Pinus parviflora, also known as Japanese white pine,
Taxonomy
Two varieties are usually accepted; var. parviflora in southern Japan, and var. pentaphylla (Mayr) A.Henry in northern Japan. The second variety was first described as a separate species Pinus pentaphylla by Heinrich Mayr in 1890, but in reducing it to the rank of variety in 1910, Augustine Henry pointed out that the differences cited by Mayr between the two were minimal and inconsistent, with much overlap.
At higher altitudes in northern Japan, it can occur with the related high altutude species Pinus pumila, and sometimes produces hybrids with it; these are known as Pinus × hakkodensis Makino, named after the Hakkōda Mountains where it was first found.
Uses
It is a popular tree for bonsai, and is also grown as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens. The cultivars 'Adcock's Dwarf' and 'Bonnie Bergman' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Gallery
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File:Japanese White Pine Pinus parviflora Miyagi Prefecture (crop).jpg|Old tree in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
File:Pinus parviflora at 1500 m on Mount Adatara, Fukushima, Japan.jpg|Young tree on Mount Adatara, Fukushima Prefecture
Pinus parviflora PAN male cones.jpg|Pollen cones
File:Japanese White Pine, unknown-2007.jpg|Bonsai tree
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