PfNACEAE 11 



According to Shaw, the latest monographer of the genus, only 4 

 pines are indigenous to China proper. Pinus koraiensis and Pinus densiflora 

 from Korea and Japan are commonly met with in gardens and seem to- 

 be naturalized in some places. Pinus koraiensis may be distinguished 

 from P. armandi to which it is closely allied by the tomentose branch- 

 lets, indehiscent cone and large distinctive seeds which are also edible. 

 It is a hardy, rapid growing tree, producing valuable timber, well worth 

 growing in temperate regions. Pinus densiflora, which belongs in the 

 same subsection (Pinaster) with Pinus massoniana, differs from the Chinese 

 tree by shorter needles, (8-12 cm. long) and by shorter, persistent cones 

 whose scales are pale yellow rather than nut brown. P. thunhergii, 

 another commonly planted Japanese species, is distinguished from all 

 Chinese pines by the white buds. 



The Chinese pines are grouped into 2 sections as follows-; — 



Section 1, Soft Pines (Haploxylon). 



Bases of bracts subtending needle clusters not decurrent; sheath of 

 needles deciduous; leaves with 1 fibrovascular bundle scar; cone symmet- 

 rica], soft, with few scales; wood soft, fairly uniform in color, slightly 

 resinous, with indistinct rings of annual growth; seeds wingless or with 

 ineffective wing. 



1 . 5-needled pine Pinus armandi. 



2. 3-needled pine Pinus bungeana. 



Section II, Hard Pines (Diploxylon) . 



Bases of bracts subtending needle clusters decurrent; sheath of 

 needles usually persistent; leaves with 1 fibrovascular bundle scar; 

 cones more or less symmetrical with stiffer scales; wood hard, with a 

 marked contrast between spring and summer wood, very resinous. 

 Seeds winged. 



1. Leaves 2 (2 or 3) in a sheath, long, pliant; cones deciduous, 

 large; confined to warm temperate regions Pinus massoniana. 



2. Leaves 3 (3 or 2) in a sheath, shorter, stouter; cones short, 

 persistent; confined to mountain tops or colder regions Pinus sinensis. 



Pinus armandi Franchet. 

 Chinese White Pine 



A medium sized tree, up to 25 m. tall. Branchlets glabrous, at first 

 olive green, later gray. Winter buds cylindric, reddish-brown. Leaves 



