Family: Pinaceae Lindl.

Pinus canariensis

Distribution: Endemic species of the Canary Islands – occurs on Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, El Hierro, naturalized on La Gomera.

Ecology: It grows at an elevation of 1000 to 2000 metres above sea level, in the forest areas of islands.

Description: An evergreen tree, 25–40 m tall, with a straight stem and an usually open crown. The bark is scaly, fissured, red brown. The leaves are needle-like, bright green to yellow-green, 15–30 cm long, limber, in bundles of three, retained 1–3 years. A characteristic of the species is the occurrence of bluish-green shoots growing from the trunk. The cones are ovoid-conic up to 20 cm long, the seeds are obovate.

Use: The timber is among the finest of pine woods – aromatic, hard, durable. Formerly it was used for building ships, also as firewood. This attractive tree is often planted in parks and gardens.

Note: The Canary Island Pine is the largest pine native to the Old World. A tree 60 m tall has been measured near the road just north of village Vilaflor (Southwestern Tenerife).

Pinus canariensisPinus canariensis
Pinus canariensisPinus canariensis
Pinus canariensisPinus canariensis
Pinus canariensis

These images were taken in Spain, the Canary Islands, Tenerife, Aguamansa and Las Cañadas (by Ladislav Hoskovec: March 29, 2006; by Gabriela Leugnerová: February 20, 2005 – shoots).