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Pinus heldreichii
Christ
Heldreich Pine
Pinaceae
Pinus heldreichii is a coniferous tree in the family Pinaceae. It is restricted to the northern Balkan Mountains and southern Italy.
Description
Pinus heldreichii is a medium-sized tree, growing 20 to 30 m with a trunk that grows 1 to 2 m wide. It forms a conical crown that may be dense or open, becoming more cylindrical with age. Branches are slender and point upwards, densely covered with foliage. Needles are thick, stiff, and sharply pointed at the tip, typically 6 to 8.5 cm in bundles of 2. They are shiny dark green with inconspicuous bands (which are stomata) on both sides of the leaves, and they persist on the tree for 5 to 6 years. Sheaths are 12 to 20 mm long, and are persistent, falling with the bundle. Buds are 12 to 15 mm long, and are not resinous. The bark is light gray, smooth and scaly at first, eventually breaking up into smaller, irregularly shaped plates. Twigs are gray and are hairless, with grooves between the bases of the leaves. Pollen cones are 10 mm, bright yellow, in tight clusters. Seed cones are typically 7 to 8 cm long, egg-shaped, and extremely shortly stalked. They are purple or green, ripening to light brown. They have roughly 80 to 100 seed scales that are paddle-shaped, with the exposed part that is diamond-shaped, slightly domed with a small, sometimes curved and sharp prickle. These cones open widely to release their seeds and fall from the tree. Seeds are 6 to 7 mm long, with a wing that is typically 15 to 25 mm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Pinus heldreichii is sometimes grown as an ornamental. It prefers moist but well-drained soils, cool summers, and full sun. It is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8 (MBG).
Distribution
Pinus heldreichii is found on steep mountainous slopes, often in rocky and poor soils, at an altitude of 800 m (such as in Tomorri National Park in Albania) to 2640 m. It is native to the Balkan Mountains, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and mainland Greece, as well as a few isolated locations in mainland Italy (Caković et al. 2017).
Status
Pinus heldreichii is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern". Although the species has a small and highly fragmented range, its range falls within enough protected areas to warrant this assessment. It was previously logged for its wood. Currently, threats include fire, grazing from nomadic horses, illegal logging, and possibly, hybridization with introduced Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) (Caković et al. 2017).
References
Caković, D., Gargano, D., Matevski, V., and Shuka, L. 2017. Pinus heldreichii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T42368A95725658.en.
Eckenwalder, J. E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference. Portland: Timber Press.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Pinus heldreichii. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 19]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285051
Eckenwalder, J. E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference. Portland: Timber Press.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Pinus heldreichii. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 19]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285051
Description
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