Raffi at 14:28, 27 March 2007

2007-03-27T14:28:21Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Stone Pine
| status = LR/lc
| image = Pinien La Brena2004.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Stone Pine forest <br>Costa de la Luz, [[Spain]]
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Pinophyta]]
| classis = [[Pinophyta|Pinopsida]]
| ordo = [[Pinales]]
| familia = [[Pinaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Pine|Pinus]]''
| subgenus = ''[[Pinus classification|Pinus]]''
| species = '''''P. pinea'''''
| binomial = ''Pinus pinea''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

The '''Stone Pine''' (''[[Pinus]] pinea''; family [[Pinaceae]]) is a species of [[pine]] native of southern [[Europe]], primarily the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. This [[tree]] has been exploited for its edible [[pine nut]]s since prehistoric times. Currently, it is also a widespread horticultural tree, besides being cultivated for the seeds.

[[Image:Pinus pinea.jpg|thumb|left|Juvenile (left) and adult foliage of Stone Pine]]
The Stone Pine can exceed 25 m height, though is usually rather less tall, 12-20 m being more normal. It has a very characteristic umbrella-like shape, with a short trunk and very broad, smoothly rounded to nearly flat crown. The [[bark]] is thick, red-brown and deeply fissured into broad vertical plates. The flexible mid-green [[leaf|leaves]] are needle-like, in bundles of two, and are 10-20 cm long (exceptionally up to 30 cm). Young trees up to 5-10 years old bear juvenile leaves, which are very different, single (not paired), 2-4 cm long, glaucous blue-green; the adult leaves appear mixed with juvenile leaves from the fourth or fifth year on, replacing it fully by around the 10th year. Juvenile leaves are also produced in re-growth following injury, such as a broken shoot, on older trees.

The [[conifer cone|cones]] are broad ovoid, 8-15 cm long, and take 36 months to mature, longer than any other pine. The seeds ([[pine nut]]s, ''piñones'', ''pinhões'' or ''pinoli'') are large, 2 cm long, pale brown with a powdery black coating which rubs off easily, and have a rudimentary 4-8 mm wing which falls off very easily. The wing is ineffective for wind dispersal, and the seeds are [[animal]]-dispersed, originally mainly by the [[Azure-winged Magpie]], but in recent history, very largely by [[Human]]s.

[[Image:StonePine.jpg|thumb|left|Stone Pine cone and seeds]]
[[Image:Pinuspinea.jpg|thumb|right|Close-up of the bark's vertical texture]]
The original range Stone Pine was probably only in [[Portugal]] and [[Spain]], but it has been cultivated extensively for at least 6,000 years for the edible seeds. These have been [[trade]] items since early historic times. It is cultivated and often [[naturalised]] throughout the [[Mediterranean]] region, for so long that it is often considered native, while more recently (since about [[1700]]) been introduced to other areas with Mediterranean [[climate]]s. It is now naturalised in [[South Africa]] (where it is listed as an [[invasive species]]) and commonly planted in [[California]], [[Australia]], and western [[Europe]] north to southern [[Scotland]]. Small specimens are grown in large planters or are used for [[Bonsai]], and year-old seedlings are also widely sold as 20-30 cm tall table-top [[christmas tree]]s.

The Stone Pine has also been called Italian Stone Pine, European Nut Pine, Umbrella Pine (not to be confused with the [[Sciadopitys|Japanese Umbrella-pine]]) and Parasol Pine. It has also occasionally been listed under the invalid name ''Pinus sativa''.

{{Commons|Pinus pinea}}

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=Conifer Specialist Group|year=1998|id=42391|title=Pinus pinea|downloaded=12 May 2006}}

[[Category:Pinaceae|Pine, Stone]]

Stone Pine - Revision history

Raffi at 14:28, 27 March 2007