Syn.: Pinus montana Lam., Apinus cembra (L.) Neck., Pinea cembra (L.) Opiz, Cembra montana Opiz
Family: Pinaceae Lindl.
Distribution: Mountains of Europe – the Alps (western and southeastern parts), the Carpathian Mountains (mainly in the Southern Carpathians, scatteredly in the Eastern Carpathians, rarely in the Tatras). Subspecies P. c. subsp. sibirica occurs in Siberia.
Ecology: It grows in higher mountain locations, in the Alps up to 2850 metres above sea level.
Description: An evergreen tree, 10–25 m tall. The bark is dark grey on young trees, later is red-brown. The leaves are triangular in section, 5–10 cm long, green, silvery white and waxy on the flat inner face. Leaves are in bundles of five. The cones are green and globe-shaped in the first year, expanding to a broad oblong and brown cone in the second year. It has large and edible seeds.
Threat and protection: The Arolla Pine is a protected plant in some countries (A, CH, I, SK).
Note: It is a very decorative tree. The timber is good quality, but it is too slow growing.
These images were taken in Italy, the Dolomites, Passo di Falzarego (by Ladislav Hoskovec, June 19, 2005) and in Slovakia, Kôprová dolina (by Vladimír Zubček, 2012).
