Pinus nigra

European black pine
Pinus nigra subsp. nigra, Bad Vöslau, Lower Austria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnosperms
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Subgenus: P. subg. Pinus
Section: P. sect. Pinus
Subsection: P. subsect. Pinus
Species:
P. nigra
Binomial name
Pinus nigra
J.F. Arnold
1: Pinus nigra subsp. nigra (1a: var. nigra, 1b: var. pallasiana, 1c: var. caramanica).
2: Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii (2a: var. salzmannii, 2b: var. corsicana, 2c: var. mauretanica)

Pinus nigra, the European black pine, is a moderately variable species of conifer in the family Pinaceae, a pine native across Southern Europe from the Iberian Peninsula and Lower Austria to the eastern Mediterranean, on the Anatolian peninsula of Turkey, Corsica and Cyprus, as well as Crimea and in the high mountains of Northwest Africa. Several of the regional populations have their own names, including Austrian pine, Corsican pine, Crimean pine, and Pyreneean pine.

Description

Pinus nigra is a large coniferous tree, growing to 20–55 m (66–180 ft) high at maturity and spreading to 6 to 12 m (20 to 39 ft) wide. The bark is grey to yellow-brown, and is widely split by flaking fissures into scaly plates, becoming increasingly fissured with age. The leaves ('needles') are (4–)10–18 cm long, thinner and more flexible in western populations.

The ovulate (female) and pollen (male) cones appear from May to June. The mature seed cones are 5–10 cm (2–4 in) (rarely to 11 cm/4 in) long, with rounded scales; they ripen from green to pale grey-buff or yellow-buff in September to November, about 18 months after pollination. The seeds are dark grey, 6–8 mm (1⁄4–5⁄16 in) long, with a yellow-buff wing 20–25 mm (3⁄4–1 in) long; they are wind-dispersed when the cones open from December to April. Maturity is reached at 15–40 years; large seed crops are produced at 2–5 year intervals.[citation needed]

Pinus nigra is moderately fast growing, at about 30–70 cm (12–28 in) per year. It usually has a rounded conic form, that becomes irregular with age. The tree can be long-lived, with some trees over 500 years old. Multiple pests can damage P. nigra, including the bark beetle Tomicus piniperda.

Taxonomy

The species is divided into two subspecies, each further subdivided into three varieties. Some authorities (see below) treat several of the varieties at subspecific rank, but this "reflects a long-standing European tradition of endless splitting more than sound taxonomy", as the distinctions between the taxa are small.

Subspecies
Short shoot bearing numerous needle fascicles

The Flora Europaea, followed by the Plants of the World Online database and the Gymnosperm Database, follows a more splitting approach with five subspecies and one variety:

Distribution and habitat

Pinus nigra is a tree of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome. The majority of the range is in Turkey. It is found in the higher elevations of the South Apennine mixed montane forests ecoregion in southern Italy and the Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests ecoregion in Sicily. There are remnant populations in the Mediterranean conifer and mixed forests ecoregion of northwestern Africa, specifically in the Rif Mountains of Morocco and Hodna Mountains of Algeria.

It is found at elevations ranging from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft), most commonly from 250–1,600 m (820–5,250 ft). Several of the varieties have distinct English names. It needs full sun to grow well, is intolerant of shade, and is resistant to snow and ice damage.[citation needed]

Oldest tree

The world's oldest black pine tree is about 1,000 years old and is in Turkey

The world's oldest black pine, located in the Banaz district of Uşak, Turkey, is estimated to be 1,000 years old. It has a height of 11 m (36 ft), a diameter of 3 m (10 ft) and a circumference of 9.60 m (31+1⁄2 ft).

Ecology

In Mediterranean Europe and the Anatolian Peninsula (Asia Minor), trees usually associated with this species include Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Serbian spruce (Picea omorika), Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii), Norway spruce (Picea abies), Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani), European silver fir (Abies alba) and related firs. Several species of juniper (Juniperus spp.), and various broadleaf trees are associates.[citation needed]

Climate and provenance

Pinus nigra is a light-demanding species, intolerant of shade but resistant to wind and drought. The eastern P. nigra subsp. nigra exhibits greater winter frost hardiness (hardy to below −30 °C/−22 °F) than the western P. nigra subsp. salzmannii (hardy to about −25 °C/−13 °F).

