Pinus sylvestris

Pinus sylvestris, Scots pine (UK), Scotch pine (US), European

red pine,[2][3] or Baltic pine[4] is a species of tree in the pine Pinus sylvestris
family Pinaceae that is native to Eurasia, ranging from Western
Europe to Eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains and
Anatolia, and north to well inside the Arctic Circle in Fennoscandia.
In the north of its range, it occurs from sea level to 1,000 m
(3,300 ft), while in the south of its range it is a mountain tree,
growing at 1,200–2,600 m (3,900–8,500 ft) altitude. It is readily
identified by its combination of fairly short, blue-green leaves and
orange-red bark.[5][6][7][8]

The species is mainly found on poorer, sandy soils, rocky outcrops,

peat bogs or close to the forest limit. On fertile sites, the pine is out-
competed by other tree species, usually spruce or broad-leaved
trees.[9]

Contents
Names
Pinus sylvestris, in Skuleskogen
Description National Park
Taxonomy
Conservation status
Distribution
British Isles
Cultivation and uses
Cultivars
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Gallery
Scientific classification
References
Kingdom: Plantae
External links
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Pinophyta
Names
Class: Pinopsida
Before the 18th century, the species was more often known as Order: Pinales
"Scots fir" or "Scotch fir". Another, less common, name is
Family: Pinaceae
European redwood.[4]
Genus: Pinus
The timber from it is also called red deal or yellow deal, the name
"deal" being adopted from an archaic unit of volume used to Subgenus: P. subg. Pinus
measure wood. Section: P. sect. Pinus
Subsection: P. subsect. Pinus
Description
Pinus sylvestris is an evergreen coniferous tree growing up to 35 m Species: P. sylvestris
in height[10] and 1 m trunk diameter when mature,[11] exceptionally
Binomial name
over 45 metres (148 ft) tall and 1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in) trunk diameter
on very productive sites, the tallest on record being a more than Pinus sylvestris
210-year-old tree growing in Estonia which stands at 46.6 m (152 ft L.
11 in).[12]

The bark is thick, scaly dark grey-brown on the lower trunk, and
thin, flaky and orange on the upper trunk and branches.[11] The
habit of the mature tree is distinctive due to its long, bare and
straight trunk topped by a rounded or flat-topped mass of foliage.
The lifespan is normally 150–300 years, with the oldest recorded
specimens in Lapland, Northern Finland over 760 years.[5][6][7][13]
Distribution
The shoots are light brown, with a spirally arranged scale-like
pattern. On mature trees the leaves ('needles') are a glaucous blue-
green, often darker green to dark yellow-green in winter, 2.5–5 cm
(1–2 in) long and 1–2 mm (1 ⁄32 –3 ⁄32 in) broad, produced in fascicles
of two with a persistent grey 5–10 mm (1 ⁄4 –3 ⁄8 in) basal sheath. On
vigorous young trees the leaves can be twice as long, and
occasionally occur in fascicles of three or four on the tips of strong
shoots. Leaf persistence varies from two to four years in warmer
climates, and up to nine years in subarctic regions. Seedlings up to
one year old bear juvenile leaves; these are single (not in pairs), 2– Pinus sylvestris forest in Sierra de
3 cm (3 ⁄4 –11 ⁄4 in) long, flattened, with a serrated margin.[5][7][13] Guadarrama, central Spain.

The seed cones are red at pollination, then pale brown, globose and
4–8 mm (5 ⁄32 –5 ⁄16 in) diameter in their first year, expanding to full
size in their second year, pointed ovoid-conic, green, then grey-green
to yellow-brown at maturity, 3–7.5 cm (11 ⁄8 –3 in) long. The cone
scales have a flat to pyramidal apophysis (the external part of the cone
scale), with a small prickle on the umbo (central boss or
protuberance). The seeds are blackish, 3–5 mm (1 ⁄8 –3 ⁄16 in) in length
with a pale brown 12–20 mm (15 ⁄32 –25 ⁄32 in) wing and are released
when the cones open in spring 22–24 months after pollination. The
pollen cones are yellow, occasionally pink, 8–12 mm (5 ⁄16 –15 ⁄32 in) Mature open cones and seeds
long; pollen release is in mid to late spring.[5][7]

