Pinus cembra, also known as Swiss pine, Swiss stone pine or Arolla pine or Austrian stone pine or just stone pine, is a species of a pinetree in the subgenus Strobus.
The Swiss pine 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. The mature size is typically between 25 metres (82 ft) and 35 metres (115 ft) in height, and the trunk diameter can be up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). However, it grows very slowly and it may take 30 years for the tree to reach 1.3 metres (4.3 ft).[citation needed] The cones, which contain the seeds (or nuts), of the Swiss pine are 4 centimetres (1.6 in) to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) long. Cones take 2 years (24 months) to mature. The 8 millimetres (0.31 in) to 12 millimetres (0.47 in) long seeds have only a vestigial wing and are dispersed by spotted nutcrackers. The species is long-lasting and can reach an age between 500 and 1000 years.[2]
In its natural environment, this tree usually reaches reproductive maturity at the age of 50 years (if the conditions are more extreme, even 80 years).
The very similar Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica) is treated as a variety or subspecies of Swiss pine by some botanists. The Siberian pine differs in having slightly larger cones, being more massive (taller, wider trunk), having a faster growth rate and needles with three resin canals instead of two as in the Swiss pine.
Bark of middle-aged Pinus cembra
Cones of Pinus cembra
Close-up of an immature cone from a cultivated Pinus cembra
Close-up of a mature cone from a cultivated Pinus cembra
Swiss pine associates with numerous species of mycorrhizal fungi from a young age, usually from the genus Suillus.[3] This symbiosis improves the tree's growth and survival rate.
Uses
Swiss pine is a popular ornamental tree in parks and large gardens, giving steady though not fast growth on a wide range of sites where the climate is cold. It is very tolerant of severe winter cold, hardy down to at least −50 °C (−58 °F), and also of wind exposure. The seeds are also harvested and sold as pine nuts. When cultivated, it will likely start producing cones after the age of 12 years, much faster than in the wild. This depends on the climate, soil type, mycorrhizal fungi etc. To make the tree bear cones faster, the tree can be inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi, such as Suillus luteus, Suillus americanus, Suillus placidus etc. These are the most effective. Pine cones cut into slices are used to flavor schnapps, which is then sold as "Zirbenschnaps" or "Zirbeler" schnapps.
The wood is the most used for carvings in Val Gardena since the 17th century.
It is also a species that is often used in bonsai.
Pinus cembra can be found in the uppermost forest belt where it helps to minimize the risk of avalanches and soil erosion. Due to this ability, the tree is valued as a stabilizing factor for afforestation projects at high elevations.[2]
Like other European and Asian white pines, Swiss pine is very resistant to white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola). This fungal disease was accidentally introduced from Europe into North America, where it has caused severe mortality in the American native white pines in many areas, notably, Western white pine and the closely related whitebark pine. Swiss pine is of great value for research into hybridization to develop rust resistance in these species.
References
^Farjon, A. (2017). "Pinus cembra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T42349A95684563. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T42349A95684563.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ abUlber, M.; Gurgerli, F. & Bozic, G. (2004), Swiss stone pine - Pinus cembra: Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use(PDF), European Forest Genetic Resources Programme, p. 6
^Rainer, Georg; Kuhnert, Regina; Unterholzer, Mara; Dresch, Philipp; Gruber, Andreas; Peintner, Ursula (2015-04-30). "Host-Specialist Dominated Ectomycorrhizal Communities of Pinus cembra are not Affected by Temperature Manipulation". Journal of Fungi. 1 (1): 55–75. doi:10.3390/jof1010055. ISSN 2309-608X. PMC5770009. PMID 29376899.
External links
Look up Zirbelkiefer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pinus cembra.
