- Pinus peuce
Taxobox
name = "Pinus peuce"
status = LR/nt | status_system = IUCN2.3
image_width = 240px
image_caption = Cultivated SpecimenMorton Arboretum acc. 687-57*2
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo =Pinales
familia =Pinaceae
genus = "Pinus"
subgenus = "Strobus"
species = "P. peuce"
binomial = "Pinus peuce"
binomial_authority = Griseb.The tree species "Pinus peuce" is commonly called Macedonian Pine or Balkan Pine. It is native to the mountains of the
Republic of Macedonia ,Bulgaria ,Albania ,Serbia and the extreme north ofGreece , growing typically at (600-) 1,000-2,200 (-2,300) m altitude. It often reaches the alpine tree line in this area. The mature size is up to 35-40 m height, and 1.5 m trunk diameter.It is a member of the white pine group, "
Pinus " subgenus "Strobus ", and like all members of that group, the leaves ('needles') are in fascicles (bundles) of five, with a deciduous sheath. They are 6-11 cm long. Macedonian Pine cones are mostly 8-16 cm long, occasionally up to 20 cm long. The 6-7 mm longseed s have a 2 cm wing and can be wind-dispersed, but are also very often dispersed bySpotted Nutcracker s.Like other European and
Asia n white pines, Macedonian Pine is very resistant toWhite Pine Blister Rust ("Cronartium ribicola"). This fungal disease was accidentally introduced fromEurope intoNorth America , where it has caused severe mortality in the American native white pines (e.g.Western White Pine ,Sugar Pine ,Whitebark Pine ) in many areas. Macedonian Pine is of great value for research into hybridisation and genetic modification to develop rust resistance in these species.Macedonian Pine is also a popular ornamental tree in
park s and largegarden s, giving reliable steady though not fast growth on a wide range of sites. It is very tolerant of severe winter cold, hardy down to at least -45°C, and also of wind exposure.References
*, ,m
External links
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PIPE9 USDA NRCS Plants Profile]
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?28524 USDA ARS National Genetic Resources Program]
* [http://www.conifers.org/pi/pin/peuce.htm Gymnosperm Database - "Pinus peuce"]
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