Different provenances (seed sources by geographic area) or varieties are adapted to different soil types: Austrian and Pyrenees origins grow well on a wide range of soil types, Corsican origins grows poorly on limestone, while Turkish and Crimean origins grow well on limestone. Most provenances also show good growth on podzolic soils.[citation needed]

As an invasive species

Pinus nigra has become naturalised in a few areas of the US. In New Zealand it is considered an invasive species and noxious weed, along with lodgepole pine (P. contorta) and Scots pine (P. sylvestris), due to their habitat conversion nature in tussock grassland plant communities, shading out the native bunch grasses as their forest canopy develops.[citation needed]

Cultivation and uses

Pinus nigra var. corsicana (Corsican pine) plantation, in Belgium

Timber

The timber of European black pine is similar to that of the European Scots pine (P. sylvestris) and the North American red pine (P. resinosa), being moderately hard and straight-grained. It does however tend to be rougher, softer, and not as strong, due to its faster growth. It is used for general construction, fuel, and in paper manufacture.[citation needed]

In the United Kingdom, Pinus nigra is important both as a timber tree and in plantations (primarily Corsican pine subsp.). Recently however, serious problems have occurred with red band needle blight disease, caused by the fungus Dothistroma septosporum, resulting in a major recent decline in forestry planting there.

As an ornamental tree

Bonsai Pinus nigra

In the US and Canada, the European black pine is planted as a street tree, and as an ornamental tree in gardens and parks. Its value as a street tree is largely due to its resistance to salt spray (from road de-icing salt) and various industrial pollutants (including ozone), and its intermediate drought tolerance. It is planted with great success as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

In the UK the tree is planted as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens.

Pinus nigra is also used in bonsai.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Farjon, A. (2013). "Pinus nigra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013 e.T42386A2976817. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42386A2976817.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Pinus nigra - EUFORGEN European forest genetic resources programme". EUFORGEN European forest genetic resources programme. Retrieved 2026-08-16.
  3. ↑ "Jardim Botânico UTAD | Espécie Pinus nigra". Jb.utad.pt.
  4. ↑ Mitchell, Alan (1972). "Conifers in the British Isles: a descriptive handbook" (PDF). pp. 223–227. Retrieved 2026-08-16.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Christensen, K. I. (1993). Comments on the earliest validly published varietal name for the Corsican Pine. Taxon 42: 649-653.
  6. 1 2 Farjon, Aljos (2005). Pines: drawings and descriptions of the genus Pinus. Leiden [etc.]: Brill. p. 145. ISBN 90-04-13916-8.
  7. ↑ "Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 Earle, Christopher J. "Pinus nigra (schwarzkiefer) description". The Gymnosperm Database. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  9. ↑ "Pinus nigra subsp. dalmatica (Vis.) Franco". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  10. ↑ Farjon, A. 2013. Pinus nigra subsp. dalmatica The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T34191A2850164. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T34191A2850164.en. Accessed 14 February 2025.
  11. ↑ "Pinus nigra subsp. laricio Palib. ex Maire". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  12. ↑ Farjon, A. 2013. Pinus nigra subsp. laricio. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T20453493A20453502. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T20453493A20453502.en. Accessed 14 February 2025.
  13. ↑ "Pinus nigra subsp. nigra". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  14. ↑ "Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  15. ↑ "Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii (Dunal) Franco". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  16. ↑ "Pinus nigra f. seneriana (Saatçioglu) Kandemir & Mataraci". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  17. ↑ "Pinus nigra var. yaltirikiana Alptekin". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  18. ↑ Rushforth, K. (1987). Conifers. Helm ISBN 0-7470-2801-X.
  19. ↑ "Dünyanın en yaşlı ağacı Türkiye'de" (in Turkish).
  20. ↑ Isajev, V.; Fady, B.; Semerci, H.; Andonovski, V. (2004), European Black pine - Pinus nigra: Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use (PDF), European Forest Genetic Resources Programme, archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-26, retrieved 2016-11-25
  21. ↑ Gymnosperm Database: Pinus nigra
  22. ↑ Forestry Commission: Red band needle blight Archived 2009-12-08 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ "PlantFiles Pictures: Pinus Species, Austrian Pine, Black Pine, Corsican Pine, European Black Pine (Pinus nigra)". Davesgarden.com. Retrieved 24 March 2022.