How to Identify a Pinus Nigra

Look for an evergreen tree that grows to between 50 and 70 feet on average, with width between 20 and 40 feet. Austrian pine sometimes approaches heights close to 100 feet, notes the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees: Eastern Region," but such specimens are rare. Trunk diameters can be in the range of 24 inches.

Observe the shape and the form of an Austrian pine. The younger individuals feature a pyramidal appearance until they reach about 30 feet high. The older trees have spreading branches, with the top of the tree looking flat and the silhouette of the pine similar to that of an open umbrella.

Study the foliage of Pinus nigra to aid in your identification of this species. Needles are stiff, dark green and between 3 and 6 inches in length. The foliage will develop in bundles of two needles from the pine's branches, persisting for up to 4 years before new growth replaces it, keeping the Austrian pine evergreen.

Examine the cones on Pinus nigra. They are between 2 and 3 inches long, 2 inches wide, oval and develop a shiny, yellowish-brown color. The pine cones on an Austrian pine remain attached to the branches for 2 years before finally coming down to the ground.

Inspect the irregular plates on the bark of Pinus nigra. The bark is "striking," notes the University of Connecticut Plant Database. Austrian pine bark has furrows and the thick bark varies between dark shades of brown, a nearly black hue and silvery colors.