Italian Stone Pine
Pinus pinea
The Italian Stone Pine is native to the Mediterranean region but also occurs in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Levant. These trees have edible pine nuts and are planted in gardens and parks all over the world.
Pinus pinea
The Italian Stone Pine is native to the Mediterranean region but also occurs in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Levant. These trees have edible pine nuts and are planted in gardens and parks all over the world.
About the Italian Stone Pine
http://www.euforgen.org/fileadmin/bioversity/publications/pdfs/1036_Techincal_guidelines_for_genetic_conservation_and_use_of_italian_stone_pine.pdf http://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/Display_Onetree.aspx?tid=60 |
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In Depth...
Basic Description/Foliage
-Crown: Umbrella-shaped
-Has pinecones that are mature after 3 years
-Pinecones bear two large seeds which are dispersed by gravity and small mammals
-Produces edible pine nuts
-Pine needles are 10-15cm long
-No color change during fall
Flower
-Male and female flowers located on same tree
Trunk/Bark/Branches
-Wood is heavy and resinous
-Color: yellow-red heartwood; whitish-pink sapwood
-Bark is very thick
-Twigs: First colored green, then turn gray with brown scales
-Needles are bright green and stiff
http://www.lompocmuseum.org/pine.php
http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Pinus+pinea&guide=Trees&cl=US/CA/Los_Angeles/Natural_History_Museum_Los_Angeles_County
http://www.flickr.com/photos/otchipotchi/6256885172/
http://www.duchyofcornwallnursery.co.uk/plants-and-flowers/conifers/pinus-pinea--agm/c-pco-pinpi2/
-Crown: Umbrella-shaped
-Has pinecones that are mature after 3 years
-Pinecones bear two large seeds which are dispersed by gravity and small mammals
-Produces edible pine nuts
-Pine needles are 10-15cm long
-No color change during fall
Flower
-Male and female flowers located on same tree
Trunk/Bark/Branches
-Wood is heavy and resinous
-Color: yellow-red heartwood; whitish-pink sapwood
-Bark is very thick
-Twigs: First colored green, then turn gray with brown scales
-Needles are bright green and stiff
http://www.lompocmuseum.org/pine.php
http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Pinus+pinea&guide=Trees&cl=US/CA/Los_Angeles/Natural_History_Museum_Los_Angeles_County
http://www.flickr.com/photos/otchipotchi/6256885172/
http://www.duchyofcornwallnursery.co.uk/plants-and-flowers/conifers/pinus-pinea--agm/c-pco-pinpi2/
Ethnobotany
Originally native to the Mediterranean region, occurring in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Levant the Italian Stone Pine have been used cultivated for their edible pine nuts since prehistoric times. In horticultural cultivation they are used widely as ornamental trees planted in gardens and park through out the world. An ornamental tree is a plant grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design.
The Italian Stone pine has been an aesthetic landscape element since the Italian Renaissance garden in the 1700s. In South Africa is has naturalized so well beyond cities that it is listed as an invasive species.
The Pinus pinea has been cultivated extensively for over 6,000 year for its pine nuts it offers. These pines nuts in history were also used for trading. Where it was most cultivated was throughout the Mediterranean region for long enough to naturalize there too and is though of to be native beyond its natural range. The pine nuts are still eaten today and have much nutritional value.
The Italian Stone pine has been an aesthetic landscape element since the Italian Renaissance garden in the 1700s. In South Africa is has naturalized so well beyond cities that it is listed as an invasive species.
The Pinus pinea has been cultivated extensively for over 6,000 year for its pine nuts it offers. These pines nuts in history were also used for trading. Where it was most cultivated was throughout the Mediterranean region for long enough to naturalize there too and is though of to be native beyond its natural range. The pine nuts are still eaten today and have much nutritional value.
Current Research
A study done in 2011 was conducted with the objective “to determine whether edaphic and/or topographic variables may be used as predictors of site productivity in stone pine stand in Calabria (southern Italy)” To achieve this goal a linear discriminant rule was developed using data from 16 pure stone pine stands, grouped into three different classes based on the mean dominant height annual growth. It explained, “Predictors tested were edaphic (texture, pH, organic matter) and topographic (altitude and slope) variables.
