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Pinus mugo
Turra
Mugo Pine
Pinaceae
Pinus mugo is a coniferous tree or shrub in the family Pinaceae. It is native to mountainous areas of Europe, and is widely grown as a shrubby ornamental.
Description
Pinus mugo is a creeping shrub or medium-sized tree. When it is a shrub, it grows 3.5 m tall with a compact and upright stature. When it is a tree, it grows up to 25 m with a conical crown and trunk that grows up to around 0.6 m wide. Needles are thick, stiff, and twisted, typically 3 to 6 cm in bundles of 2, uncommonly 3. They are dark to bright green with few to many bands (which are stomata) on both sides of the leaves, and they persist on the tree for anywhere from 2 to 10 years. Sheaths are 12 to 20 mm long, and are persistent. Buds are 6 to 15 mm long, and are very resinous. The bark is reddish to dark grayish brown, smooth, flaky and breaking up into narrow plates at the base of large trunks. Twigs are reddish brown to blackish and are hairless, grooved between the bases of scale leaves. Pollen cones are 6 to 12 mm, pale yellow to red. Seed cones are around 2 to 6 cm long, egg-shaped, and very shortly stalked. They are green, ripening to shiny brown, from yellowish to reddish to dark. Cones have 60 to 90 scales that are paddle-shaped, with a variable diamond-shaped face tipped with a weak prickle. These cones open widely to release their seeds and sometimes stay on the tree. Seeds are 4 to 6 mm long, with a detachable wing that is 10 to 15 mm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
The two subspecies, mugo and uncinata (syn. rotundata), differ mainly in their size. Subspecies mugo is shrubby, and has symmetrical cones that are 1.5 to 5 cm long, with cone scales that are flat or slightly raised at the tip. Variety uncinata has asymmetrical cones that are slightly larger, 2.5 to 7 long, with a cone scales that have protruding tips (Eckenwalder 2009).
The two subspecies, mugo and uncinata (syn. rotundata), differ mainly in their size. Subspecies mugo is shrubby, and has symmetrical cones that are 1.5 to 5 cm long, with cone scales that are flat or slightly raised at the tip. Variety uncinata has asymmetrical cones that are slightly larger, 2.5 to 7 long, with a cone scales that have protruding tips (Eckenwalder 2009).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Pinus mugo is often commonly cultivated as a compact shrub, often in rock gardens. It prefers moist, well-drained sandy or loamy soils in full sun. It is quite cold-hardy, growing in USDA zones 2 to 7 (MBG). It can also be planted to stabilize sand dunes (Farjon 2017).
Medicinally, turpentine obtained from the resin has antiseptic and diuretic properties, and can also be used to treat ailments relating to the skin, lungs, kidneys, and bladder. In Bulgaria, an herbal tea is made from the needles (Farjon 2017).
Medicinally, turpentine obtained from the resin has antiseptic and diuretic properties, and can also be used to treat ailments relating to the skin, lungs, kidneys, and bladder. In Bulgaria, an herbal tea is made from the needles (Farjon 2017).
Distribution
The shrubby subspecies, mugo, grows in harsher conditions such as mountain slopes at an altitude of 1000 to 2300 m above sea level, where as the larger subspecies, uncinata is found mainly in peat bogs. The species is native to Europe, and is concentrated in the Alps and the Carpathian Mountains. It ranges from western France to southern Poland to northern Greece; there is also a disjunct population in the central Apennines in Italy (Farjon 2017). It is also locally naturalized in northeastern North America (Kartesz 2015).
Status
Pinus mugo is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern", as it has a very wide range, although it faces some threats, such as development of ski resorts and acid rain in the eastern part of its range. One subspecies, rotundata, is restricted to peat bogs which are being drained and replaced by Norway spruce (Picea abies). For that reason, it is listed as “Endangered” (Farjon 2017).
References
Eckenwalder, J. E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference. Portland: Timber Press.
Farjon, A. 2017. Pinus mugo. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T42385A95729675.en.
Kartesz, J. T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Pinus mugo. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Sep 27]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=284978
Farjon, A. 2017. Pinus mugo. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T42385A95729675.en.
Kartesz, J. T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Pinus mugo. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Sep 27]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=284978
Description
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