Pinus densiflora

Pinus densiflora
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Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Pinaceae
Genus:	Pinus
Subgenus:	Pinus
Species:	P. densiflora
Binomial name
Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc.
Synonyms
Pinus funebris Kom. Pinus japonica Forbes nom. illeg. Pinus scopifera Miq.

Pinus densiflora, or Japanese red pine, has a home range that includes Japan, the Korean Peninsula, northeastern China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong) and the extreme southeast of Russia (southern Primorsky Krai). This pine has become a popular ornamental and has several cultivars, but in the winter it becomes yellowish. The height of this tree is 20–35 m. The Japanese red pine prefers full sun on well-drained, slightly acidic soil.

The leaves are needle-like, 8–12 cm long, with two per fascicle. The cones are 4–7 cm long. It is closely related to Scots pine, differing in the longer, slenderer leaves which are mid green without the glaucous-blue tone of Scots pine.

In Japan it is known as akamatsu (赤松, literally "red pine") and mematsu (雌松). It is widely cultivated in Japan both for timber production and as an ornamental tree, and plays an important part in the classic Japanese garden. Numerous cultivars have been selected, including the variegated semi-dwarf Oculus Draconis, the pendulous, often contorted Pendula and the multi-trunked 'Umbraculifera' (Japanese 多形松 tagyoushou, sometimes spelled as tanyosho).

In Korea, simply called sonamu (소나무, literally "pine tree"), it takes special status. Historically, Korean dynasties looked after it for timber and resin production banning laypeople from logging them. Korean aristocrats, or Yangban, loved it because they thought this evergreen tree represents virtues of Confucianism, "fidelity" and "fortitude". In this strongly confucian society, it became national symbol. For Korean people, even today, it is considered to represent Korean spirit and mentioned in South Korean national anthem, Aegukga. Since it was introduced to the West by Japanese scholars during the colonial era, it was named "Japanese red pine" in English, and it still hurts Korean people's pride. Accordingly, they are trying to changed its name into simply "red pine" or "Korean red pine".

References

• Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Pinus densiflora. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.

Further reading

• Matsu01.jpg

  Planted in a Japanese park

• Japanese Red Pine (Japanese garden).JPG

  Planted in Japanese garden

• Cultivated Aleppo Pine in Huntington.jpg

  cultivar 'Pendula'

• Pinus densiflora Umbraculifera.jpg

  Var. "Umbraculifera'
  "Tanyosho pine"

• Tanyosho pines NYBG jeh.jpg

  Planted in New York Botanical Garden