Pinus pinea is an evergreen coniferous tree belonging Pinaceae (Pine Family). It grows up to 30 m high with an umbrella-shaped, large and flat crown and trunks exceeding 2 meters in diameter. The natural distribution is near the Mediterranean basin, extending from Portugal to Syria. The tree isabundant in south Western Europe (Iberian Peninsula, South France and Italy) mainly in coastal areas. It is also present along the shores of the Black Sea. This pine has been successfully introduced in Argentina, South Africa and the United States. The very hard-shelled nut accounts for the English name Stone Pine.

The crown of Pinus pinea is globose and shrubby in youth but when the tree reach maturity became umbrella-shaped. The reddish brown trunk is often short and with numerous upward angled branches with foliage near to the ends. Trees can be expected to start producing cones from 6 years old. In mature trees, green leaves are needle-like, in bundles of two, and are 10-20 centimeters long, last 2-4 years. Young trees up to 5-10 years old bear juvenile leaves, which are single, 2-4 centimeters long,bluish-green. Different from paired leaves of matures. Adult leaves appear mixed with juvenile leaves from the fourth or fifth year on, replacing it fully by around the tenth year. Stone Pine is monoecism that has both male and female flowers. Flowering time May to June. Seed cones are ovoid-globose, 8-12 cm long, green when young and reddish brown when mature, ripening in the third year. Seeds are pale brown, covered with a black powder, 15-20 mm long, heavy, with easily detachable wings and ineffective for wind dispersal.

Pinus pinea prefers acidic soil also tolerates calcareous ones. It thrives in dry weather, sunny areas with high temperatures, tolerating light-shaded conditions at the early stages of its growth. The tree is also able to tolerate frost, withstands -16 °C.

Stone Pine was largely distributed in Europe during the last thousand years, as it was introduced throughout the Mediterranean region for its edible seeds. The seeds are commercially important for their highly nutritional and tasty nuts that known as Pine Nut. The kernels can be eaten raw, roasted or prepared into stuffings, cakes, puddings etc. The main producers of this product in Mediterranean; are Spain, Portugal, Italy, Tunisia and Turkey. Annual Pine Nut production in the world is about 22.000 tons; Chine 9.000 tons, Afghanistan 3,000 tons, Pakistan 3,000 tons, Korea 3,000 tons Türkiye 1,300 ton.

Pinus pinea’s wood is of low quality but used locally for furniture, while the resin is tapped and used for rosin. The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient and antihelmintic. Resin is a valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections. It is also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza. Externally it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc.

Use in landscape: This beautiful Stone Pine, known in English as the “Umbrella Pine” due to its umbrella-like growing pattern, looks much like a flower bunch. It may be grown as a specimen or shade tree at large gardens. May be used as Street tree, but should not been forgotten that the tree can be reach very large size. Other use is protection against soil erosion.