GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE 
PINES OF THE WORLD 
INTRODUCTION 
The genus Pinus is one of the most widely distributed genera of trees in the 
Northern Hemisphere. In the North Temperate Zone it is rivalled only by 
Quercus, which has more species and may occupy a greater area. The pines 
extend from the polar region to the tropics, crossing the Equator at one point 
(Map 1). Within this enormous range, they dominate the natural vegetation 
in many regions. The genus includes some of the most valuable timber trees in 
the world, and is readily distinguished from other plants. For all of these 
reasons a great deal of information has accumulated about the natural dis- 
tribution of the pines. This publication summarizes this information in the 
form of maps, and indicates the sources of information wherever possible. 
A previous attempt to summarize information on the distribution of all 
the pines is that of Schmucker (1942), who included them in his survey of 
the distribution of the trees of the North Temperate Zone. His diagrammatic 
maps are small in scale (1:50,000,000 to 1:80,000,000) , and his principal sources 
of information are indicated only in a general way. 
The scope of this publication is limited to mappable information about 
where pines grow naturally at present. We have not tried to relate present 
distribution to the fossil record, nor have we tried to indicate the ecological and 
historical factors controlling species distribution. The elevations at which pines 
grow are mentioned only in the most general terms; this aspect of distribution 
is intimately related to latitude, topography, and other features of the local 
environment. 
In relation to the evolution of Pinus, the arrangement of species maps has 
been made as meaningful as possible by grouping the species according to their 
presumed relationships. The classification of the soft or white pines, subgenus 
Strobus (Haploxylon), follows Shaw (1914, 1924). The hard pines, subgenus 
Pinus (Diploxylon), are arranged according to the relationship scheme of Duffield 
(1952) , except that we have retained Sabinianae (group Macrocarpae of Shaw) 
as distinct. 
We have brought up to date the names of the subdivisions of the genus 
Pinus, as explained in a separate report.! As indicated under Contents, the genus 
Pinus is divided here into 3 subgenera, 5 sections, 15 subsections, and 94 species. 
The rank subsection corresponds to that designated by some authors as series, 
“group,” or section. One subgeneric name by another author is validly published 
here, and three names of subsections are proposed as new. 
The geographic distribution or natural range of 94 species of Pinus (pine) 
is summarized and presented on 64 maps. Several other names are mentioned 
or combired as synonyms following conservative usage. English common names 
have been added. 
Varieties and subspecies have not been mapped separately except in a few 
special cases. Many taxa of these ranks have been established on fragmentary 
evidence in Pinus, and cannot be considered mappable entities because of un- 
certainties or disagreement about their characterization or distribution. 
1 Little, Elbert L., Jr., and Critchfield, William B. Subdivisions of the genus Pinus. 1965 
(Unpublished report on file at U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C.) 