Pinus cembra cone pic (scroll to bottom of page)
Photos of Pinus cembra in Switzerland
Link to Joanneum Research Study
Folder Joanneum Research: Stone Pine - Positive health effects of Stone Pine furniture
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Pinus cembra also known as Swiss pine Swiss stone pine or Arolla pine or Austrian stone pine or just stone pine is a species of a pine tree in the subgenus Strobus Pinus cembraSwiss pine growing on the Dachstein AustriaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade GymnospermsDivision PinophytaClass PinopsidaOrder PinalesFamily PinaceaeGenus PinusSubgenus P subg StrobusSection P sect QuinquefoliaeSubsection P subsect StrobusSpecies P cembraBinomial namePinus cembraL Distribution Seeds with and without their shell with a one euro coin for scale 23 25mm diameter Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 Uses 5 References 6 External linksDescription EditThe Swiss pine 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 The mature size is typically between 25 metres 82 ft and 35 metres 115 ft in height and the trunk diameter can be up to 1 5 metres 4 9 ft However it grows very slowly and it may take 30 years for the tree to reach 1 3 metres 4 3 ft citation needed The cones which contain the seeds or nuts of the Swiss pine are 4 centimetres 1 6 in to 8 centimetres 3 1 in long Cones take 2 years 24 months to mature The 8 millimetres 0 31 in to 12 millimetres 0 47 in long seeds have only a vestigial wing and are dispersed by spotted nutcrackers The species is long lasting and can reach an age between 500 and 1000 years 2 In its natural environment this tree usually reaches reproductive maturity at the age of 50 years if the conditions are more extreme even 80 years The very similar Siberian pine Pinus sibirica is treated as a variety or subspecies of Swiss pine by some botanists The Siberian pine differs in having slightly larger cones being more massive taller wider trunk having a faster growth rate and needles with three resin canals instead of two as in the Swiss pine Bark of middle aged Pinus cembra Cones of Pinus cembra Close up of an immature cone from a cultivated Pinus cembra Close up of a mature cone from a cultivated Pinus cembra 5 year old Pinus cembra seedling planted for pine nut production Baldone Latvia Bark of a young Pinus cembra National Botanic Garden of Latvia Cross section of Pinus cembra 181 years MHNT Pinus cembra Columnaris cultivar 1 year old cone and foliageDistribution and habitat EditThe Swiss pine grows in the Alps and Carpathian Mountains of central Europe in Poland Tatra Mountains Switzerland France Italy Austria Germany Slovenia Slovakia Tatra Mountains Ukraine and Romania It typically grows at 1 200 metres 3 900 ft to 2 300 metres 7 500 ft altitude It often reaches the alpine tree line in this area Ecology EditSwiss pine associates with numerous species of mycorrhizal fungi from a young age usually from the genus Suillus 3 This symbiosis improves the tree s growth and survival rate Uses EditSwiss pine is a popular ornamental tree in parks and large gardens giving steady though not fast growth on a wide range of sites where the climate is cold It is very tolerant of severe winter cold hardy down to at least 50 C 58 F and also of wind exposure The seeds are also harvested and sold as pine nuts When cultivated it will likely start producing cones after the age of 12 years much faster than in the wild This depends on the climate soil type mycorrhizal fungi etc To make the tree bear cones faster the tree can be inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi such as Suillus luteus Suillus americanus Suillus placidus etc These are the most effective Pine cones cut into slices are used to flavor schnapps which is then sold as Zirbenschnaps or Zirbeler schnapps The wood is the most used for carvings in Val Gardena since the 17th century The cone of the Swiss pine was the field sign of the Roman legion stationed in Rhaetia in 15 BC and hence it is used as the heraldic charge known as Zirbelnuss in German in the coat of arms of the city of Augsburg the site of the Roman fort Augusta Vindelicorum It is also a species that is often used in bonsai Pinus cembra can be found in the uppermost forest belt where it helps to minimize the risk of avalanches and soil erosion Due to this ability the tree is valued as a stabilizing factor for afforestation projects at high elevations 2 Like other European and Asian white pines Swiss pine is very resistant to white pine blister rust Cronartium ribicola This fungal disease was accidentally introduced from Europe into North America where it has caused severe mortality in the American native white pines in many areas notably Western white pine and the closely related whitebark pine Swiss pine is of great value for research into hybridization to develop rust resistance in these species References Edit Farjon A 2017 Pinus cembra IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T42349A95684563 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 2 RLTS T42349A95684563 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 a b Ulber M Gurgerli F amp Bozic G 2004 Swiss stone pine Pinus cembra Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use PDF European Forest Genetic Resources Programme p 6 Rainer Georg Kuhnert Regina Unterholzer Mara Dresch Philipp Gruber Andreas Peintner Ursula 2015 04 30 Host Specialist Dominated Ectomycorrhizal Communities of Pinus cembra are not Affected by Temperature Manipulation Journal of Fungi 1 1 55 75 doi 10 3390 jof1010055 ISSN 2309 608X PMC 5770009 PMID 29376899 External links Edit Look up Zirbelkiefer in Wiktionary the free dictionary Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pinus cembra Pinus cembra cone pic scroll to bottom of page Photos of Pinus cembra in Switzerland Link to Joanneum Research Study Folder Joanneum Research Stone Pine Positive health effects of Stone Pine furniture Pinus cembra distribution map genetic conservation units and related resources European Forest Genetic Resources Programme EUFORGEN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pinus cembra amp oldid 1136654451, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
