Corsican pine
This variety of black pine is fast growing and has a very straight trunk which is lightly branched. It is known in Latin as the Pinus nigra subspecies laricio. This type of pine tree is native only to the island of Corsica. The Corsican pine is only suitable for use as a timber crop in the south and eastern side of Britain where there is low summer rainfall and higher levels of sunshine.
Facts and stats
- Lifespan: 500 years.
- Height: This slender, conical tree can reach up to 27 metres tall with horizontal branches.
- Leaves: The needles are long, grouped in pairs and have a distinctive twist.
- Seeds: Its large shining cones are always one-sided or oblique.
- Bark: The fissured, dark greyish-brown bark breaks off easily.
- Native to: Corsica
- Uses: Corsican pine was first introduced in 1759 and its timber was used for railway sleepers and pit props. Though not naturally durable, and considered inferior to Scots pine, it takes preservatives well and is used for general building work, telegraph poles and for processing into plywood.