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.