Pinus heldreichii

Pinus heldreichii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Subgenus: Pinus
Species: P. heldreichii
Binomial name
Pinus heldreichii
H.Christ
Natural range of Pinus heldreichii
Pinus heldreichii on Orjen

Pinus heldreichii (synonym P. leucodermis; family Pinaceae), or Bosnian pine, is a species of pine native to mountainous areas of the Balkans and southern Italy.[1] It can be found in the mountains of Bosnia, Croatia, southwestern Bulgaria, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, northern Greece (Valia Kalda, Smolikas and Vasilitsa, Mount Olympus and in other high mountains), and locally in southern Italy (it is the symbol of the Pollino National Park), growing at 1,500–2,500 m (4,900–8,200 ft) altitude. It reaches the alpine tree line in these areas. It is an evergreen tree up to 25–35 m (82–115 ft) height, and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) trunk diameter.

The Distribution of Pinus heldreichii and Abies alba on Orjen have differing patterns. The mesophytic Silver Fir is restricted to humid northern sides whereas the xerophytic Bosnian pine prefers south facing slopes.
Pinus heldreichii in beech forest on Orjen

It is a member of the hard pine group, Pinus subgenus Pinus, with leaves ('needles') in fascicles (bundles) of two, with a persistent sheath. They are 4.5–10 cm (1.8–3.9 in) long and 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) thick. Cones are 5–9 cm (2.0–3.5 in) long, with thin, fragile scales; they are dark blue-purple before maturation, turning brown when ripe about 16–18 months after pollination. The 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long seeds have a 2–2.5 cm (0.79–0.98 in) wing and are wind-dispersed.

Nomenclature

The species was first described as Pinus heldreichii by the Swiss botanist K. Hermann Christ in honor of Theodor von Heldreich in 1863 from specimens collected on Mount Olympus, and then described a second time as P. leucodermis in 1864; the author of the second description (the Austrian botanist F. Antoine who found it on Orjen above the Bay of Kotor) being unaware of the slightly earlier publication by Christ. Some minor morphological differences have been claimed between the two descriptions (leading to the maintenance of both as separate taxa by a few botanists), but this is not supported by modern studies of the species, which show that both names refer to the same taxon. The discrepancies in the descriptions are largely due to Christ's cone specimens being immature and shrunken after drying, having been collected in July, four months before maturity.

Cultivation and uses

Bosnian pine is a popular ornamental tree in parks and large gardens, giving reliable, steady, though not fast, growth on a wide range of sites, and with a very neat, conical crown. It is also noted for its very decorative purple cones. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2] It is hardy down to at least −45 °C (−49 °F), and tolerant of severe wind exposure. Many in cultivation are still grown under the name "Pinus leucodermis" or "Pinus heldreichii var. leucodermis".

Longevity

A tree in Northern Greece was dated as 1075 years old in 2016.[3]

A notable specimen in the Pirin Mountains of Bulgaria, known as Baikushev's pine, is 24 m (79 ft) tall, 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) in diameter, and is estimated to be over 1300 years old.

Literature

References

  1. ↑ Coniferous forests; Folke Andersson; 2005; p.138
  2. ↑ RHS Plant Selector Pinus heldreichii AGM / RHS Gardening
  3. ↑ New Scientist magazine issue 27th Aug 2016 page 7
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