Siberian Dwarf Pine

Siberian Dwarf Pine
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Pinaceae
Genus:	Pinus
Subgenus:	Strobus
Species:	P. pumila
Binomial name
Pinus pumila (Pall.) Regel

Pinus pumila (also known as the Siberian dwarf pine, Dwarf Siberian Pine, Japanese stone pine or Creeping pine) is a native to northeastern Asia, including the islands of Japan. This shrubby pine ranges from 1–3 m in height, exceptionally up to 5 m, but may have individual branches that extend farther along the ground in length. In the mountains of northern Japan, it sometimes hybridises with the related Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora); these hybrids (Pinus x hakkodensis) are larger than P. pumila, reaching 8–10 m tall on occasion.

Pinus pumila in natural habitat, eastern Siberia

The leaves are needle-like, formed in bundles of five and are 4–6 cm long. The cones are 2.5-4.5 cm long, with large nut-like seeds (pine nuts).

It shares the common name Creeping pine with several other plants.

Ecology

The seeds are harvested and dispersed by the Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes).

References and external links

• Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Pinus pumila. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
• Images - Flavon's Wild herb and Alpine plants