Black Pine - Pinus nigra

Pinus nigra is a large evergreen tree developing an irregular, dense crown with age. Leaves dark green, paired, to 18cm in length. Cones ovoid, pale brown when mature. There are several different subspecies including Corsican Pine (Pinus nigra subsp. laricio) and Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra subsp. nigra)

Pinus sylvestris; several ornamental species of Pine are planted in parks and gardens; Lodgepole Pine (P contorta) sometimes in forestry plantations

Leaves in pairs, not glaucous, mostly >10cm; female cones 3-9cm with small blunt points at apex; trunk dark grey

Photo of shoot and needles; cones; whole tree

Usually found in plantations or as ornamental trees in parks and gardens.

All year round.

Evergreen.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Locally frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 59 of the 617 tetrads.