nigra – black

Native range: Austria, N. Italy to the Balkans

Leaves:

• 2 per fascicle
• 4-6” long
• stiff
• dark green

Cones:

• female cones yellowish-brown
• ovoid
• 2-3” long, 1.25” wide
• keel (base of cone) differing in color

Other characteristics:

• tree growing up to 150 ft.

Relevant info:

• resistant to salt spray (e.g., used in road de-icing) and various industrial pollutants making this species a popular tree in urban settings

Ecology & Adaptations:

• mountain elevations 820-5,910 ft. (250-1,800 m) in central and southern Europe
• drought tolerance – possibly through:
  • deeper roots
  • increasing root:shoot
  • changing xylem cell diameter
  • lignified tissue increase
  • water-absorbing tissue in needle decrease
• snow/ice damage resistance – freezing temp lowered with concentrations of soluble carbohydrates & the composition of fatty acids and alkanes in the needles; roots also resistant
• seedlings > 2 months old contain compounds that make them unpalatable to herbivores/browsers