MGF Vivai

Pinus pinea MultistemmedMajestic conifer, unmistakable with its umbrella shaped crown, a symbol of the Mediterranean landscape, imported long ago from Crete and Asia Minor. It has a straight, cylindrical trunk, with large patches of reddish-brown and grey on the bark in lengthwise fissures. The crown is already globular in young trees and is formed from terminal branchlets which turn upwards and seem to continuously multiply to prevent any light passing through. With age the crown flattens and spreads out, and the lower branches are naturally eliminated leaving no scars. Needles 8-20cm long, in pairs, dark green and slightly twisted, a little sharp. The cones (called pine cones) are 8-15cm long, 7-10cm wide, heavy and globular, reddish-brown and shiny. The cones ripen in 3 years and once they are mature they release the seeds (the famous edible pine-nuts used a lot in cooking and cake making) which are protected by a woody shell. Cultivation: withstands drought and is indifferent to the pH of the soil.