The different species : The different species of French pine
Maritime pine
- Scientific name: PINUS PINASTER
- Other names: maritime pine, cluster pine
- Distribution area: Western France, Atlantic Spanish coast, Mediterranean
- NB: may be confused with the Aleppo pine or Turkish pine
Photo credits: CRPF Aquitaine, FCBA
Scots pine
- Other names: Northern pine, Auvergne pine, Geneva pine, Scots pine or Riga pine
- Distribution area: Temperate and Boreal Europe to Eastern Siberia
- NB: its smooth and ochre-red bark in the upper part of the trunk makes it very recognizable
Photo credits: ONF, FCBA
Black pine
- Scientific name: PINUS NIGRA subsp. nigricans
- Common name: Austrian pine
- Distribution area: Southern Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa
- NB: many varieties exist including Corsican pine, a subspecies of black pine
Photo credits: PHOTORANDO84, VISOFLORA
Corsican pine (see black pine)
- Scientific name: PINUS NIGRA subsp. laricio
- Distribution area: Corsica, Mediterranean Basin
- NB: Corsican pine is a subspecies of black pine. There are two common subspecies: the Corsican pine and the Calabrian pine
Photo credits: JP CHASSEAU and M. KACZMARD for the ONF
Mountain pine
- Scientific name: PINUS UNCINATA
- Other name: creeping pine
- Distribution area: mountainous regions of Europe
- NB: recognized by some as a subspecies of the mountain pine, PINUS MUGO. Not very workable.
Photo credits: M. DEDIEU and C.GAILLARD for the ONF, FCBA
Mugo Pine
- Scientific name: PINUS MUGO
- Other name: mountain pine
- Distribution area: mountainous regions of Europe
- NB: small bushy tree, decorative species
Aleppo pine
- Scientific name: PINUS HALEPENSIS or PINUS BRUTIA
- Other names: white pine, white pine of Provence, Jerusalem pine, Calabrian pine
- Distribution area: Mediterranean basin
- NB: tree with a somewhat crooked growth found in small volumes; a few attempts at forestry have been made
Photo credits: M. DEDIEU for the ONF, X. VARELA
Swiss Pine
- Scientific name: PINUS CEMBRA
- Other names: Swiss stone pine, Arolla pine
- Distribution area: Europe's highest mountains (above 1700 m)
- NB: tree with a relatively crooked growth, used for making small objects and for cabinetmaking
Photo credits: PHOTORANDO84, M. DEDIEU for the ONF
Parasol pine
- Scientific name: PINUS PINEA
- Other names: Italian stone pine, umbrella pine
- Distribution area: Mediterranean basin, particularly Spain
- NB: tree with a relatively crooked growth, forested mostly for its edible pine nuts
Salzmann pine (see black pine)
- Scientific name: PINUS NIGRA subsp. Salzmannii
- Other name: Cévennes pine
- Distribution area: France (Languedoc-Roussillon only), Italy
- NB: Salzmann pine is a subspecies of black pine. This pine is very rare but scientists are interested in its drought resistance in the event of global warming.
Weymouth Pine
- Scientific name: PINUS STROBUS
- Other names: white pine, soft pine
- Distribution area: tree of American origin, introduced in Europe in 1705
- NB: large tree, more often found in parks than forests
Taeda Pine
- Scientific name: PINUS TAEDA
- Other names: loblolly pine
- Distribution area: originally found in the south-eastern region of the US, a few plantations in Aquitaine (not a significant quantity)
- NB: compared to the maritime pine, this tree is straighter but more sensitive to drought, requiring richer soil.
Photo credits: VILMORIN
