Aleppo pine is distributed extensively around the Mediterranean basin and shows broad geographic variation in seed germination, seedling growth, trunk straightness, branch size and angle, and cone shape (Falusi and others 1983; Giordano 1960). Two elevational ecotypes are known in Israel, and others are expected in other parts of the species' range (Karschon 1961; Magini and Tulstrup 1955).