13. Slash pine
Pinus massoniana  (馬尾松/ 山松)

Pinus massoniana or Chinese red pine is our large, erect evergreen conifer. It is the only native pine tree in Hong Kong. Chinese red pine is part of the South China flora and is popular in local afforestation.

The leaves are needles around 10 -18 cm in length and come in bundles of two; a distinctive feature enabling foresters to distinguish Pinus massoniana from the introduced (exotic) pine tree. Pine trees do not produce flowers, rather they are adorned with cones, both tiny male and large female. Winged seeds are developed in the woodier, female cone.

The bark of Chinese red pine is reddish-brown, deeply cracked and can be shed in quite large flaky portions.