The Parasol pine (Pinus pinea) is the iconic tree of southern France. It's a tree that has both 'presence' and 'stature'. It's the pine that gives us those little pine nuts, so loved by the Italians.
To the north of us they are almost non-existant, to the south they suddenly grow in profusion. They have become the tree of choice for local authorities when landscaping roundabouts or motorway intersections. They are the trees under which Fernandel played Petanque.
Within a few hundred meters there are several wild examples, but very few in comparison with the bog-standard Mediterranean pine. They are beautiful trees. Difficult to pass by one without making a comment.
They're sort of primaeval, aren't they? We spent a week at a hotel in Siena, and the balcony was overshadowed by one. It was days before I realised that there were tasty little nuts inside the hard shells which it dropped on us every night.
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