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Pinus nigra
J.F.Arnold
Austrian Pine
Pinaceae
Pinus nigra is a coniferous tree in the family Pinaceae. It is native to, but scattered in southeastern Europe and the Near East. It is widely used as a timber tree and an ornamental.
Description
Pinus nigra is a medium or large tree, growing 30 to 50 m with a trunk that grows 1.5 to 2 m wide. It forms a conically rounded or spherical crown. Branches are heavy at the bottom, slender and upturned at the top, with needles clustered at the tips. Needles are thick but slightly flexible and may be curved or twisted, anywhere from 4 to 19 cm in bundles of 2. They are dark green with several inconspicuous bands (which are stomata) on both sides of the leaves, and they persist on the tree for around 3 to 5 years. Sheaths are 15 to 25 mm long, and are persistent, weathering to 4 to 6 mm and falling with the bundle. Buds are typically 10 to 18 mm long, and are resinous. The bark is light brown or black, narrowly ridged and furrowed. Twigs are orange-brown to black and are hairless and rough with tiny brown scalelike leaves. Pollen cones are 20 to 30 mm, yellowish brown. Seed cones are around 5 to 8 cm long, egg-shaped or broader with a flat base, and short, 5 to 10 mm long. They are green, ripening to light or yellowish brown. Cones have around 75 to 100 scales that are spoon-shaped, with the exposed part fan-shaped, horizontally ridged, somewhat protruding, with a small diamond-shaped umbo and a tiny prickle. These cones open widely to release their seeds and fall from the tree. Seeds are small, 5 to 7 mm long, with an easily detachable wing that is 12 to 22 mm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
Because it is so scattered within its range, it has much variation in its local populations. Often five or six subspecies are split, but since they are so similar to and intergrade with each other, it may be better to simply split them into eastern and western subspecies. The eastern subspecies would be ssp. nigra, which has stiff needles that are 4 to 19 cm long, and seed cones that are 3 to 12 cm long. The western subspecies would be ssp. salzmannii, which has flexible needles that are 8 to 16 cm long, and seed cones that are 4 to 8 cm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
The very similar and closely related Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii has several minor distinguishing features, such as having smaller pollen cones that are 10 to 20 mm long, compared to Pinus nigra’s, which are 20 to 30 mm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
Because it is so scattered within its range, it has much variation in its local populations. Often five or six subspecies are split, but since they are so similar to and intergrade with each other, it may be better to simply split them into eastern and western subspecies. The eastern subspecies would be ssp. nigra, which has stiff needles that are 4 to 19 cm long, and seed cones that are 3 to 12 cm long. The western subspecies would be ssp. salzmannii, which has flexible needles that are 8 to 16 cm long, and seed cones that are 4 to 8 cm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
The very similar and closely related Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii has several minor distinguishing features, such as having smaller pollen cones that are 10 to 20 mm long, compared to Pinus nigra’s, which are 20 to 30 mm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Pinus nigra is an important timber tree. In Austria and the Balkans, its wood is used to build houses, while in the Mediterranean, its wood is used for general construction, fuelwood, pulp for paper, crates, and pallets (Farjon 2013a). It is also commonly grown as an ornamental, being tolerant of urban conditions. It prefers deep, moist, well-drained soils and full sun. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7 (MBG).
Distribution
Pinus nigra is found in pure or mixed stands, usually in mountainous areas, typically at an altitude of 300 to 1800 m, but also anywhere from 200 to 2200 m. It is scattered and native in eastern Austria south to Turkey, as well as the northern shore of the Black Sea, Algeria, and Morocco. Subspecies nigra is found from central and northeastern Italy eastward, and subspecies salzmannii is found from Calabria, Sicily, and Corsica westward (Eckenwalder 2009).
Status
Pinus nigra is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern", as it has a wide range and no threats. However, its range is highly fragmented and thus some unique subpopulations are threatened (Farjon 2013a). One subspecies, dalmatica, which is considered “Endangered”, due to its extremely small range and grazing from feral goats (Farjon 2013b).
References
Eckenwalder, J. E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference. Portland: Timber Press.
Farjon, A. 2013a. Pinus nigra. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42386A2976817.en.
Farjon, A. 2013b. Pinus nigra subsp. dalmatica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T34191A2850164.en.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Pinus nigra. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 19]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c231
Farjon, A. 2013a. Pinus nigra. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42386A2976817.en.
Farjon, A. 2013b. Pinus nigra subsp. dalmatica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T34191A2850164.en.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Pinus nigra. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 19]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c231
Description
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