Pinus Thunbergii, how many needles per fascicle?

JeffS73

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I started some Pinus Thunbergii in 2018, and was looking them over yesterday as everything warms up for Spring. I noticed many of them have fascicles of 3 needles. Maybe 2 in 10 fascicles are like this, the rest 2 needles. Is this just the nature of this species?
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parhamr

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They have two needles per fascicle. Always.

I’m sure some infrequent mutations and variance are possible. I don’t think I’ve ever seen three on any of mine.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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Normally the first year there are just juvenile foliage - single needles from stem, no fascicles. Second year you might have a few juvenile needles adjacent to fascicle bundles of 2. P. thunbergii is always averages 2, though it is not unheard of to have an odd occasional 1 or 3, but 99 out of 100 fascicles on the same tree should be just 2.

If after the seedling is 5 or more years old, and it still produces regular 3 needle fascicles, there is a good chance it is not P. thunbergii. On a young seedling I would not worry, as it probably has not "settled" into mature growth.
 

JeffS73

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OK, thanks. I'll wait and see how they develop, 17 out of 30 are like it, so I wondered if maybe my seed provider had collected mixed seed, however they did all look the same.

I suppose I'm more concerned about the 100 or so seedling cuttings I've got going this year from the same supplier!
 

JeffS73

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I'm in the UK, those guys wont ship to me, so I guess I'm on the hunt for reliable suppliers here!
The seeds above were from treeseedonline, so I guess I'll find out as they mature. Good germination rate though.
I'm also trying rareexoticseed (Canada) and forestart (UK) who describe the plantation provenance which inspires some confidence.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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The UK has a couple venerable brick and mortar seed companies. But I never saved links, because I'm in USA.

Check the RHS website. You might get some clues.

These 2 links are in South Africa, and because SA was a colony, they can ship to UK



 

LanceMac10

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Have a couple JBP's. Did notice during some needle-plucking a few "three needles" but overwhelming majority were just two...

never have found a plausible explanation....maybe it would have a better shot of becoming a branch?

Would not trouble me, nor should you worry.
 
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