Pine ID wanted

I may have alreday posted the same question here and there, but I didn't get any satisfying answer anyway, so:

1/ this pine is from a packet of "Bonsai seeds" I sowed last century, so the tree is at least 15 yrs-old

2/ the bark is light grey,very smooth for a pine that age, and the needles are very straight

3/ so, I'm almost 100% sure it's not P. sylvestris or P. mugo.

Any idea what species it might be? Sorry, I only have rather recent pictures because of a computer crash :















::dunno:

Two needles per fascicle and sold as "bonsai" seed, I would venture to guess Japanese Black Pine. It looks like my young seedlings. Are the needles stiff when pushed inward from the end?

It would help if you were to take pictures of the different stages of bud development.

Thanks for your input.

Yes, the needles are rather stiff, but I thought that even young black pines had a more "flaky" bark, like smaller scot pines or mugo pines I have. But mabe this characteristic bark appears later on black pines?

I'll try and see if I have photos of the buds development.

Hello Alain – I think that Stan is right. This sure looks like Pinus thunbergii (Japanese Black Pine). Of course true diagnostic characteristic will not present themselves until it produces cones – which in a bonsai pot is probably never (or at least not in my remaining life span…) The bark characteristics in young pines can be quite variable, particularly in seedlings. I understand that this tree is a decade or more old (congratulations!) but developmentally, it is still a seedling.

By the way – I think you have done a very nice job in developing it! Of course it could not be described as “finished” but I would be delighted to have it in my collection!

Yours,
David B.

Thanks David   

Since my first post and with the help of your suggestions, I did some further research and yes, it must be a Pinus thunberghi: I read that in younger trees, the bark is grey and becomes darker with age.

So thanks again everyone, this will help me give proper care