Pinus brutia
Other common names
Calabrian pine; East Mediterranean Pine; Turkish: kizilcam.
Origin of the species name
Pinus is the classical Latin for pine; brutia is probably derived from Brutium, now Calabria, in southern Italy.
Family
Pinaceae
Date planted
November 2010
Lifespan
Trees of this species can attain full height in 50 years.
General description
This is a medium-size evergreen tree. The bark is orange-red, thick and deeply fissured at the base of the trunk, and thin and flaky up higher. The needles are up to 18cm long, bright to dark green. The cones are stout, heavy and hard. Height 25m Spread 15m.
Natural distribution and habitat
The species is primarily native to Turkey and far East Greece and to the Crimea, Caucasus coast, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Crete and Cyprus. It forms pure stands or is part of coniferous and deciduous drought tolerant forests. They grow from sea level up to 1500m, with mild, moist winters and hot dry summers.
Conservation status
It has been classified as being not threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (1998) but it is now felt that this needs a reappraisal.
Planting pattern
Planted in lines along steep contours. Turkish pine was a prominent landmark tree at the ANZAC battle site at Gallipoli, Turkey. Cones from this and the closely related species, Pinus halepensis, were brought back to Australia, and plants grown from the seeds have been planted at numerous memorials. On 12 November 2010, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, Governor-General of Australia, planted a Pinus brutia in Forest 61. Another 101 Turkish pines were planted by Mr Jon Stanhope, ACT Chief Minister, Mr John King, President of the ACT Branch of the RSL, and representatives of the RSL and other organisations.
Uses
This species is a valued forest tree in the north-eastern Mediterranean area.
Further reading
Farjon, A (2010) A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Brill.