Common Names
Lacebark pine (1), Bunge's Pine (2), Bái Pí Song (=white bark pine) [Chinese] (3).Taxonomic notes
Syn: Pinus excorticata Lindley and Gordon (2).Description
"A tree [24-30 m] high and [116 cm dbh]... Bark on young trees smooth, dull grey, scaling off in small patches like a plane tree, changing to chalky-white on old trunks, by which the species can be recognized from a long distance. Young shoots smooth, without down, greyish green. Winter buds spindle-shaped, nearly [12 mm] long, not resinous, composed of reddish brown scales. Leaves in threes, rather sparsely arranged on the branchlets, persisting three to four years, giving off a turpentiny odour when bruised, dark green, rather rigid, flattened, [5-7.5 cm] long, margins finely toothed, apex sharply pointed, faint stomatic lines on each surface; resin canals marginal and prominent; sheath soon falling away. Cones solitary or in pairs, sub-terminal but often appearing lateral by the growth of a sum- mer shoot, globose or ovoid, [5-6.5 cm] long, on short. stout stalks; scales terminated by a reflexed, triangular spine. Seed with a short, loosely attached wing." It closely resembles "P. gerardiana, from which it is distinguished by its smaller cones and stiffer leaves. From other three-leaved pines it is separated by its smooth, scaling bark, sparsely arranged foliage, peculiar habit, and the strong odour of its bruised leaves" (2).Range
NW China (1). "[I]t was first seen by Dr. Bunge near [Beijing] in 1831. It was subsequently found in the mountains of Central China by Wilson, and is cultivated by the Chinese in the vicinity of temples and cemeteries. It grows naturally amongst limestone rocks, with widely spreading roots and branches" (2).Big Tree
Oldest
Dendrochronology
Ethnobotany
Observations
Seen planted as an ornamental in Beijing and N America.Remarks
Citations
(1) Silba 1986.(2) Dallimore & Jackson 1967.
(3) Cheng & Fu 1987.
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This page is from the Gymnosperm Database
URL: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/2285/pi/pin/bungeana.htm
Edited by Christopher J. Earle
E-mail:earlecj@earthlink.net
Last modified on 19-Dec-98