Pinus dalatensis, also known as Vietnamese white pine or Dalat pine,[1] is a species of pine endemic to Indochina. In Vietnam it grows in the mountains of the central and south-central parts of the country at elevations of 1,400 to 2,300 metres (4,600 to 7,500 ft).[3][4] Only recently confirmed from Laos, the population located within the Nakai-Nam Theun Biodiversity Conservation Area is the largest, at the lowest elevation, and the northernmost of the known populations of P. dalatensis.[5]

Pinus dalatensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Subgenus: P. subg. Strobus
Section: P. sect. Quinquefoliae
Subsection: P. subsect. Strobus
Species:
P. dalatensis
Binomial name
Pinus dalatensis
Synonyms[2]
  • Pinus wallichiana var. dalatensis (Ferré) Silba

Description

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Pinus dalatensis is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 30 to 40 metres (98 to 131 ft) tall. It is a member of the white pine group, Pinus subgenus Strobus, and like all members of that group, the leaves ('needles') are in fascicles (bundles) of five, with a deciduous sheath. The needles are finely serrated, and (3-)5–14 cm long.

The cones are slender, 6 to 23 centimetres (2.4 to 9.1 in) long and 2 to 4 centimetres (0.79 to 1.57 in) broad (closed), opening to 3 to 9 centimetres (1.2 to 3.5 in) broad; the scales are thin and flexible. The seeds are small, 6 to 8 millimetres (0.24 to 0.31 in) long, and have a long slender wing 18 to 25 millimetres (0.71 to 0.98 in) long. It is most closely related to the blue pine Pinus wallichiana from the Himalaya.[3][4]

Subspecies

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It is divided into two subspecies:[3]

  • Pinus dalatensis subsp. dalatensis. Da Lat region, between 11°50'N and 12°30'N. Cones 6–17 cm long.
  • Pinus dalatensis subsp. procera Businský. Central Vietnam, between 15°00'N and 16°20'N. Cones 13–23 cm long.

References

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  1. ^ a b Thomas, P.; Phan, K.L. (2013). "Pinus dalatensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T32803A2823679. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T32803A2823679.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Pinus dalatensis Ferré". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
  3. ^ a b c Businský, R. (1999). Study of Pinus dalatensis Ferré and of the enigmatic "Pin du Moyen Annam". Candollea 54: 125-143.
  4. ^ a b Farjon, A. (2005). Pines. Brill ISBN 90-04-13916-8.
  5. ^ Thomas, P.; Sengdala, K.; Lamxay, V.; Khou, E. (2007). "New Records of Conifers in Cambodia and Laos". Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 64: 37–44. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.621.4622. doi:10.1017/S0960428606000734.

Further reading

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