Pine family, Pinaceae
Origin: the Himalayan region
Habitat in the original area: mountain rainforests
Habitus: An evergreen tree grows up to 50 metres in its homeland. The branches are irregularly arranged and widely spaced in a conical crown. The top of the tree and the ends of the branches bend towards the ground.
Leaf: Silvery needles grow in bundles on shortened twigs (brachyblasts); they are 25–50 mm long.
Bloom, fruit: Female cones have a purple tinge. The fertile cones grow upwards, are ovoid and very hard with tightly pressed seed scales. They do not ripen until the second or third year after fertilization, when the cones break up and the triangular seeds with a membranous wing are released.
Interesting fact: In the subtropics and tropics, it is grown on plantations and harvested for its wood. In our parks it stands out as a solitary tree, but it is susceptible to frost.
