Pinus peuce (Macedonian pine or Balkan pine) (Serbo-Croatian and Macedonian: молика, molika; Bulgarian: бяла мура, byala mura) is a species of pine native to the mountains of North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, the extreme southwest of Serbia, and the extreme northwest of Greece, growing typically at (600-) 1,000-2,200 (-2,300) m altitude. It often reaches the alpine tree line in this area. The species was first described in scientific literature by August Grisebach in 1844, based on field observations of montane pines on Baba Mountain, above Bitola.

Like all members of that group, the leaves ('needles') are in fascicles (bundles) of five, with a deciduous sheath. They are long. Its pine cones are mostly long, occasionally up to long, green at first, becoming yellow-brown when mature, with broad, flat to downcurved scales. long seeds have a wing and can be wind-dispersed, but are also very often dispersed by spotted nutcrackers. This fungal disease was accidentally introduced from Europe into North America, where it has caused severe mortality in the American native white pines (e.g. western white pine, sugar pine, whitebark pine) in many areas. Macedonian pine is of great value for research into hybridisation and genetic modification to develop rust resistance in these species; hybrids with eastern white pine inherit some resistance. Pinus excelsa var. peuce (Griseb.) Beissn., Pinus peuce var. vermiculata Christ,

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File:Pinus peuce Habitus BotGardBln0906.jpg|Cultivated specimen, Berlin Botanical Gardens

File:Pinus peuce cones.jpg|Foliage and cones

Pinus peuce young female cone - Keila.jpg|Young female cone

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References

  • Pinus peuce - information, genetic conservation units and related resources. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)