Pinus sylvestris L. (Pinaceae), a crooked tree (Finland, Lohja, Vanhakylä, 2003).
– Photo: Harri Harmaja. –
A
conspicuous pine tree was found on June 18, 2003 by me in South Finland on a rock terrace.
Its main trunk is twisted, being no more discernible upwards where the branches
are bent downwards, partly reaching the ground to grow as depressed
to the rock surface. In the autumn, another, smaller tree of the same kind was found
in similar place in the same rock area northwards, and in September 2006 a
third, likewise smaller, one still northwards. Other pine trees along the margin of the
steep rock outcrop are quite normal though often somewhat suffering from the extreme
conditions of the habitat.
The peculiarity of this tree may
be genetically determined, and the tree may represent
Pinus sylvestris f. pendula Lawson.
The Woody Flora of Finland (Hämet-Ahti,
L., Palmén, A., Alanko. P. & Tigerstedt, P.M.A. 1992: Suomen puu- ja
pensaskasvio. 2. ed.
– 373
p. Dendrologian seura r.y. Yliopistopaino.
Helsinki)
mentions this form from northern Finland as very infrequent.
Created March 17, 2004. Latest revision September 29, 2006.