Pinus sylvestris L.

Habitus

tree 20-30 m tall, straight cylindrical trunk
the crown is conical, dome-shaped or umbrella-shaped, flattened in old age, high-set, very variable
branches in whorls, thickness variable depending on the ecotype
the wood is unstable in shape - mainly depending on whether it grows as a solitary plant or if it is part of a stand
bark smooth yellow-brown when young, later yellow-brown leathery bark exfoliating in thin scales in the upper part
bork in the lower part of the trunk deeply cracked (in sheets), of variable shape
the root system is circular, penetrating deep into the soil, which gives the tree stability
it lives for 300-400 years

the buds are 6 - 12 mm in size, oblong-ovoid, pointed, brown-red, usually resinous

needle-like 40 - 80 mm x 1.5 - 2 mm large, semicircular in cross-section, stiff, pointed
they grow on brachyblasts in pairs (section - Pinaster, subsection - Pinea) !
they are slightly curled along the length, slightly pointed at the edges
they last 3-4 years on the twigs
the scales at the base of the needles are whitish at first, later gray

monoecious woody plant, flowers of different sexes, blooms in May
♂ cones are 6-8 mm large, egg-shaped, sulfur yellow, piled up at the base of the shoot (as if in a bunch)
♀ cones are 5 - 6 mm large, spherical, reddish, growing 2 - 3 at the end of this year's branches before the terminal bud, the first year in autumn they are the size of a pea, in the spring of the second year they lengthen and by autumn they ripen, open and the seed flies out in the spring of the third year

the fruit is a cone 3 - 7 x 2 - 3 cm large, conical-ovoid, light brown when ripe (green before ripe) dull
fruit scales end with a rhomboid gray-brown flat or convex label, with a navel in the middle (Pinaster section)
the cone ripens in the fall of the second year, opens and the seed flies out in the spring of the third year !
the seed is 3-4 mm large, oblong-ovoid, very variable in color - from black to brown to whitish (also marble-like) with a shiny 12-20 mm long wing that is attached to the seed in a wedge-like manner
begins to give birth at the age of 15 and in the canopy from the age of 30
germination rate is about 80%, it will keep for about 3 years
the seedling has 5-7 triangular cotyledons, in the same year it puts out a shoot with flat, slightly saw-shaped needles on the edge (one needle each), in the second year there are already pairs of needles and in the third year it puts out the first side shoots

one of the most widespread trees in the Northern Hemisphere, occupying most of Europe and Northern Asia
avoids the lowlands of Western Europe with an oceanic climate (including the Hungarian plain) in the north it reaches the tundra
in Slovakia, it occurs naturally in the Záhorská lowland (200 m above sea level) with summer oak (the so-called sour oaks) - this occurrence is isolated from the larger natural area of its occurrence, which is in the northern region of central Slovakia
most often, however, it is a tree of mountain areas from 800 m above sea level. m. to approx. 1,490 (1,860) m a.s.l. m., mainly the northern part of central Slovakia - the High Tatras

forest pine is a distinctly light-loving tree of a continental climate, frost-resistant and well tolerant of temperature fluctuations
height grows rapidly in youth, height growth peaks between 15 and 25 years of age
on dry soils and extreme habitats, it has the character of a pioneer tree, it grows practically on all substrates (rocks, rubble and bogs)
it creates many ecotypes (growth forms) within the natural area
if it grows as a solitary plant, it tends to branch out, therefore, if we want to achieve straight solid wood trunks, it is necessary to grow it in a close hedge

after spruce, it is the second most widespread coniferous tree
currently has a representation of approx. 6.7% in the forests of Slovakia (originally it was up to 14.1%)
the wood is heartwood (the heartwood is pale red-brown in color - it occupies a smaller part of the cross-section of the trunk than in deciduous larch)
the quality of wood largely depends on its ecotype
its pioneering importance is used in afforestation of devastated areas as well as areas after disaster
pine has a rather negative effect on the habitat - it covers the soil poorly with its crown and does not improve it with its fallow - on the contrary, it makes it more acidic
it does not suffer from upheavals, but poorly maintained pine stands (thinned out) suffer from tip breakage
pine monocultures (mainly in the young phase) are often affected by fires (high density of individuals on the area and a large amount of highly flammable material - fallen needles and dead branches)