Plant · GBIF taxon 5285104
Japanese Red Pine
Pinus densifloraAlso known as Japanese Pine, Korean Red Pine, Aka-matsu
Japanese red pines form twisting, architectural crowns with distinctive reddish-orange upper bark that peels in thin flakes. Their pairs of soft green needles create billowing canopies that support rich mycorrhizal soil communities, including the prized matsutake mushroom. These trees hold deep cultural significance across East Asia, where natural winds shape them into sweeping coastal landscapes.
EvergreenNeedle TreeConifer
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Pine Wood Nematode
- Pine Bark Beetle
- Japanese Serow
ThreatsPine wood nematode, habitat loss, climate change
HabitatsMontane forests, rocky slopes, coastal cliffs
Life span100–500 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPinales
- FamilyPinaceae
- GenusPinus
- SpeciesPinus densiflora
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Bark Inspection: Look for the characteristic bright reddish-orange shedding bark on the upper trunk.
- Needle Identification: Count the flexible needles, which grow in pairs of two.
- Ecological Context: Search the surrounding soil in autumn for mycorrhizal fungi partners.
Symbiont (c) TonyT, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Marco Mussita, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Marco Mussita · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Oleg Kosterin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) anemoneprojectors (no internet at the moment), some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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