Taxonomy

Over 100 Pinus sylvestris varieties have been described in the

botanical literature, but only three or four are now accepted.[14] They
differ only minimally in morphology, but with more pronounced Roots of an old pine in Ystad,
differences in genetic analysis and resin composition. Populations in Sweden.
westernmost Scotland are genetically distinct from those in the rest of
Scotland and northern Europe, but not sufficiently to have been
distinguished as separate botanical varieties. Trees in the far north of the range were formerly sometimes
treated as var. lapponica, but the differences are clinal and it is not genetically
distinct.[5][6][8][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
 Image Subspecies Description Distribution

The bulk of
Pinus the range,
sylvestris from
var. Described above. Scotland
sylvestris L., and Spain to
1753 central
Siberia. Pinus sylvestris var. hamata, Crimea

Foliage more
consistently The
glaucous all year, Balkans,
Pinus
not becoming northern
sylvestris
duller in winter; Turkey,
var. hamata
cones more Crimea, and
Steven, 1838
frequently with a the
pyramidal Caucasus.
apophysis.

Mongolia
and
Pinus Foliage duller
adjoining
sylvestris green, shoots
parts of
var. grey-green; leaves
southern
mongolica occasionally up to
Siberia and
Litv., 1905 12 cm long.
northwestern
China.

(not considered
distinct from var. The Sierra
sylvestris by all Nevada in
Pinus
authors) Kalenicz. southern
sylvestris
Ex Kom. Cones Spain and
var.
often with thicker possibly
nevadensis
scales, but other
D.H.Christ.,
doubtfully Spanish
distinguishable on populations
morphology.

Pinus From border

sylvestris regions
var. between
cretacea Russia and
Kalenicz. ex
Ukraine.[22]
Kom.,

Distribution
Pinus sylvestris is the only pine native to northern Europe, forming either pure forests or mixed with Norway
spruce, common juniper, silver birch, European rowan, Eurasian aspen and other hardwood species. In central
and southern Europe, it occurs with numerous additional species, including European black pine, mountain
pine, Macedonian pine, and Swiss pine. In the eastern part of its range, it occurs with Siberian pine, among
others.[6][7]
British Isles

The tree spread across the British Isles after the Last Glacial
Maximum. Pollen records show that pine was present locally in
southern England by 9,000 years ago having entered from northeast
France and that it had spread as far north as the Lake District and
North Pennines 500 years later.

It was present in Ireland over 8,800 years ago but absent from Wales
at that time which suggests that the pine in Ireland had a separate
Iberian origin or contained surviving populations, although evidence
towards its survival is lacking.[23] Pine expanded into Scotland
between 8,000 and 8,500 years ago either from an independent
refuge, from Scandinavia (via Doggerland) or from Ireland. As the
climate warmed it became extinct from most of the British Isles
around 5,500 years ago except in Scotland and at Kielder, England. Scots pine in Stockholm archipelago,
Sweden
The Irish and western Scottish populations went through a massive
decline around 4,000 years ago which ultimately led to the extinction
of the Irish population between 2,000 and 1,000 years ago. It was
replaced by large areas of blanket bog in western Scotland and Ireland
though the reasons for its decline and extinction in England are not
clear, but it may have been influenced by human activities.[24]

In Britain it now occurs naturally only in Scotland. Historical and

archaeological records indicate that it also occurred in Wales and
England until about 300–400 years ago, becoming extinct there due to
over-exploitation and grazing; it has been re-introduced in these
countries. Similar historical extinction and re-introduction applies to Scattered survivors (two recently
Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands.[7][8][13][25] Whether it truly dead) of extensive deforestation at
became extinct in England is unknown. It has been speculated that it Glen Quoich, Scotland
may have survived wild long enough for trees used in cultivation in
England to derive from native (rather than imported) sources.[26]
Shakespeare (in Richard II) was familiar with the species in the 1590s, as was Evelyn in the early 1660s
(Sylva), both around the time when the pine was thought to become extinct in England, but when landowners
were also beginning ornamental and forestry planting.[26]

The pine formed much of the Caledonian Forest, which once covered much of the Scottish Highlands.
Overcutting for timber demand, fire, overgrazing by sheep and deer, and even deliberate clearance to deter
wolves have all been factors in the decline of this once great pine and birch forest. Only comparatively small
areas (17,000 ha (42,000 acres), only just over 1% of the estimated original 1,500,000 ha (3,700,000 acres)) of
this ancient forest remain, the main surviving remnants being at Abernethy Forest, Glen Affric, Rothiemurchus
Forest, and the Black Wood of Rannoch. Plans are currently in progress to restore at least some areas and
work has started at key sites.[7][13]

Additionally, the Scots pine is the plant badge of Clan Gregor. It is the national tree of Scotland.[27]

Cultivation and uses

Pinus sylvestris is an important tree in forestry. The wood is used for pulp and sawn timber products. A
seedling stand can be created by planting, sowing, or natural regeneration. Commercial plantation rotations
vary between 50 and 120 years, with longer rotations in northeastern areas where growth is slower.
In Scandinavian countries, the pine was used for making tar in the
preindustrial age. Some active tar producers still exist, but that
industry has almost ceased.[13][15] The pine has also been used as a
source of rosin and turpentine.

The wood is pale brown to red-brown, and used for general

construction work. It has a dry density around 470 kg/m3 (varying
with growth conditions), an open porosity of 60%, a fibre saturation
point of 0.25 kg/kg, and a saturation moisture content of
1.60 kg/kg.[15] The pine fibres are used to make the textile known as
vegetable flannel,[28] which has a hemp-like appearance, but with a
tighter, softer texture.[29]

The pine has also been widely planted in New Zealand and much of
the colder regions of North America; it was one of the first trees
introduced to North America, in about 1600.[30] It is listed as an
invasive species in some areas there, including Ontario,[31]
Michigan[32] and Wisconsin.[33] It has been widely used in the United
States for the Christmas tree trade, and was one of the most popular Pinus sylvestris – botanical plate
Christmas trees from the 1950s through the 1980s. It remains popular
for that usage, though it has been eclipsed in popularity, by such
species as Fraser fir, Douglas-fir, and others. Despite its invasiveness
in parts of eastern North America, the pine does not often grow well
there, partly due to climate and soil differences between its native
habitat and that of North America, and partly due to damage by pests
and diseases; the tree often grows in a twisted, haphazard manner if
not tended to (as they are in the Christmas tree trade).[6][34] The pines
may be killed by the pine wood nematode, which causes pine wilt
disease. The nematode most often attacks trees that are at least ten Scots pine forest in Estonia
years old and often kills trees it infects within a few weeks.[35]

The pine was grown and used extensively in the coal mining regions of Flanders, Belgium. It was used to
fortify the tunnelling and preferred for its cracking sound when in need of replacing. Large patches of forest,
mostly containing the species, are still scattered over the countryside.

Cultivars

Several cultivars are grown for ornamental purposes in parks and large gardens, of which 'Aurea',[36]
'Beuvronensis',[37] 'Frensham',[38] and 'Gold Coin'[39] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of
Garden Merit.[40]

Gallery
 Leaves and cones, Seedling with Scots pine wood Bark on a mature P.
Poland flatter, sylvestris tree
unfascicled
juvenile
leaves

Looking up into the

branch structure of a
P. sylvestris tree

References
1. Gardner, M. (2013). "Pinus sylvestris" (https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42418/2978732).
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42418A2978732. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-
1.RLTS.T42418A2978732.en (https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42418A297
8732.en). Retrieved 11 November 2016.
2. "U.S. foreign trade statistics: classifications and cross ..., Volume 1" (https://books.google.com/b
ooks?id=knURAQAAMAAJ&q=%22European+red+pine%22&pg=RA5-PA44). 1981.
3. "Response of Nitrogen Metabolism in Masson Pine Needles to Elevated CO2" (https://www.md
pi.com/1999-4907/11/4/390/htm). Retrieved 14 December 2020.
4. "Architectural Timber: History and Conservation" (https://www.buildingconservation.com/article
s/architectural-timber/architectural-timber.htm). www.buildingconservation.com. Retrieved
12 January 2020.
5. Farjon, A. (2005). Pines Drawings and Descriptions of the Genus Pinus 2nd ed. Brill ISBN 90-
04-13916-8.
6. Earle, Christopher J., ed. (2018). "Pinus sylvestris" (http://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_sylvestris.
php). The Gymnosperm Database.
7. Trees for Life: Species profile: Scots pine (http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.scpine.html)
8. Mirov, N. T. (1967). The Genus Pinus. Ronald Press.
9. Mátyás, C.; Ackzell, L.; Samuel, C. (2004), Scots pine - Pinus sylvestris: Technical guidelines
for genetic conservation and use (http://www.euforgen.org/fileadmin//templates/euforgen.org/up
load/Publications/Technical_guidelines/1037_Technical_guidelines_for_genetic_conservation
_and_use_for_Scots_pine__Pinus_sylvestris_.pdf) (PDF), European Forest Genetic
Resources Programme, p. 6
10. Rushforth, Keith (1986) [1980]. Bäume [Pocket Guide to Trees] (in German) (2nd ed.). Bern:
Hallwag AG. ISBN 978-3-444-70130-6.
11. Marinich, Allison; Powell, Kate (April 2017). "Scots Pine: Best Management Practices in
Ontario" (http://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/OIPC_BMP_ScotsP
ine_FINAL_Mar292017_D4.pdf) (PDF). Ontario Invasive Plants.
12. "Eesti kõrgeim mänd osutus hiiglaseks ka ülejäänud maailmas" (http://novaator.err.ee/v/loodus/
545979d6-9c4e-4658-8877-182d5a053618/video-eesti-korgeim-mand-osutus-hiiglaseks-ka-ul
ejaanud-maailmas) (in Estonian). ERR. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
13. Steven, H. M., & Carlisle, A. (1959, facsimile reprint 1996). The Native Pinewoods of Scotland.
Castlepoint Press.
14. "The Plant List: Pinus sylvestris" (http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Pinus+sylvestris).
Royal Botanic Garden Kew and Missouri Botanic Garden. 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
15. Pravdin, L. F. (1969). Scots Pine. Variation, intraspecific Taxonomy and Selection. Israel
Program for Scientific Translations (originally published 1964 in Russian).
16. Langlet, O. (1959). A Cline or not a Cline – a Question of Scots Pine. Silvae Genetica 8: 13–22.
17. Kinloch, B. B., Westfall, R. D., & Forrest, G. I. (1986). Caledonian Scots Pine: Origins and
Genetic Structure. New Phytologist 104: 703–729.
18. Szmidt, A. E., & Wang, X-R. (1993). Molecular systematics and genetic differentiation of Pinus
sylvestris (L.) and P. densiflora (Sieb. et Zucc.). Theoret. Appl. Genet. 86: 159–165.
19. Prus-Glowacki, W., & Stephan, B. R. (1994). Genetic variation of Pinus sylvestris from Spain in
Relation to Other European Populations. Silvae Genetica 43: 7–14.
20. Goncharenko, G. G., Silin, A. E., & Padutov, V. E. (1995). Intra- and interspecific genetic
differentiation in closely related pines from Pinus subsection Sylvestres (Pinaceae) in the
former Soviet Union. Pl. Syst. Evol. 194: 39–54.
21. Sinclair, W. T., Morman, J. D., & Ennos, R. A. (1999). The postglacial history of Scots pine
(Pinus sylvestris L.) in western Europe: evidence from mitochondrial DNA variation. Molec.
Ecol. 8: 83–88.
22. "Красная Книга России | Red Book of Russia. Pinus Sylvestris L. Var. Cretacea Kalenicz. Ex
Kom" (http://www.biodat.ru/db/rbp/rb.php?src=1&vid=449). biodat.ru. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
