Siberian Dwarf Pine
Encyclopedia
Pinus pumila is a native to northeastern Asia
, including the islands of Japan
. This shrub
by pine
ranges from 1–3 m in height, exceptionally up to 5 m, but may have individual branches that extend farther along the ground in length. In the mountains of northern Japan
, it sometimes hybridises with the related Japanese White Pine
(Pinus parviflora); these hybrids (Pinus x hakkodensis) are larger than P. pumila, reaching 8–10 m tall on occasion.
The leaves
are needle-like, formed in bundles of five and are 4–6 cm long. The cones
are 2.5-4.5 cm long, with large nut-like seeds (pine nut
s).
It shares the common name Creeping pine with several other plants.
(Nucifraga caryocatactes).
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, including the islands of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. This shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
by pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
ranges from 1–3 m in height, exceptionally up to 5 m, but may have individual branches that extend farther along the ground in length. In the mountains of northern Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, it sometimes hybridises with the related Japanese White Pine
Japanese White Pine
The Japanese White Pine is a pine in the white pine group, Pinus subgenus Strobus, native to Japan. It is also known as the Japanese Five Needle Pine ....
(Pinus parviflora); these hybrids (Pinus x hakkodensis) are larger than P. pumila, reaching 8–10 m tall on occasion.
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are needle-like, formed in bundles of five and are 4–6 cm long. The cones
Conifer cone
A cone is an organ on plants in the division Pinophyta that contains the reproductive structures. The familiar woody cone is the female cone, which produces seeds. The male cones, which produce pollen, are usually herbaceous and much less conspicuous even at full maturity...
are 2.5-4.5 cm long, with large nut-like seeds (pine nut
Pine nut
Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pines . About 20 species of pine produce seeds large enough to be worth harvesting; in other pines the seeds are also edible, but are too small to be of great value as a human food....
s).
It shares the common name Creeping pine with several other plants.
Ecology
The seeds are harvested and dispersed by the Spotted NutcrackerSpotted Nutcracker
The Spotted Nutcracker, Eurasian Nutcracker, or just Nutcracker, is a passerine bird slightly larger than the Eurasian Jay. It has a much larger bill and a slimmer looking head without any crest. The feathering over its body is predominantly a chocolate brown with distinct white spots and streaks...
(Nucifraga caryocatactes).