Pinus densiflora

Pinus densiflora
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Pinaceae
Genus:	Pinus
Subgenus:	Pinus
Species:	P. densiflora
Binomial name
Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc.

Pinus densiflora,^[1] or Japanese red pine, has a home range that includes Japan, Korea, northeastern China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong) and the extreme southeast of Russia (southern Primorsky Krai). This pine has become a popular ornamental and has several cultivars, but in the winter it becomes yellowish. The height of this tree is 20–35 m. The Japanese red pine prefers full sun on well-drained, slightly acidic soil.

The leaves are needle-like, 8–12 cm long, with two per fascicle. The cones are 4–7 cm long. It is closely related to Scots pine, differing in the longer, slenderer leaves which are mid green without the glaucous-blue tone of Scots pine.

In Japan it is known as Akamatsu (赤松, literally "red pine") and Mematsu. It is widely cultivated in Japan both for timber production and as an ornamental tree, and plays an important part in the classic Japanese garden. Numerous cultivars have been selected, including the variegated semi-dwarf 'Oculus Draconis', the pendulous, often contorted 'Pendula' and the multi-trunked 'Umbraculifera' (Japanese 多形松,Tagyoushou, sometimes spelled as 'Tanyosho').

References

• Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Pinus densiflora. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pinus densiflora.

• J. E., Aughanbaugh (1950). "Japanese Red Pine_cabdirect". Pennsylvania Forests and Waters 2(1). pp. 10–11, 18. 

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  Planted in a Japanese park

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  Planted in Japanese garden

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  cultivar 'Pendula'

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  Var. "Umbraculifera'
  "Tanyosho pine"

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  Planted in New York Botanical Garden