Pinus pinea L.

Family: PINACEAE

Genus: Pinus

Catalan common name: Pi pinyer. Pi ver.

Spanish common name: Pino doncel. Pino piñonero. Pino real.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): East Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs. Furniture, construction and tools.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Macrophanerophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Garden plants.

Description: This tree can grow to over 25 m in height, with a reddish brown bark; also with reddish brown bark scales on the older examples. The trunk, after many years, divides itself into branches of the same width, forming the well-known and characteristic rounded shape of the crown. Needles are in groups of two, 10-20 cm in length and 1.5 to 2 mm in length, flexible, arched and a green in colour with a slightly bluish hue. Buds are cylindrical, light brown, and bordered with whitish scales. Cones emerge and mature during the third year, differing from most pines, which usually produce cones within two years. Theses cones are oval-spherical in shape, 8-14 cm in length. Can remain on the tree for many years.

Observations: The main uses of this tree are the edible pine nuts, very appreciated in culinary circles, and it is one of the more valuable ornamental pines.