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Maritime Pine

Pinus pinaster Aiton

The Maritime Pine is a tall tree that loves the coast. It has long needles and a big, bushy top that looks like a crown.

Habitat: Coastal areas and sandy shores

Appearance

The Maritime Pine is a sturdy tree with a straight trunk, often reddish-brown and deeply fissured. It has long, stiff, dark green needles in pairs and large, conical, glossy brown cones. Its sparse, open canopy often looks windswept.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPinopsidaOrderPinalesFamilyPinaceae

Maritime Pine

Interesting facts

It can grow in really sandy, poor soil where other trees struggle!

Its sticky sap has been used to make turpentine for centuries!

Its super-thick bark helps it survive forest fires!

Some ancient Maritime Pines have lived for over 500 years!

Special abilities

The Maritime Pine has thick, fire-resistant bark that helps it survive scorching wildfires.

It can grow a deep taproot, allowing it to find water in dry, sandy coastal soils.

This tree's flexible wood and strong roots help it stand firm against fierce coastal winds.

Maritime Pine can colonize poor, sandy soils, making it a pioneer in challenging environments.

Measurements & details

Height: 15-35 m
Canopy Spread: 8-15 m
Is Edible: No
Trunk Diameter: 50-120 cm
Lifespan: 150-500 years
Fruit Type: Cone
Growth Rate: Medium
Leaf Type: Evergreen

Ecological connections

eaten by

Pine Processionary Caterpillar

Thaumetopoea pityocampa

larvae feed on its needles

depends on

Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra

feeds on its nutrient-rich seeds

symbiotic with

Weeping Bolete

Suillus granulatus

helps roots absorb water and nutrients

shelters

Wild Boar

Sus scrofa

seeks cover under its dense canopy

Traits

Coniferous

Imagine trees with needles instead of flat leaves and special cones that hold their seeds. These evergreens bring green to the forest all year long!

Evergreen

These wonderful plants keep their leaves or needles all year round, providing beautiful green scenery even in the chilliest months. They stay green forever!

Salt Tolerant

These resilient plants are tough cookies that can thrive even when there's salt in the soil or air, often found happily living near the ocean.

Timber

Discover how people use wood from trees to build amazing things, from houses to furniture! It's an important natural resource that helps us every day.

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.