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Pinus brutia
Ten.
Afghan Pine
Pinaceae
Pinus brutia is a coniferous tree in the family Pinaceae. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean coast and around the Black Sea.
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Description
Pinus brutia is a medium-sized tree, growing up to 20 to 40 m with a trunk that grows up to 1 to 1.2 m wide. It forms a conical to dome-shaped crown that opens up with age. Branches are often pointing upwards and clothed with foliage. Needles are thick and stiff, typically 12 to 18 cm in bundles of 2, sometimes 3. They are dark green with inconspicuous bands (which are stomata) on both sides of the leaves, and they persist on the tree for 2 to 3 years. Sheaths are typically 9 to 16 mm long, and are persistent. Buds are 7 to 12 mm long, and are not resinous. The bark is scaly and reddish brown. Twigs are reddish brown to yellowish brown, smooth and hairless. Pollen cones are 7 to 10 mm, yellowish brown with a reddish tint, densely clustered. Seed cones are typically 6 to 10 cm long, conical to egg-shaped, on a stalk that is 3 to 11 mm long, sticking outwards or pointing forwards. They are green, ripening to shiny reddish brown. Cones have typically 70 to 90 scales that are paddle-shaped, stiff. The exposed face is diamond-shaped and flat to pyramidal with a diamond-shaped umbo and no prickle. These cones open to release their seeds and stay on the tree after several years. Seeds are 5 to 9 mm long, with a non-detachable wing that is typically 15 to 24 mm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
This species is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of Pinus halepensis. Pinus halepensis differs from species in having slightly shorter and more flexible needles, grayish bark, and seed cones pointing backwards on the twig (as opposed to this species, where they point out or forwards) (Eckenwalder 2009).
This species is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of Pinus halepensis. Pinus halepensis differs from species in having slightly shorter and more flexible needles, grayish bark, and seed cones pointing backwards on the twig (as opposed to this species, where they point out or forwards) (Eckenwalder 2009).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Pinus brutia is a timber tree. Unlike its cousin Pinus halepensis, it grows relatively straight and tall. It has a variety of uses, including carpentry, boxes and crates, railroad ties, fence posts, and telephone poles. It is tapped for resin; the resin can be used to flavor retsina, a type of white wine, or be converted to turpentine, as is done in Turkey (Farjon 2013a).
Distribution
Pinus brutia is found in open Mediterranean forests, sometimes mixed with other conifers or drought-tolerant broadleaved trees. It grows at an altitude of up to 1500 m. It is native to the coast of the Black Sea, down to Lebanon and Syria (Farjon 2013a). It has also escaped cultivation in California (Kartesz 2015).
Status
Pinus brutia is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern", as it has a wide range and no threats; in fact, it appears to be increasing as it escapes from plantations (Farjon 2013a). However, two varieties, eldarica and pityusa, are considered to be “Near Threatened” and “Vulnerable” respectively. Both have restricted ranges. The former is threatened from fungal disease, and the latter from commercial development along the coast of the Black Sea (Farjon 2013b; Farjon 2013c).
References
Farjon, A. 2013a. Pinus brutia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42347A2974345.en
Farjon, A. 2013b. Pinus brutia var. eldarica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T34183A2849651.en.
Farjon, A. 2013c. Pinus brutia var. pityusa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T33990A2839662.en.
Kartesz, J. T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
Farjon, A. 2013b. Pinus brutia var. eldarica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T34183A2849651.en.
Farjon, A. 2013c. Pinus brutia var. pityusa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T33990A2839662.en.
Kartesz, J. T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
Description
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