Pinus nigra

Austrian species

PinaceaePinus

Austrian pine or black pine is in the pine or Pinaceae family and is native to Spain and the eastern Mediterranean (Turkey, Corsica and the Crimea). It can be a large tree, up to 55 m tall.

  • Needles are 2 per fascicle, up to 15 cm long, 1.5–2.0 mm thick, often slightly twisted, sharp-pointed, flexible, dark green; leaf sheath is blackish-gray, 10–15 mm long. Branches are in annual whorls.
  • Species is monoecious; male pollen cones are cylindrical, yellow, in large clusters along twigs; young female cones are oval, yellow to purple.
  • Seed cones mature in 2 years and are ovoid, up to 7.5 cm long, yellow-brown, slightly inwardly curved tips when closed; each scale is armed with a short prickle.
  • Bark is brown, with gray-brown ridges and dark brown furrows.

Contributors

  • Philippe de Spoelberch