Pinus halepensis Mill.
White Pine
Scientific name: Pinus halepensis Mill.
Family: Pinaceae
Origin: Mediterranean
Year planted: Beginning of the garden, before 1930
Flowering: April – May
Pinus halepensis
Description
It is one of the most emblematic trees of the Catalan Mediterranean. It grows from the cliffs of the coast up to mountains of 1,200 metres. It is a tree that is highly adapted to withstand the force of the wind and can live with little water. They are large trees, up to 22 metres.
The youngest branches bear the leaves and pine cones, and are silver in colour, hence the catalan name, which translates to “white pine”.
The leaves look like needles, and are borne in pairs. They are very thin and light green in colour.
The flowers can be male or female. The male ones are grouped cones, release large quantities of pollen and fertilise the female flowers, the pine cones.
Marimurtra’s specimens
You can find different specimens. The most characteristic one is at the entrance of the Mediterranean garden, and is 15 metres high. It is a wild specimen from before the creation of the garden.
You will also find other wild pines on the path that borders the sea. All of them are bent and have a flattened crown, due to the wind coming from the sea.
Did you know that…?
Its wood is used to make paper pulp, wooden boxes and packaging.
It is often found on land that has been burnt. It is a tree that has adapted to fire: the cones burst in high temperatures and release the pine nuts over great distances.
It produces a lot of resin, which was used to flavour the resin wine that was already produced in ancient Greece.
Threat level (UICN)
Main uses
Raunkiaer Life Forms
