Description

• Scots pine may grow from 50 to 100 feet tall. It is a straight, tall pine with scaly grayish brown bark and green to gray needles. It is the only pine with gray to green needles in pairs of two which makes it easy to identify. The needles are just under 2 to almost 4 inches long. It is one of the more commonly use Christmas trees and is grown in plantations. The tree produces cones which carry small black seeds.
  
  

Fire

• Scots pine readily reestablishes after a fire. Natural pine forests require fire for regeneration. The forests are extremely flammable and need the fire to remove litter on the forest floor. The thick buildup of organic debris has a pronounced negative effect on pine seed germination. The heat from fires also causes the release of the seeds in the tightly closed cones. Seeds have the ability to survive fire and still be viable. Once the fire has swept the area clean, the seeds can sprout and create the next generation of Scots pine.
  
  

Roots

• The Scots pine has a long taproot and many extended lateral roots, but much of its nutrient and water collection is done by short roots. These are much smaller and near the surface of the soil. The pine roots are ectomycorrhizal. This means they have fungi attached to them in a symbiotic relationship. The fungi help the roots uptake moisture and food while the tree releases carbon and other essential substances for fungi development. Another unique adaptation has occurred in Finland, where a stand of the trees have grafted their roots together. The entire stand shares water and nutrients through their combined root system.
  
  

Locations and Defense

• Scots pine is one of the most widespread pine species. It occurs around the globe in conditions that are uniquely different from each other. Scots pine can grow in boggy soils in one area and in arid dry conditions elsewhere. The plants in different areas develop biochemical variations. These chemicals are called terpenes and help the tree defend itself against insects and fungi. The thick resinous sap from the tree is a natural preservative that protects the tree from pathogens that might enter wounded areas of the bark.