Chinese White Pine - Pinus Armandii - Bonsai Tree - 5 Seeds

Pinus armandii (family Pinaceae), the Chinese white pine, is a species of pine native to China, occurring from southern Shanxi west to southern Gansu and south to Yunnan, with outlying populations in Anhui and Taiwan; it also extends a short distance into northern Burma. In Chinese it is known as "Mount Hua pine". It grows at 1,000-3,300 m altitude, with the lower altitudes mainly in the northern part of the range. It is a tree reaching 35 m height, with a trunk up to 1 m in diameter. It is a member of the white pine group, Pinus subgenus Strobus, and like all members of that group, the leaves ('needles') are in fascicles (bundles) of five, with a deciduous sheath. They are 820 cm long. The cones are 922 cm long and 68 cm broad, with stout, thick scales. The seeds are large, 1016 mm long and have only a vestigial wing; they are dispersed by Spotted Nutcrackers. The cones mature in their second year. Pinus armandii seeds are harvested and sold as pine nuts. These nuts are responsible for "Pine Mouth Syndrome". The wood is used for general building purposes; the species is important in forestry plantations in some parts of China. It is also grown as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens in Europe and North America. The scientific name commemorates the French missionary and naturalist Armand David, who first introduced it to Europe. The tree, because of its evergreen foliage, is considered by the Chinese as an emblem of longevity and immortality. Its resin is considered an animated soul-substance, the counterpart of blood in men and animals.