Pine, Italian Stone

Pinus pinea, the Stone Pine, Italian Stone Pine, or Umbrella Pine, is a species of pine in the family Pinaceae that is native to the Mediterranean region in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Levant. The tree has been used and cultivated for its edible pine nuts since prehistoric times. It is also in widespread horticultural cultivation as an ornamental tree, planted in gardens and parks around the world. Pinus pinea, the Stone Pine grows to 12–20 meters (39–66 ft) in height, and can exceed 25 meters (82 ft) height. In youth, it is a bushy globe, in mid-age an umbrella canopy on a thick trunk, and, in maturity, a broad and flat crown 40–60 meters (130–200 ft) in width

The flexible mid-green LEAVES are needle-like, in bundles of two, and are 10–20 centimeters (3.9–7.9 in) long (exceptionally up to 30 centimeters (12 in)). Young trees up to 5–10 years old bear juvenile leaves, which are very different, single (not paired), 2–4 centimeters (0.79–1.6 in) long, glaucous blue-green; the adult leaves appear mixed with juvenile leaves from the fourth or fifth year on, replacing it fully by around the tenth year. Juvenile leaves are also produced in re-growth following injury, such as a broken shoot, on older trees.

The CONES are broad ovoid, 8–15 centimeters (3.1–5.9 in) long, and take 36 months to mature, longer than any other pine. The SEEDS (pine nuts, piñones, pinhões or pinoli) are large, 2 centimeters (0.79 in) long, pale brown with a powdery black coating that rubs off easily, and have a rudimentary 4–8 millimeters (0.16–0.31 in) wing that falls off very easily. The wing is ineffective for wind dispersal, and the seeds are WILDLIFE-dispersed, originally mainly by the Azure-winged Magpie, but in recent history, very largely by humans.

The BARK is thick, red-brown and deeply fissured into broad vertical plates.

Pinus pinea has been cultivated extensively for at least 6,000 years for the edible pine nuts. These have been trade items since early historic times. This cultivation throughout the Mediterranean region for so long that it has naturalized and is often considered native beyond its natural range. Pine nuts contain thiamine, vitamin B1 and protein.