Through this research it was discovered that in more productive areas, sites were correctly re-classified in the 33.33% of cases, while intermediate sites the correct classification was equal to 50%. The discriminant rule classified correctly the poorest stands.
This research and its results suggested that the site index in plain sols strongly depends on clay percentage. In the end, “overall, the edaphic model obtained classifies plots into the correct sites index class 61.11% of cases, which is considered an acceptable value for these kinds of studies. Another study conducted in 2012 scientists were trying to make a "Comparison of PAH levels and source in Pine Needles from Portugal, Spain, and Greece." The main objective of this work was to assess and compare the levels, patterns, and sources of contamination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) between Portugal, Spain, and Greece (in the island of Crete). The result of this research is "the mean total PAH levels was similar in the three countries (279 ± 236 ng g−1 for Portugal, 294 ± 258 ng g−1 for Spain, 301 ± 253 ng g−1 for Greece, all dry weight) and, in general, 3-ring and 4-ring PAHs were predominant (being phenanthrene consistently the most abundant), there were some visible differences in the aromatic ring patterns and possible sources between the three regions"
In order to attain this information they used source apportionment "using PAH ratios (Phen/Ant and Flt/Pyr crossplots) and reflected mixed petrogenic and pyrogenic sources." In addition "Principal Component Analysis (PCA) clearly separated the urban and the non-urban sites and all three countries, which reinforces that the sources of contaminations vary in each case and the suitability of pine needles for trans-boundary biomonitoring of PAHs."
Through this research it was discovered that in more productive areas, sites were correctly re-classified in the 33.33% of cases, while intermediate sites the correct classification was equal to 50%. The discriminant rule classified correctly the poorest stands.
This research and its results suggested that the site index in plain sols strongly depends on clay percentage. In the end, “overall, the edaphic model obtained classifies plots into the correct sites index class 61.11% of cases, which is considered an acceptable value for these kinds of studies. Another study conducted in 2012 scientists were trying to make a "Comparison of PAH levels and source in Pine Needles from Portugal, Spain, and Greece." The main objective of this work was to assess and compare the levels, patterns, and sources of contamination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) between Portugal, Spain, and Greece (in the island of Crete). The result of this research is "the mean total PAH levels was similar in the three countries (279 ± 236 ng g−1 for Portugal, 294 ± 258 ng g−1 for Spain, 301 ± 253 ng g−1 for Greece, all dry weight) and, in general, 3-ring and 4-ring PAHs were predominant (being phenanthrene consistently the most abundant), there were some visible differences in the aromatic ring patterns and possible sources between the three regions"
In order to attain this information they used source apportionment "using PAH ratios (Phen/Ant and Flt/Pyr crossplots) and reflected mixed petrogenic and pyrogenic sources." In addition "Principal Component Analysis (PCA) clearly separated the urban and the non-urban sites and all three countries, which reinforces that the sources of contaminations vary in each case and the suitability of pine needles for trans-boundary biomonitoring of PAHs."
Creative essay
The Italian Stone Pine is a tree that has been used by man for a long time. For thousands of year’s humans in the Mediterranean have been cultivating and harvesting its pine nuts and many others like it for sustenance. It is popular with its shape and is used in aesthetic decoration in special gardens. It is an ornamental tree that is consider to be good on eyes. It has research that has show that predicators edaphic variables help determine natural growth.
apa/sources used
Bravo, F. F., Lucà, M. M., Mercurio, R. R., Sidari, M. M., & Muscolo, A. A. (2011). Soil and forest productivity: a case study from Stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) stands in Calabria (southern Italy). Iforest - Biogeosciences & Forestry, 4(1), 25-30. doi:10.3832/ifor0559-004
Ratola, N., Amigo, J., Lacorte, S., Barceló, D., Psillakis, E., & Alves, A. (2012). Comparison of PAH Levels and Sources in Pine Needles from Portugal, Spain, and Greece. Analytical Letters, 45(5/6), 508-525. doi:10.1080/00032719.2011.649452
Ratola, N., Amigo, J., Lacorte, S., Barceló, D., Psillakis, E., & Alves, A. (2012). Comparison of PAH Levels and Sources in Pine Needles from Portugal, Spain, and Greece. Analytical Letters, 45(5/6), 508-525. doi:10.1080/00032719.2011.649452