Branchlets

Bud

Closed cone

Name

Pinus uncinata Ramond ex DC., Fl. Franc. (DC. & Lamarck), ed. 3. 3: 726 (1805).
[Mountain pine]

Description

Notes

Both species of mountain pine, P. mugo and P. uncinata are separated from most other pines by their short, rigid, paired needles, very resinous buds, and small cones. P. contorta, the species most likely to be confused with the mountain pines, tends to have longer internodes and a more open habit, darker, less resinous buds, and very prickly cones.

Pinus mugo is easily recognised by its multi-stemmed, generally bushy form. P. uncinata is usually of tree form and has larger, asymmetrical cones with distinctively hooked scale ends. They are often treated as subspecies of P. mugo. 

Natural Distribution

NE Spain, Alps.