The pines (Pinus L., Pinaceae) at Peter the Great Botanic Garden

This article presents the results of a study of the genus pine (Pinus, Pinaceae) in the Botanical garden of Peter the Great. There are 27 taxa of pines (Pinus), reperesented by 82 trees, in collection of Peter the Great Botanic Garden of the Komarov Botanical Institute RAS (Saint-Petersburg), the oldest of them being up to 125 years old. Pinus peuce, P. koraiensis and P. sibirica are the most widely distributed.The tallest tree are 25,0 m high (P. strobus). They reach the trunk diameter up to 68 cm (P. strobus).The pride of collection being such rare species from Eastern Asia as P. densiflora and P. densata. The Dwarf Siberian pine (P. pumila) was firstly introduced into general cultivation from here. There are 17 species which produce cones. There are species promising both for repeated (P. edulis Engelm, P. rigida Mill., P. thunbergii Parl.), and primary introduction (P. arizonica Engelm., P. culminicola Andersen et Beaman, P. henryi Mast.). The continuous monitoring on winter hardiness as well as on steadiness to pests and diseases is necessary, which is especially true in conditions of the global warming of the climate. The investigation of reproductive abilities, quality of seeds and of seed reproduction is of importance. This is necessary to involve the best species and forms into city planting and forest economy.