Pinus bungeana (; Japanese: シロマツ; ), also known by the common names Bunge's pine, lacebark pine and white-barked pine, is a pine tree native to northeastern and central China. It is a slow-growing tree that can grow to heights of is frost hardy down to below . Its smooth, grey-green bark gradually sheds in round scales to reveal patches of pale yellow, which turn olive-brown, red and purple on exposure to light.
thumb|left|Lacebark pine at [[Kew Gardens, London, England]]
Description
The lacebark pine's trunk can grow either monopodial, as a single growth upwards, or sympodial, forked. Its crown is loosely shaped like a pyramid or umbrella. It has long needles in groups of three. Each needles' cross-sections are shaped like a triangular semicircle. The lacebark pine produces cones that turn yellowish brown as they mature and are roughly egg-shaped and long. They contain seeds that are grey-brown, slightly egg-shaped, and long.
Distribution and habitat
Pinus bungeana is native to temperate forests in the mountains of China, but it is also widely cultivated as an ornamental tree, especially for its metallic bark.
References
Further reading
External links
- Photo of cone
- Photo of foliage and male (pollen) cones
- Photo of bark