23. Kinloch, Bohun B.; Westfall, R. D.; Forrest, G. I. (1986). "Caledonian Scots Pine: Origins and
Genetic Structure" (https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1469-8137.1986.tb00671.x). New Phytologist.
104 (4): 703–729. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1986.tb00671.x (https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1469-
8137.1986.tb00671.x). ISSN 1469-8137 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1469-8137).
24. Milner, Edward (2011). "Trees of Britain andIreland". Flora: 15 and 120.
25. Carlisle, A., & Brown, A. H. F. (1968). Biological Flora of the British Isles: Pinus sylvestris L. J.
Ecol. 56: 269–307.
26. Edlin, H. L. (1970). Trees, Woods and Man, 3rd ed. Collins: New Naturalist.
27. Rick Steves Scotland (second edition) By Rick Steves
28. "Vegetable flannel" (http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/Vegetable%20flannel).
Webster's 1913 Dictionary. Webster. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
29. Cole, George S. (1900). Cole's Encyclopedia of Dry Goods (https://books.google.com/books?id
=Z8soAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA366). Root Newspaper Association. p. 566.
30. Moore, G.; Kershner, B.; Tufts, C.; Mathews, D; Nelson, G.; Spellenberg, R.; Thieret, J. W.;
Purinton, T. & Block, A. (2008). National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North
America. New York: Sterling. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-4027-3875-3.
31. "Invasive Ontario Plants" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120426060136/http://www.powerhalto
n.ca/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=XUOjld%2Fmr8o=&tabid=67). Protect Our Water and
Environmental Resources. Archived from the original (http://www.powerhalton.ca/LinkClick.asp
x?fileticket=XUOjld%2Fmr8o%3D&tabid=67) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
32. "Species found in Michigan" (http://www.eddmaps.org/tools/stateplants.cfm?id=us_mi). Early
Detection and Distribution Mapping System. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem
Health at the University of Georgia. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
33. "Terrestrial Invasives" (http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/species.asp?filterBy=Terrestrial&filterVal
=Y&catVal=PlantsReg#RegSelect). Invasive Species. Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
34. Sullivan, Janet (1993). "Pinus sylvestris" (https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/pinsyl/
all.html). Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest
Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory – via
https://www.feis-crs.org/feis/.
35. "Pine Wilt" (http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/miscpubs/mx0858.pdf) (PDF). University
of Missouri – Extension. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
36. "RHS Plantfinder - Pinus sylvestris (Aurea Group) 'Aurea' " (https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/9929
5/i-Pinus-sylvestris-i-(Aurea-Group)-Aurea/Details). Retrieved 30 April 2018.
37. "RHS Plant Selector – Pinus sylvestris 'Beuvronensis' " (https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/91667/Pi
nus-sylvestris-Beuvronensis/Details). Retrieved 6 February 2021.
38. "RHS Plantfinder - Pinus sylvestris 'Frensham' " (https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/63382/i-Pinus-s
ylvestris-i-Frensham/Details). Retrieved 30 April 2018.
39. "RHS Plantfinder - Pinus sylvestris 'Gold Coin' " (https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/66741/i-Pinus-s
ylvestris-i-Gold-Coin/Details). Retrieved 25 April 2018.
40. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf)
(PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 78. Retrieved 30 April 2018.

External links
Eichhorn, Markus (October 2011). "The Scots Pine" (http://www.test-tube.org.uk/trees/video_sc
ots_pine.htm). Test Tube. Brady Haran for the University of Nottingham.
Pinus sylvestris (http://www.euforgen.org/species/pinus-sylvestris/) - distribution map, genetic
conservation units and related resources. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme
(EUFORGEN)

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