P. orientalis (L.) Link in Linnaea, 20: 294 (1847). Kayacik in Kew Bull. 3: 481-490 (1955). Syn: Pinus orientalis L., Sp. PL, ed. 2, 1421 (1763). I?: Dalli-more & Jackson, Handbook of Coniferae, ed. 3, f. 78 (1948). Map 6, p. 69.
Tall, densely branched tree, up to 35 m. Young shoots glandular-pilose. Leaves dark green, adpressed, quadrangular, obtuse at the apex. Male cones ellipsoid, c. 1 cm, with many pink scales. Female cones 7-10 x 1-3 cm. Frequently a dominant tree, and in mixed forest, (50-) 1000-2000 m.
Described from the Orient.
Lazistan. A6 Ordu: 10 km S of Gölköy, 1100 m, Markgraf 10764! A7 Giresun: Yavuzkemal, 1600 m, D. 20742! Trabzon: Trabzon, Sommier & Levier. A8 Çoruh: above Artvin, 1500 m, D. 29812! Rize: Rize, 50 m, Stainton 8302! A9 Çoruh: Yalnizçam Da., 1400 m, D. 32478!
Transcaucasia (Adzharya & Abkhazya). Many authors have wrongly recorded this species for S. & W. Turkey (cf. Kayacik, op. cit.). The range of this tree delimits very well the wet, eastern part of the Euxine province in Anatolia.