Chilghoza Pine

Trees up to 18 m tall spreading at the top and with irregular branches. Bark silvery‑grey, thin. Leaves in clusters of 3, stiff, acicular, 6‑12 cm; sporophylls woody, apex with a recurved beak. Seeds about 20 mm long, ± cylindric, with a short wing.

Trees; bark white, fissured into irregular, thin plates; 1st-year branchlets pale green-yellow, glabrous, with projected leaf scars. Needles 3 per bundle, triangular-flabellate in cross section, 6-10 cm, stiff, vascular bundle 1, resin canals 5-7, marginal, base with sheath shed. Seed cones shortly pedunculate, almost brown at maturity, oblong or ovoid, 12-20 × 9-11 cm. Seed scales 4-5 cm; apophyses broad, swollen, ± recurved, obviously ridged; umbo dorsal, apex obtuse. Seeds cylindric, ca. 2.5 cm; wing rudimentary, usually adhering to adjacent scale.

Distribution: Afghanistan, Pakistan and N.W. Himalaya.

S Xizang [E Afghanistan, N India, Kashmir, N Pakistan]

Found in the inner dry valleys of the Himalaya and in Baluchistan. The seeds are edible and of a good quality. Common name: "Chilgoza Pine". FI. Per.: June‑July.

Mountains; circa 2700 m.