WHITE PINES OF EUROPE 



105 



,io 



210 300 AGE 



Figure 3. Adult height growth of European white pines in 

 comparison with alpine Picea dbies: 



aZ...al3 = Pioea dbies (after Frauendorfer, 1954); 



<?I...<2III = Pinus oembra (after Figala, 1927); 



pI...pV = Pinus peuce (after Nedjalkov, 1963); 



sla. . .sVa = Pinus sibiriaa (after Leskov and Semeckin, 1963) ; 



p D = single data for Pinus peuce in Great Britain (after 

 MacDonald et al . , 1957); 



PH = single-tree data for Pinus peuce in natural stands (after 

 Mtlller, 1928). 



important is the long lasting, uniform growth of all three species; it 

 results in good volume production in old and very old trees. The best 

 trees at an age of 300 years may have a diameter of 100 cm and more 

 (Jamnicky, 1964). A diameter of 60 cm at breast height is common in 

 200 to 250 years old P. sibirica (Hempel and Jung, 1968). Two-hundred- 

 year-old P. cembra trees may reach 40 cm and more (Figala, 1927; Gregori 

 1887) , and selected trees of Swiss stone pine in Austria reach the same 

 dimensions as P. sibirica trees (Holzer, 1969) . Similar dimensions may 

 be found in P. peuce too (Nedjalkov, 1963). 



The crown form of these species in general is narrow with small 

 branches except that in open stands--above timberline especially—very 

 often we find individuals with heavy branches, multi-forked trunks, and 

 sometimes with candelabrum branches or a spherical crown. Stems without 

 defects are rare. 



