Pinaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Pinus pinea

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[ 222 Title A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Publication Author Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. Publisher Houghton Mifflin Co. Year 1990 ISBN 0395467225 Description A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties. ].

Botanical Description

Pinus pinea is an evergreen tree with a crown that is globose and shrubby when young, later domed and becoming very broad low-rounded with age, it usually grows 12 - 25 metres tall, occasionally reaching 35 metres. The bole is often short and slightly sinuous[ 329 Title The Gymnosperm Database Publication Author Website http://www.conifers.org/index.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms. ]. This species is harvested on a very large scale for its edible seeds, which are used locally and also sold in large quantities for export. The species is also much valued as an ornamental tree in gardens and parks around the Mediterranean and in other parts of Europe with mild winters. The pine cones are sold as ornamental objects to florists. Pinus pinea is widespread in the Mediterranean, partly as a result of past plantings. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. In South Africa this species has become naturalized and is an invasive and noxious species in the fynbos biome of the Cape[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeMediterranean regions of Europe and western Asia, from Portugal and Spain to Turkey, Lebanon and Syria

HabitatCoastal dunes and flats as well as on lower slopes of mountains and in the hills, growing in mixed conifer-oak woodland, in low open forests and in maquis scrub; at elevations up to 600 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].