cluster pine

tree

Also known as: Pinus pinaster, pinaster pine

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

The cluster pine, or Pinus pinaster, is a pyramidal pine tree native to the Mediterranean region. It is characterized by its reflexed bud scales and needles that grow in pairs. As a member of the Pinus genus, it is an evergreen conifer belonging to the Pinaceae family. Pines are vital to many ecosystems, providing habitat and food sources for various animals. Economically, pines are significant for their timber and are used in the paper industry, as well as for producing turpentine and rosin. The cluster pine, in particular, is known for its vigorous growth in coastal sands and has been used to stabilize sand dunes.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

pine
Major Eurasian pines
The cluster pine, or pinaster (P. pinaster), a vigorous grower in coastal sand, has been cultivated extensively for the purpose of stabilizing sand drifts, especially on the dunes of the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean. It grows to a height of 12 to 24 meters…
Read More
The cluster pine, or pinaster (P. pinaster), a vigorous grower in coastal sand, has been cultivated extensively for the purpose of stabilizing sand drifts, especially on the dunes of the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean. It grows to a height of 12 to 24 meters…
Read More

rosin
…source of supply is the cluster pine, Pinus pinaster, extensively cultivated in France in the départements of Gironde and Landes. In the north of Europe rosin is obtained from the Scotch pine, P. sylvestris, and throughout European countries local supplies are obtained from other species of pine. In the United…
Read More
…source of supply is the cluster pine, Pinus pinaster, extensively cultivated in France in the départements of Gironde and Landes. In the north of Europe rosin is obtained from the Scotch pine, P. sylvestris, and throughout European countries local supplies are obtained from other species of pine. In the United…
Read More

turpentine
…turpentines are derived from the cluster pine (P. pinaster) and the Scotch pine (P. sylvestris), while the main sources of turpentine in the United States are the longleaf pine (P. palustris) and the slash pine (P. caribaea).
Read More
…turpentines are derived from the cluster pine (P. pinaster) and the Scotch pine (P. sylvestris), while the main sources of turpentine in the United States are the longleaf pine (P. palustris) and the slash pine (P. caribaea).
Read More