P. pinaster is a relatively large tree, 20-40 m tall, with an average diameter at breast height (dbh) at maturity of 35-40 cm. Crowns of old trees are wide and flat and the bole is clear over most of its length. Plantation trees have long, clean cylindrical stems in contrast to those of open-grown individual trees where trunks are broad at the base with a pronounced taper and increased branching. It has a deep tap root with secondary roots well-developed. The bark is thick, deeply fissured and dark red-brown. Needles are spiny, stout, stiff but not rigid, frequently twisted, occurring in pairs, with a vivid green colour. Flowers appear between late winter and mid-spring;male flowers usually abundant, clustered in shallow rings beneath the leaves with pollen shed in early spring. Female flowers occur on the tips of expanding shoots and are dull red in colour. Cones are nearly sessile, very oblique at the base, slightly curved ovoid-conic;shiny light-brown with scales and a broad transverse ridge rising to a central, small, upcurved prickle. Cones ripen between late summer and autumn, persisting closed on the tree for several years.
Related invasive species
- Pinus pinaster
Related Farm Practice
- Light
P. pinaster is regarded as highly invasive and its past and future behaviour have been modelled in regions where it is a serious problem. Prolific seed production, wind-dispersed seed and rapid growth rate all contribute to its ability to invade native habitats, which suffer a consequent reduction in species diversity. P. pinaster is reported to be an aggressive colonizer in Chile, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Binggeli (1999) regarded this as a highly invasive plant, while Rejmánek (1995) rated it as one of the five most invasive pines. Richardson et al. (1994) considered P. pinaster to be the most widespread invasive pine in South Africa, with much of the spread occurring on endangered fynbos vegetation.