Scientific name: Pinus heldreichii H. Christ 1863
Synonyms: Pinus heldreichii f. vivipara Tucović & Stilinovic, Pinus heldreichii subsp. leucodermis (Antoine) A.E.Murray, Pinus heldreichii var. leucodermis (Antoine) Markgr. ex Fitschen, Pinus laricio var. heldreichii (H.Christ) Mast., Pinus laricio var. leucodermis (Antoine) H.Christ, Pinus laricio var. pindica (Formánek) Mast., Pinus leucodermis Antoine, Pinus nigra var. leucodermis (Antoine) Rehder, Pinus pindica Formánek
Common names: Bosnian pine, Heldreich’s pine, Balkan pine (English), Panzerkiefer (German), Pino loricato, Pino balcanico (Italian), Pino de los Balcanes (Spanish)
Description
Tree to 20(-30) m tall, with trunk to 1(-2) m in diameter. Bark long remaining light gray, smooth, and scaly, finally breaking up into small, scaly, angular plates. Crown conical, becoming more cylindrical with age, dense to open, with numerous slender, upwardly angled branches, densely clothed with foliage. Twigs gray, hairless, with obvious grooves between the bases of the scale leaves. Buds 12-15 mm long, not resinous. Needles in bundles of two, each needle 6-8.5(-10) cm long, thick and stiff, prickly at the tip, lasting 5-6 years, shiny dark green. Individual needles with inconspicuous lines of stomates on both faces, and 2-11 resin canals around the two-stranded midvein midway between it and the needle surface. Sheath 12-20 mm long, persisting and falling with the bundle. Pollen cones densely clustered, about 1 cm long, bright yellow. Seed cones (5-)7-8 cm long, egg-shaped, with (50-)80-100(-130) seed scales, purple or green before maturity, ripening light brown, opening widely to release the seeds and then falling with the extremely short stalk. Seed scales paddle-shaped, the exposed face diamond-shaped, slightly domed, with a horizontal ridge topped by a small umbo bearing a short, dull point or curved, sharp prickle. Seed body 6-7 mm long, the clasping wing another 15-25(-30) mm longer.
In some literature, Pinus leucodermis is still treated as a species or as an infraspecific taxon under Pinus heldreichii, but it is becoming more generally accepted that the two are not distinct and should be treated as one single species without varieties or subspecies. The earliest name (Pinus heldreichii, described in 1863) then applies.
The species name honors Theodor von Heldreich (1822 - 1902), German-born botanist who spent most of his life in Greece and was director of the botanical garden and natural history museum in Athens.
Mountains of the northern Balkan Peninsula, particularly on the western side, and a few isolated localities in southern Italy. Forming pure stands or mixed with other trees in montane forests up to the alpine timberline, on various substrates, including serpentine; 800-2,200(-2,650) m.
Conservation Status
Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern
Although scattered and with an area of occupancy that is probably restricted, Pinus heldreichii has a large extent of occurrence and is known from many healthy natural stands. There are threats indicated in parts of its range, and hybridization could be a threat but its occurrence and extent needs to be confirmed, and until then, it is assessed as Least Concern globally and for the EU28 member states.
The global population of this species is fragmented and consists of usually limited stands (subpopulations) edaphically limited and separated from other stands. Its most extensive stands occur in Albania, but there are also solitary old trees here and there. At higher elevation older and senescent trees prevail and regeneration is sparse or seems absent, while recruitment appears to be more effective in lower stands. The overall population trend is inferred to be generally stable; those in southern Italy are substantially stable, while localised declines are likely in the Balkans.
Pinus heldreichii is a mountain to subalpine species, in Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Serbia usually growing above 2,200 m asl. up to 2,650 m, but elsewhere down to 800 m, such as in Tomorri National Park in Albania. It is most commonly found on steep mountainsides with very thin soil over limestone, or on rocky faces, but it can also occur on siliceous (Kosovo) and ultrabasic rocks or substrate, most often in pure, scattered stands. It grows very slowly in this habitat and presumably ancient specimen trees are known, e.g. in Calabria. Although occurring in the Mediterranean region, its altitudinal range subjects it to sometimes quite severe winter frosts. A small to medium size tree (25-30) m.
If reports cited in Vidacović (1991) are reliable and confirmed by genetic research, hybridization with (planted) Pinus nigra could be a potential threat to the integrity of regeneration if such plantations are near natural stands and large enough to cause “swamping” from introgressing pollen. Research would have to confirm or discard this potential threat in situations where this is relevant.
According to Vendramin et al. (2008), natural distribution in southern Italy is restricted to five small and fragmented stands. As a consequence of this fragmentation and the subsequent reduced gene flow and increased genetic drift leading to low effective population size, at least three of these populations are vulnerable to the loss of genetic diversity.
In the past, the species was threatened by intensive exploitation and forest clearance in Bulgaria although remaining populations are within protected areas. Populations in Kosovo have been impacted by fire, by insects (Blastophagus spp.), and road and tourism developments. Fire, small sub-population size and limited natural recruitment are cited as threats in the Republic of Macedonia. In Albania the main threats are fire, resulting in habitat fragmentation, and illegal cutting. Although the species can provisionally colonize burned areas, fires are a serious threat for old populations and older individuals, at least in the western portion of the species range.
