Pinus hwangshanensis,
Description
Pinus hwangshanensis is an
evergreen tree reaching in height, with a very broad, flat-topped crown of long, level branches. The bark is thick, grayish, and scaly plated. The
leaves are needle-like, dark green, 2 per fascicle, long and wide, the persistent fascicle sheath long. The
conifer cone are broad squat ovoid, long, yellow-brown, opening when mature in late winter to 5–7 cm broad. The
are winged, long with a 1.5–2.5 cm wing. Pollination occurs in mid-spring, with the cones maturing 18–20 months after.
It is closely related to Japanese black pine ( P. thunbergii), differing from it in the slenderer leaves, brown (not white) buds and broader cones.
Distribution and habitat
Huangshan pines are
endemism to the
of eastern China, in the provinces of
Anhui,
Fujian,
Guizhou,
Hubei,
Hunan,
Jiangxi, and
Zhejiang.
They typically grow at moderate to high altitudes on steep, rocky crags, and are a major vegetation component in the landscapes of eastern China. Many specimens are venerated for their unique rugged shapes and are frequently portrayed in traditional .
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