Black Pine - Pinus nigra

Alternative names
Austrian Pine, Corsican Pine
Description

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)

Similar Species

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

Identification difficulty
ID guidance

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

Recording advice

Photo of shoot and needles; cones; whole tree

Habitat

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

When to see it

All year round.

Life History

Evergreen.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

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

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Austrian Pine, Corsican Pine
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Pinales
Family:
Pinaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
24
First record:
23/08/2014 (Helen Ikin;Steve Woodward)
Last record:
22/11/2020 (Gray, Stephen)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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