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Pinus cembra (Pinaceae)

Lerosa pine trees form a centuries-old wood on a plateau at the foot of the Croda Rossa; the oldest specimens are about 400-500 years-old and bless the meadows with their deep dark green shades and the mountain air fragrance.

How to get there:

The centuries-old pine trees can be reached by going uphill along an ancient military road that starts in Malga Ra Stua. Alternatively, the wood can be reached from Cortina d’Ampezzo, driving towards Dobbiaco and stopping at the parking lot of the old powder magazine: that’s where the trail to the wood starts.

Swiss pine botanical card:

According to some scholars, stone pines first appeared in northern Asia; then, in the Tertiary and Quaternary era, this species reached Europe and survived glaciations in Switzerland, Austria and northern Italy. Today, it is mostly found in the Austrian Alps.

It is a typical species of alpine and subalpine environments, growing between 4.593 and 7.545 ft.
It grows very well in areas with a continental climate, with a high annual temperature range and copious rainfall in the summer. It prefers fairly deep, cool-humid and moderately acid soils, as it grows well on both calcareous and siliceous ground.

The wood of the stone pine is very fragrant and resinous, once used for the construction of furniture, due to its resistance to woodworms; today, it is widely appreciated for carving and sculptures.

From the needles, the buds and the twigs it is possible to extract an essential oil with balsamic, anti-catarrhal and antiseptic properties.

Photo source: https://homoradixnew.wordpress.com/2015/09/25/vieni-a-perderti-nella-splendida-foresta-di-lerosa/

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)