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Pinus halepensis
Mill.
Aleppo Pine
Pinaceae
Pinus halepensis is a coniferous tree in the family Pinaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean coast, and has naturalized elsewhere.
Description
Pinus halepensis 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 slender and flexible, typically 6 to 10 cm in bundles of 2, sometimes 3. They are light 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 7 to 10 mm long, and are persistent. Buds are 7 to 12 mm long, and are not resinous. The bark is scaly and grayish. Twigs are yellowish gray, 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 22 mm long, angled back on the twig. 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).
Pinus brutia is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of Pinus halepensis. It differs from this species in having slightly longer and stiffer needles, reddish brown bark, and seed cones sticking outwards (vs. pointed backwards on P. halepensis) (Eckenwalder 2009).
Pinus brutia is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of Pinus halepensis. It differs from this species in having slightly longer and stiffer needles, reddish brown bark, and seed cones sticking outwards (vs. pointed backwards on P. halepensis) (Eckenwalder 2009).
Uses
​Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Pinus halepensis does not grow straight and tall, so it is not very useful for timber. In the past, it was used for some purposes, such as railroad ties and telephone poles. However, it is rich in resin and is tapped for resin in areas like Greece (Farjon 2013). Within its native range, it is important in preventing soil erosion and other types of environment-related degradation, and is sometimes grown as an ornamental (CABI 2018).
Distribution
Pinus halepensis is native to hot dry Mediterranean forests, at sea level up to 1700 m in Morocco. It is adapted to forest fires, and without them, will eventually be replaced by species like cork oak (Quercus suber) and holm oak (Quercus ilex). It is native to the Mediterranean sea, from Morocco and Spain east to Lebanon and southeastern Turkey, along with the Balkan coast (Farjon 2013; Eckenwalder 2009). However, it has been cultivated for so long in the Mediterranean that it is unclear whether some populations are native. Its drought tolerance and economic importance has caused it to be planted all over the world, and it is now naturalized and invasive in California, Argentina, South Africa, and Australia (CABI 2018).
Status
Pinus halepensis is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern", as it has a wide range. It is slightly threatened in some areas by local development (Farjon 2013).
References
Eckenwalder, J. E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference. Portland: Timber Press.
Farjon, A. 2013. Pinus halepensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42366A2975569.en.
CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International), 2018. Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine). Invasive Species Compendium. [accessed 2019 Oct 15]. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/41617.
Farjon, A. 2013. Pinus halepensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42366A2975569.en.
CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International), 2018. Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine). Invasive Species Compendium. [accessed 2019 Oct 15]. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/41617.
Description
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