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| Pinus cembra | |
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| Swiss pine growing on the Dachstein,Austria | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Pinaceae |
| Genus: | Pinus |
| Subgenus: | P. subg.Strobus |
| Section: | P.sect. Quinquefoliae |
| Subsection: | P.subsect. Strobus |
| Species: | P. cembra |
| Binomial name | |
| Pinus cembra | |
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| Distribution | |
Pinus cembra, also known asSwiss pine,Swiss stone pine,Arolla pine,Austrian stone pine, or juststone pine, is a species ofpinetree in the subgenusStrobus.
The Swiss pine is a member of thewhite pine group,Pinus subgenusStrobus, and like all members of that group, theleaves ('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] Thecones, 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) longseeds have only a vestigial wing and are dispersed byspotted nutcrackers. The species is long-lasting and can reach an age between 500 and 1000 years.[2]
In its natural environment, this tree usually reachesreproductive maturity at the age of 50 years (even 80 years, if the conditions are more extreme).
The very similarSiberian 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 threeresin canals instead of two as in the Swiss pine.
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The Swiss pine grows in theAlps andCarpathian Mountains of centralEurope, inPoland (Tatra Mountains),Switzerland,France,Italy,Austria,Germany,Slovenia,Slovakia (Tatra Mountains),Ukraine andRomania. It typically grows at 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) to 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) altitude. It often reaches thealpine tree line in this area.
Swiss pine associates with numerous species ofmycorrhizal fungi from a young age, usually from the genusSuillus.[3] Thissymbiosis improves the tree's growth and survival rate.
Swiss pine is a popular ornamental tree inparks and largegardens, giving steady though not fast growth on a wide range of sites where theclimate 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 aspine 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 withectomycorrhizal fungi, such asSuillus luteus,Suillus americanus,Suillus placidus etc. These are the most effective.
Pine cones cut into slices are used to flavorschnapps, which is then sold as "Zirbenschnaps" or "Zirbeler" schnapps.
The wood is the most used for carvings inVal Gardena since the 17th century.
The cone of the Swiss pine was thefield sign of theRoman legion stationed inRhaetia in 15 BC, and hence it is used as theheraldic charge (known asZirbelnuss in German) in the coat of arms of the city ofAugsburg, the site of the Roman fortAugusta 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 andAsian white pines, Swiss pine is very resistant towhite pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola). This fungal disease was accidentally introduced fromEurope intoNorth America, where it has caused severe mortality in the American native white pines in many areas, notably,Western white pine and the closely relatedwhitebark pine. Swiss pine is of great value for research into hybridization to develop rust resistance in these species.
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