Photo exhibition

As you see them when going on a botanical walk...

"Ambiance Nature"

Wild Plants in Perigord


Exhibition of photographs by Corine Oosterlee

Castle of Limeuil (24510), 3 to 30 June 2012, daily from 10.00 to 18.00.

Two Pines

The Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster) is planted often between the Sweet Chestnuts on more or less acid soil, or in single-species plantations. But here we consider the two species of Pine also commonly found on calcareous soil, in Oak and Hornbeam forests. They are originally also cultivated species, but they behave like wild trees and grow spontaneously in many places. Now they start flowering, and are easy to distinguish by the form of their male catkins. Yes, this yellow powdery stuff that makes your car look dirty is Pine pollen!



The male catkins of the European Black Pine (Pinus nigra) are rather large and form a crown at the base of the newly developing branches. In this image you see them just before dispersal of the pollen above last year's long green  needles.













The Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) has smaller catkins and those form a kind of cylinder around a new twig. The orange protection sheath that covered young catkins and twig is still visible.














And the female catkins? During summer they will develop into pine cones, as you can see already. Here you see those of an European Black Pine.