pine) · P. elliottii var. densa (South Florida Slash Pine) · P. elliottii var. elliottii (Slash Pine) · P. engelmannia 'Dwarf Form' (Apache Pine) · P. engelmannii (Apache Pine) · P. faeda 'CF L3791' (Loblolly Pine) · P. flexilis (Limber Pine) · P. flexilis var. reflexa (Limber Pine) · P. flexilis 'Cesarini Blue' (Limber Pine 'cesarini Blue') · P. flexilis 'Glauca' (Limber Pine) · P. flexilis 'Glauca Pendula' (Limber Pine) · P. flexilis 'Piute' (Limber Pine 'piute') · P. flexilis 'Vanderwolfs Pyramid' (Limber Pine) · P. gerardiana (Chilghoza Pine) · P. glabra (Bottom White Pine) · P. glauca 'Conica' (Dwarf Alberta Spruce) · P. halepensis (Aleppo Pine) · P. hartwegii (Hartweg Pine) · P. heldreichii (Bosnian Pine) · P. hwangshanensis (Huangshan Pine) · P. japonica (Japanese Pine) · P. jeffreyi (Black Pine) · P. jeffreyi var. bajacalifornica (Jeffrey Pine) · P. jeffryi (Jeffrey Pine) · P. kesiya (Benguet Pine)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 12, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Liguo Fu, Nan Li, Thomas S. Elias & Robert R. Mill "Pinaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 4 Page 11. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. Robert Kral "Pinus". in Flora of North America Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  3. Mean = 232.990 meters (764.403 feet), Standard Deviation = 272.080 based on 18,132 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 2012-04-30