FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Pinus contorta, Lodgepole Pine, Stafafura

Pinus contorta;  the Lodgepole Pine is the most common of many introduced Pinus species.
The leaves are rather long (5-10cm), flat on the bottom and more or less round on the top. They are organized in bundles of two. At the base of the bundle the leaves are embedded in a dark-brown sheath.
The male cones are long and slender, appearing at the top of the twigs in spring. The female cones are much more round and develop under the top of the twigs.
Apart from forestation projects, the tree is planted all around human settlements and is known to naturalize in heath lands.
It is member of the Pinaceae, the Pine family. The Icelandic name is Stafafura.