Editing Pinus pinaster (section)

==Description==
[[File:Pinus pinaster decoration cones.jpg|left|alt=|thumb|The [[Cone (botany)|cone]] of ''P. pinaster'']]
''Pinus pinaster'' is a medium-size [[tree]], reaching {{Convert|20–35|m|abbr=off}} tall with a [[Trunk (botany)|trunk]] diameter of up to {{Convert|1.2|m|ft|abbr=on|frac=2}}, exceptionally {{Convert|1.8|m|ft|abbr=on|frac=2}}.
[[File:Pinus pinaster Cones.jpg|thumb|Pinus pinaster Cones]]
The [[Bark (botany)|bark]] is orange-red, thick, and deeply fissured at the base of the trunk, somewhat thinner in the upper [[Crown (botany)|crown]].

The [[leaves]] ('needles') are in pairs, very stout ({{Convert|2|mm|abbr=off|disp=or|frac=16}} broad), up to {{Convert|25|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} long,<ref name=Rushforth>{{cite book|first=Keith |last=Rushforth |trans-title=Pocket Guide to Trees | title=Bäume |language=de |location=[[Bern]] |publisher=Hallwag AG |orig-year=1980 |year=1986 |edition=2nd |isbn=3-444-70130-6 |page=63}}</ref> and bluish-green to distinctly yellowish-green. The maritime pine features the longest and most robust needles of all European pine species.<ref name=Rushforth/>

The [[conifer cone|cones]] are conic, {{Convert|10–20|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} long<ref name=Rushforth/> and {{Convert|4–6|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} broad at the base when closed, green at first, ripening glossy red-brown when 24 months old. They open slowly over the next few years, or after being heated by a [[wildfire|forest fire]], to release the seeds, opening to {{Convert|8–12|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} broad.

The seeds are {{Convert|8–10|mm|abbr=on|frac=16}} long, with a {{Convert|20–25|mm|abbr=on|frac=16}} wing, and are wind-[[Seed dispersal|dispersed]].

=== Similar species ===
Maritime pine is closely related to [[Turkish pine]], [[Canary Island pine]], and [[Aleppo pine]], which all share many features with it. It is a relatively non-variable species, with constant [[Morphology (biology)|morphology]] over the entire range.