Bosnian Pine

The Bosnian Pine (Pinus heldreichii, synonym P. leucodermis; family Pinaceae) is a species of pine native to mountainous areas of the Balkans and southern Italy. It can be found in the mountains of Bosnia, southwestern Bulgaria, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, northern Greece (south to Mount Olympus), and locally in southern Italy (it is the symbol of the Pollino National Park), growing at 900–2,500 m altitude. It often reaches the alpine tree line in this area. It is an evergreen tree is up to 25–35 m height, and 2 m trunk diameter.

It is a member of the hard pine group, Pinus subgenus Pinus, with leaves ('needles') in fascicles (bundles) of two, with a persistent sheath. They are 4.5–10 cm long and 1.5–2 mm thick. Cones are 5–9 cm long, with thin, fragile scales; they are dark blue-purple before maturation, turning brown when ripe about 16–18 months after pollination. The 6–7 mm long seeds have a 2–2.5 cm wing and are wind-dispersed.

A notable specimen in the Pirin Mountains of Bulgaria, known as Baikushev's Pine, is 24 m tall, 2.2 m in diameter, and is estimated to be over 1300 years old.