The Austrian pine is a native of the Mediterranean countries, Spain, Calabria, Corsica, Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor. The natural northernmost limit of its distribution was originally Austria, but today the Corsican and Austrian varieties especially are widely cultivated for their rapid growth, and high quality wood, in western and central Europe.

The tree attains a height of 40 metres and has a straight bole which, however, tends to be very knotty. It differs from the Scots pine in being more darkly coloured, with black-brown, furrowed bark extending to the dense crown with dark green foliage. The cones mature in the second year.

The jack pine is widespread in Canada and the north-eastern United States, where it grows chiefly on poorer, sandy soils. It was introduced into Europe in 1785. In the late nineteenth century it was widely planted as a forest tree because of its resistance to fungus diseases, and its rapid growth in youth. However, it was found that after the fortieth year the rate of growth declined rapidly and the bole became crooked; so the initial enthusiasm soon waned.

The Arolla pine is a high mountain tree growing in the Alps and Carpathians near the tree line at elevations of 1500 to 2400 metres, in areas with a brief, hot summer. It grows to a height of about 25 metres or more but its knotty trunk and thick ovoid crown reaching almost to the ground are an impressive sight in the harsh alpine environment, where a forest is hard put to keep a foothold.

The leaves are scale-like and grow in twin pairs closely pressed to each other. The upper-surface of the twig is dark green, the under-surface yellow green without markings. The inconspicuous flowers are borne at the tips of the branchlets. The oblong cones, 7 to 10 mm long, open in October to release the small, winged seeds. The tree is very resistant to frost and tolerates both shade and pruning well. It is used to form all green hedges.

Because of its fairly infrequent occurrence, however, it is now a tree protected by law, and an attractive ornament of our high mountains. The related form Pines rein bra sibirica Rupr. grows in Siberia.