Grazing due to nomadic horses appears to severely constrain recruitment in the Italian subpopulations, contributing to the creation of gaps in their structure. In some stands, especially in Italy, there is a marked absence of intermediate age classes so that stands are composed mainly of senescent old trees and saplings: such an unbalanced age structure suggests that grazing can significantly contribute to reduced recruitment in P. heldreichii populations.
Bosnian pine is not an important timber tree, although it is planted in some Balkan countries with timber production as an objective. The wood is used locally for heavy construction or as round timber, e.g. for poles, and to build traditional fences. In Albania it was used as building material (especially for doors) and to produce the fermentation cask (beer, vegetables, and wine). Due to its longevity, it is valued in dendroclimatology for the reconstruction of past climates. Its main value is as an ornamental tree and it is fairly widely cultivated for this purpose. As a young tree it forms a dense, conical crown and has attractive glaucous to light grey shoots and dark green needles. In cultivation it grows relatively fast, given better conditions than in its natural habitat. Several cultivars are known, usually under the synonym Pinus leucodermis. Some of these are slow growing 'dwarf' conifers. In the Balkans, a number of botanical varieties have been named under Pinus heldreichii but it is not known if any of these are in cultivation.
In some parts of the range of this species, conservation actions are required, and research is needed into habitat and population trends. This species is present in several protected areas. For example, in FYR Macedonia, it is found in the Galičica National Park and the Mavrovo National Park (V. Matevski pers. comm. 2016). In Greece, presence in the Natura 2000 sites includes Oros Olympos (GR1250001), Ethnikos Drymos Pindou (Valia Kalnta) - Evryteri Periochi (GR1310003), Koryfes Orous Orvilos (GR1260005) and Oros Vermio (GR1210001). In Bulgaria, where the species has been assessed as Vulnerable, a significant part of the species habitat is within the Bayuvi Dupki – Dzhindzhiritsa Strict Nature Reserve (Pirin National Park) and in the Alibotush Strict Nature Reserve in the Slavyanka Mts., and the species is present in Natura 2000 sites and protected under the Biodiversity Act. In Italy, the species is within the Parco Nazionale del Pollino (IT9310014), and the Pollino e Orsomarso (IT9310303), Serra delle Ciavole-Serra di Crispo (IT9310013), Pollinello-Dolcedorme (IT9310003) Natura 2000 sites. In Kosovo, the species is protected within the Oshljaku, Pisha e madhe, and Maja e arnenit Bosnian pine reserves, and is present within the Mali Sharr National Park. In Albania, the tree occurs in the Gjallica, Korabi, Koritnik, Munella, Pashtriku, Valamara and Zeba mountains including the northern Albanian Alps, and in the Llogara, Lura Shebenik-Jabllanica, and Tomorri National Parks. In Italy the species was included into a seed banking program, and seed stocks from the Pollino National Park are now stored at the Plant Germplasm Bank of Pavia University, and at the Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank.
Cultivars
Pinus heldreichii ‘# 2’
Pinus heldreichii ‘# 8’
Pinus heldreichii ‘# 9’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Aphrodite 5’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Apollo OL 7’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Arachne # 32’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Artemis # 60’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Artemis OL 5’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Aureospica’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Atze Saule’
Pinus heldreichii ‘B58’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Banderica’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Barabits Compact’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Beran Conica’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Clumpleaf’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Compact Gem’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Compacta Horák’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Compacta SDL’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Creamy’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Den Ouden’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Dimitra # 61’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Dolce Dorme’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Echiniformis’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Emerald Arrow’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Fastigiate’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Gladiator OL 6’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Gnome’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Gold Tip’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Greece’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Green Bun’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Green Brush’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Green Pyramid’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Green Shag’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Grün’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Grünes Kissen’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Helmers Japan’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Hera # 64’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Hesse’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Hexe’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Horák’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Indigo Eyes’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Irish Bell’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Iseli Fastigiate’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Kalous’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Keule’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Klatovy’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Ko - #1’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Ko - #6’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Ko - #7’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Ko - #8’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Lindenhof’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Little Dracula’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Little Gem’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Luna 4’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Malink’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Malinki’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Marsyac 34’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Minaret’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Mint Truffle’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Moires # 52’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Nana’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Nase’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Nigra’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Nileas # 27’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Odysseus’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Oil 10’
Pinus heldreichii ‘OL 3’
Pinus heldreichii ‘OL 4’
Pinus heldreichii ‘OL 4a’
Pinus heldreichii ‘OL 5’
Pinus heldreichii ‘OL 6’
Pinus heldreichii ‘OL 10’
Pinus heldreichii ‘OL 11’
Pinus heldreichii ‘OL 30’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Olimp’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Ottocek’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Persefona # 21’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Pirin #1’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Pirin #2’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Pirin #3’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Pirin #4’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Pygmaea’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Pygmy’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Satellit’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Schmidtii’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Schneverdingen’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Selektion’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Shina’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Skórka’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Smidt’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Tiny Kick’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Vichren’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Zeus 6’
Pinus heldreichii ‘Zwerg Schneverdingen’
References
- Farjon, A. (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.
- Eckenwalder, J.E. (2009) Conifers of the World: The Complete Reference. Timber Press, Portland.
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Cambridge, UK /Gland, Switzerland
Copyright © Aljos Farjon, James E. Eckenwalder, IUCN, Conifers Garden. All rights reserved.