JBCLM | 2010-2026

The stone pine (Pinus pinea), also called umbrella pine, is a typically umbrella-shaped tree at maturity with a straight trunk. It grows preferentially on sandy, loose, and deep soils, such as coastal and inland dunes and river alluvial banks. Its distribution is mainly in southern Europe, with some occurrences in western Asia.

In Castilla-La Mancha, this tree naturally occurs in the plains of La Manchuela, in southern Cuenca and northern Albacete. The pine produces large seeds, pine nuts, which are highly nutritious and have long been part of the Mediterranean diet, used in salads, pastries, sauces, and more. Hand-harvesting pine nuts has considerable economic value in some Spanish regions (Andalusia, Castilla), the country being the world’s leading producer. In La Manchuela, green pine cones are consumed in brine: they are collected immature, peeled, chopped, and soaked in salt water to be eaten as a dessert.

In the Botanical Garden, these pine formations are accompanied by thermophilic species from their natural habitat, including kermes oak (Quercus coccifera), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), rabogato (Sideritis tragoriganum), lavender (Lavandula latifolia), white cistus (Cistus albidus), and juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus).