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Pinus peuce
Griseb.
Macedonian Pine
Pinaceae
Pinus peuce is a coniferous tree species in the family Pinaceae. It is native to the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, and is an important timber tree.
Description
Pinus peuce is a tree that grows up to 20 or 30 m with a trunk that can grow up to 1 m in diameter. The tree forms a cylindrical crown when young that opens up with age. Branches tend to bend upwards with leaves near the tips. Leaves are thin, typically 7 to 9 cm long in bundles of 5. They are grey-green with white bands (which are stomata) on all sides of the leaves, and persist on the tree for 3 to 4 years. The sheaths are about 1.8 cm long and are not persistent. Buds are about 10 mm long and are resinous. The bark is grayish brown, scaly, becoming furrowed on larger trees. Male cones are small, yellowish green with a hint of red, 1 to 1.5 cm long. Seed cones are 8 to 15 cm long, cylindrical and curved, wider when open, and hang from a short stalk. They are green or purple, ripening to light yellowish brown and have numerous scales that are thin, flexible and smooth (i.e. without prickles). These cones fall from the tree after releasing their seeds. Seeds are about 6 to 8 mm wide, with a wing that is 12 to 16 cm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
Pinus peuce is a relict species; it does not form hybrids with the other European white pines, Pinus cembra and Pinus sibirica. It is instead more closely related to typical white pines with long cones, such as Pinus strobus and Pinus wallichiana (Eckenwalder 2009).
Pinus peuce is a relict species; it does not form hybrids with the other European white pines, Pinus cembra and Pinus sibirica. It is instead more closely related to typical white pines with long cones, such as Pinus strobus and Pinus wallichiana (Eckenwalder 2009).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Pinus peuce is an important timber tree around its native range, and many plantations exist, which should reduce logging of wild populations. The wood is used locally for carpentry and furniture (Farjon 2017). The tree also produces a copious amount of resin that is useful in optics, pharmy, and chemical industries, while locals use it to cure various illnesses and wounds (Alexandrov and Andonovski 2011).
Pinus peuce is an attractive tree and sometimes used as an ornamental: in Britain, for example, it can grow on a wide range of soils, from peats to podzols to sand dunes. It is also quite resistant to white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), a disease that Pinus strobus. However, it grows quite slowly (Savill and Mason 2015).
Pinus peuce is an attractive tree and sometimes used as an ornamental: in Britain, for example, it can grow on a wide range of soils, from peats to podzols to sand dunes. It is also quite resistant to white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), a disease that Pinus strobus. However, it grows quite slowly (Savill and Mason 2015).
Distribution
Pinus peuce is found in pure stands or mixed with other conifers such as Abies alba and Picea abies, on granite- or sandstone based soils. It is native to the southern Balkan Peninsula, mostly in Montenegro, Kosovo, and southwestern Bulgaria and with some populations in Albania, Macedonia and Greece (Eckenwalder 2009). It has also been introduced to northern Europe and North America (Farjon 2017).
Status
Pinus peuce is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Near Threatened". Its population is severely fragmented. The species may have been threatened by logging in the past, while its population continues to decline from fire, at least in Bulgaria (Farjon 2017).
References
Alexandrov, A.H. and Andonovski, V. 2011. EUFORGEN Technical Guidelines for genetic conservation and use of Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce). Rome: Bioversity International.
Eckenwalder, J. E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference. Portland: Timber Press.
Farjon, A. 2017. Pinus peuce. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T34193A95751594.en.
Savill, P., and Mason, B. 2015. Pinus peuce Griseb., Macedonian or Balkan pine. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 109(4): 245-252.
Eckenwalder, J. E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference. Portland: Timber Press.
Farjon, A. 2017. Pinus peuce. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T34193A95751594.en.
Savill, P., and Mason, B. 2015. Pinus peuce Griseb., Macedonian or Balkan pine. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 109(4): 245-252.
Description
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