Black Pine

Austrian pine
Australian pine
Corsican pine
Crimean pine
Pyrenees pine
European black pine

Austrian pine is an introduced, medium-sized, two-needle pine [7].
Mature height (approximately 80 years of age [21]) ranges from 66 to 165
feet (20-50 m) [11]. Some characters vary depending on the subspecific
taxon; the type variety has dark brown to black bark that is widely
split by flaking fissures into scaly plates [14]. The bark becomes
increasingly creviced with age [17]. Austrian pine is
fast growing and usually has a pyramidal form. It has deep lateral
roots. Austrian pine is long lived; harvest rotation times of up
to 360 years have been used in Europe [21].

Austrian pine is native to Europe and Asia. Its range there
extends from Spain and Morocco east to eastern Turkey, south to Cypress,
and north to northeastern Austria and the Crimea, Russia. In the United
States Austrian pine widely planted in northern states in New
England, around the Great Lakes, and in the Northwest. It has
naturalized in New England and the Great Lakes States [21].

More info for the term: fire regime

In Europe, Austrian pine is associated with Scotch pine, a species
which is maintained by periodic fire. No information on the fire
adaptations of Austrian pine is available in the English language
literature.

FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find FIRE REGIMES".

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More info for the term: phanerophyte

Phanerophyte

Austrian pine is mainly suited to northern temperate climate zones
in the United States; it does not grow well in the southern states [21].
Different provenances (seed sources by geographic area) or varieties are
adapted to different soil types: Austrian and Pyrenees pines grow well
on a wide range of soil types, Corsican pine grows poorly on
limestone-derived soils, and Crimean pine grows well on poorer,
limestone-derived soils. Most provenances will also show good growth on
podzolic soils. Whatever the soil type, however, the soils need to be
deep for good growth [11,21]. Austrian pine grows well on high pH
soils in New England. Some provenances exhibit better winter hardiness
than others [21].

In Europe, Austrian pine is found at elevations ranging from 820
to 5,910 feet (250-1,800 m) [21].

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This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

FRES10 White - red - jack pine
FRES15 Oak - hickory
FRES18 Maple - beech - birch

No specific information on the effect of fire on Austrian pine is
available in the English language literature.

More info for the term: tree

In Wyoming mule deer that were forced onto a conifer tree nursery by
bad weather browsed Austrian pine in preference to ponderosa pine
(Pinus ponderosa), blue spruce (Picea pungens), bristlecone pine (Pinus
aristata), and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum). Damage
was concentrated on the lateral branch buds and needles [9].

More info for the term: natural

In Europe trees usually associated with Austrian pine include
Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), Swiss mountain pine (P. mugo), Aleppo
pine (P. halepinsis), Italian stone pine (P. pinea), and Heldreich pine
(P. heldreichii). In the United States where it has become naturalized,
Austrian pine may be developing natural associations [21].

More info for the term: tree

Tree

Most of the Austrian pine planted in the United States is from
Austrian sources [21].

Austrian pine seedlings up to about 2 months of age are subject to
predation by voles and rabbits; older seedlings apparently become
unpalatable [21].

Insects and diseases: Austrian pine seedlings are damaged by
damping off fungi and seedling root rots. Mature trees are easily
infected by Dithostroma needle blight, the most damaging foliage disease
of Austrian pine. Other diseases include Lophodermium needle
cast, which is damaging to Austrian pine in the Great Lakes States
[21]. Austrian pine is also moderately to highly susceptible to
infection by brown spot needle disease [18]. The dagger nematode
damages seedlings. Insect damage to Austrian pine is generally of
less importance than damage by fungal pathogens [21].

CT IL ME MD MA MI MS MO NJ NY OH PA WV
AB BC ON PE QC

More info for the term: tree

In the United States Austrian pine is mainly planted for
shelterbelts, as a street tree, and as an ornamental [21,22]. It is
recommended for windbreaks in the Northern Great Plains on medium to
deep moist or upland soils [16]. Its value as a street tree is largely
due to its resistance to salt spray (used in road de-icing) and various
industrial pollutants, and its intermediate drought tolerance [21]. It
is resistant to snow and ice damage. In Missouri Austrian pines
were undamaged by a sleet storm that caused widespread and extensive
damage to many other street trees [4].

One- to three-year-old Austrian pine seedlings were found to have
no symptoms of ozone damage after exposure to 0.020 ppm of ozone for
5-hour periods (treatment repeated over one growing season) [5].

White-tailed deer showed intermediate preference for Austrian pine
as compared to other ornamental species (including yews [Taxus spp.],
other conifers, and various hardwoods) [2].

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In Ontario Austrian pine pollen is released from May to June.
Individual ovulate cones are only receptive to pollen for approximately
3 days, but collectively are receptive from May to June. Fertilization
takes place 13 months after pollination. Cones mature from September to
November and seeds are dispersed from October to November [21].

Tree without adventitious-bud root crown

More info for the terms: fresh, seed, stratification

Austrian pine attains sexual maturity at ages ranging from 15 to
40 years. Trees from Corsican sources in England produce their first
heavy seed crops at 25 to 30 years of age, with maximum production at 60
to 90 years of age. Large seed crops are produced at 2- to 5-year
intervals [21]. The winged seeds are wind dispersed [11]. Fresh seed
does not require stratification for good germination, but stored seeds
can be cold stratified for up to 60 days to hasten germination [11].

Austrian pine can be propagated by grafting [21].

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Austrian pine is intolerant of shade and needs to be planted in
full sun [21,22]. In England direct sowing of Austrian pine seeds
is successful on north-facing slopes on young sand dunes [21]. European
black pine (Corsican pine) plantations in England develop a more closed
canopy than similar-aged plantations of Scotch pine [17].

More info for the term: natural

The scientific name of Austrian pine is Pinus nigra Arnold [13,21].
The species is genetically diverse. Numerous subspecies, varieties,
and forms have been named; there is much controversy as to the
correct interpretation of these infrataxa [21]. In general, there are
three main groups of Austrian pine races recognized:

(1) the western group from around Austria, France, and Spain
(Austrian and Pyrenees pines),
(2) the central group (Corsican pine) from Corsica, Italy, and Sicily, and
(3) the eastern group (Crimean pine) from the Balkans and the Crimea [11,23].

Some natural hybrids with other European pines have been reported.
Artificial hybrids have also been created [23].

Austrian pine is recommended for planting on strip-mined lands in
Pennsylvania [10]. It has probably not been widely used for
surface-mine plantings. Austrian pine is similar to red pine in
climatic adaptation and growth performance on acid minesoils. It is
recommended for use in Ohio on fine-clay, poorly drained minesoils with
a pH of 5 to 7, although suitable native pines are preferred [22]. In
Idaho it was reported as having good potential for revegetating sites
denuded by heavy metal pollution from smelter emissions [1].

More info for the term: fuel

The wood of Austrian pine is similar to that of Scotch pine and
red pine (Pinus resinosa), which is moderately hard and
straight-grained. Austrian pine wood, however, is rougher, softer,
and not as strong [21].

In the Mediterranean region Austrian pine wood is used for general
construction, fuel, and in other purposes [21].

In the United States Austrian pine is of little importance as a
timber species. It is planted mainly for shelterbelts [21].