Dwarf Mountain-pine
Pinus mugo
Pine familiy (Pinaceae)
Complete with UV filter
The mountain pine grows slowly, often producing multiple stems. It is more of a shrub than a tree and, growing wild in the Alps and the Balkans, it reaches heights of up to 4 m. The mountain pine is widely planted for its small size and ornamental value.
The needles are quite short - 3-7 cm in length - and covered with a thin waxy layer, which has the unique ability of being able to convert harmful ultra-violet light into the non-damaging blue light. This forms the basis in making organic UV-filters that are used in, among other things, solar panels, paints and cosmetics. Other pine species are not able do this: in order to protect their needles, they have a thick layer of wax that breaks down under the influence of UV-light.
Details
Description: | Conifer |
---|---|
Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic evergreen) |