NATIONAL TREE SERIES ~ AFGHANISTAN / AFGHAN PINE
We have decided to do a short series for our blog, every second week - profiling a different ‘National Tree’ from around the world.
This week we are starting from the beginning - alphabetically - with Afghanistan’s ‘Afghan Pine.’
Some interesting facts about the Afghan Pine (‘Pinus Elderica’) -
The Afghan Pine is a tree with many labels. It has a second taxonomic classification, ‘P. Brutia Var. Eldarica’, and common names that include ‘Desert Pine,’ ‘Eldar Pine’ and ‘Mondell Pine.’
This species is a member of the prolific pinaceae family, which includes hundreds of different pine trees that grow in various climates around the world.
Like other pine species, the Afghan pine is a coniferous evergreen tree. Its foliage emerges as fine needles, which grow to 5 or 6 inches in length.
The tree's yellow flowers often bloom unnoticed -- the small blossoms are hidden among the plant's branches and leaves.
Afghan pines grow to about 40 feet tall, but some particularly vivacious trees can exceed 60 feet in height. The tree's pyramidal structure has a lateral spread of 25 to 30 feet.
Each tree produces both male and female flowers, allowing self-pollination if they are not near other members of their species.
They grow best with full exposure to sunlight and can tolerate slight drought, temperature fluctuations and various soil conditions.
(Information via Fourth Grade Foresters)
