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Pinus nigra ssp. Calabrica (Pinaceae)

Inside the Etna Park, there is an interesting larch pine which grows inside a pine forest. This tree is between 200 and 300 years old: a rare old age for any specimens of this species which are usually much less long-lived. It’s 17-ft wide in circumference and has now reached the height of 78.7 ft; this tree would be even taller if its top wasn’t missing.

This larch pine, locally known as “U Zappinazzu”, is not in excellent health, has many dry or broken branches and the trunk is covered with holes, perhaps because of some pathogens.

The larch pine is a very resinous tree, and this is why its wood is used, during the “Festa della Dera” festival in Sant’Alfio, to light torches around the village, honouring the holy martyrs, protectors of the country, Alfio, Cirino, and Filadelfo.

How to get there:

Follow Strada Mareneve which originates from the centre of Linguaglossa (CT); after some 4 miles, take the mule track which leads to that beautiful larch pine.

Botanical card

The Corsican pine, belonging to the Pinaceae family, is a subspecies of the Pinus nigra, widespread in Corsica, Sicily and Calabria, at altitudes between 2.624 and 6.561 ft. The latter region features its greatest concentration.

The Corsican pine has a slender bearing than the Austrian pine and, on average, it grows up to 115 ft (it can even exceed 131 – 164 ft); its needles appear dark green, even about 4-inch long. The wood is of excellent quality and, in the past centuries, it was massively used in the shipyards.

The trunk usually produces a large amount of resin, which is used for insulation.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)