Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Fact sheet

Range and distribution

Scots pine has a vast range, stretching from the boreal zone to the central European one. It is found in all the European mountain chains. Its distribution is more compact towards the north-east and more fragmented to the south. Indeed the range is continuous in north-western Europe: Finland, the Baltic states, northern Russia. Towards the south-west, where the distribution frays, it is found as far as the Mediterranean mountains. In the north-western sector Scots pine is found only in a small area of Scotland (given as native), which gives the species its common name of “scotch pine”. In Italy Scots pine is common to several vegetation belts, but it forms its most characteristic stands in the Alpine montane belt, in particular in the inner Alpine valleys. It is considered native on the morainic soils of the heathlands in Lombardy. In Piedmont and Liguria it reaches the Apennines, where it mixes with maritime pine on the Tyrrhenian side. It is also found in Emilia-Romagna, where it is present as a small stand of shrubby habit on very clayey soils. The great extent of the range also goes with great morphological variability. These traits have turned out to be heritable, so much so that several races have been identified. The valuable races are distinguished by a straight trunk, growth in height, a pointed crown that flattens only in old age, sparse thin branches and scaly bark almost down to the base of the trunk. This category includes var. lapponica and engadinensis. The more southerly varieties, on the other hand, have the opposite characteristics.

Ecology

Scots pine needs a continental climate. It is very resistant to absolute winter minimum temperatures, but needs a warm growing season that is not too long. It does best in north-eastern Europe, while in the Alps it takes refuge in the montane belt. It reaches the tree line in two exceptions: in the Engadine, where there is an ecotype similar in longevity and growth to the Scandinavian stands, and in the Maritime Alps. It is a pioneer species, light-demanding, drought-resistant, able to regenerate only in the open with little competition and totally indifferent to the basicity or acidity of soils, as long as they are poor. Mass natural regeneration occurs after fires or catastrophic natural events; sporadic regeneration occurs in arid areas and on very poor ground.

Habit

Depending on the site, the tree can take the form of a first-magnitude tree (up to 30m), with a spreading crown if isolated. In groups, when young it takes a narrow form with regular branches. With age the profile changes: the lower branches fall and the crown flattens.

Leaves

The needle-like leaves, 3 to 7 cm long, slightly twisted, arranged in pairs, blue-green and blue-grey. The young shoots are at first yellowish green, then greyish brown

Flowers and fruit

The male flowers, yellow, and the female flowers, red, are grouped in separate clusters on the young shoots from late spring to early summer. The cones are conical, 7.5 cm long and brown when ripe. The seeds are winged.

Bark

Greyish purple, it flakes off in irregular orange plates from the bottom upwards. The upper part of the trunk and the branches are rust red.

Uses

If knot-free, it is one of the best softwoods for construction, inlay and outdoor work. It yields resin, from which turpentine used to be produced. The resin and oils were also used against coughs. A yellow dye was obtained from the cones.