Pinus cembra, also known as Swiss pine, Swiss stone pine or Arolla pine or Austrian stone pine or just Stone pine, is a species of pine tree that grows in the Alps and Carpathian Mountains of central Europe, in Poland, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania. It typically grows at to altitude. It often reaches the alpine tree line in this area. The mature size is typically between and in height, and the trunk diameter can be up to. The species is long-lasting and can reach an age between 500 and 1000 years. However, it grows very slowly and it may take 30 years for the tree to reach. It is a member of the white pine group, Pinus subgenus Strobus, and like all members of that group, the leaves are in fascicles of five, with a deciduous sheath. The needle-like leaves are to long. The cones, which contain the seeds, of the Swiss pine are to long. The to long seeds have only a vestigial wing and are dispersed by spotted nutcrackers. The very similar Siberian pine is treated as a variety or subspecies of Swiss pine by some botanists. It differs in having slightly larger cones, and needles with three resin canals instead of two as in the Swiss pine. Like other European and Asian white pines, Swiss pine is very resistant to white pine blister rust. This fungal disease was accidentally introduced from Europe into North America, where it has caused severe mortality in the American native white pines in many areas, notably, Western white pine and the closely related whitebark pine. Swiss pine is of great value for research into hybridisation to develop rust resistance in these species.
Uses
Swiss pine is a popular ornamental tree in parks and large gardens, giving steady though not fast growth on a wide range of sites where the climate is cold. It is very tolerant of severe winter cold, hardy down to at least, and also of wind exposure. The seeds are also harvested and sold as pine nuts. Pine cones cut into slices are used to flavor schnapps, which is then sold as "Zirbenschnaps" or "Zirbeler" schnapps.. The wood is the most used for carvings in Val Gardena since the 17th century. The cone of the Swiss pine was the field sign of the Roman legion stationed in Rhaetia in 15 BC, and hence it is used as the heraldic charge in the coat of arms of the city ofAugsburg, the site of the Roman fortAugusta Vindelicorum. It is also a species that is often used in bonsai. Pinus cembra can be found in the uppermost forest belt where it helps to minimize the risk of avalanches and soil erosion. Due to this ability, the tree is valued as a stabilizing factor for afforestation projects at high elevations.
