Pinus gerardiana
| Pinus gerardiana | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 82' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Pinus gerardiana (common name: chilghoza pine)
Propagation: It is best to sow the seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise in late winter. A short stratification of 6 weeks at 4°c can improve the germination of stored seed[1]. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two[2]. Plants have a very sparse root system and the sooner they are planted into their permanent positions the better they will grow[K]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm[3]. We actually plant them out when they are about 5 - 10cm tall. So long as they are given a very good weed-excluding mulch they establish very well[K]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[3].
Cuttings. This method only works when taken from very young trees less than 10 years old. Use single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot. Disbudding the shoots some weeks before taking the cuttings can help. Cuttings are normally slow to grow away[4].
Cultivation: Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[5][2]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[5]. Established plants tolerate drought[3]. Found on clay soils in the wild[6].
Forms so far introduced into Britain are hard to establish and grow on, other provenances may be better[7].
A slow growing tree[4].
This species is cultivated for its edible seed in Asia[3].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[3]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[3].
Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow beneath the tree[8].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[3].
Range: E. Asia - Afghanistan and the N. W. Himalayas.
Habitat: Dry inner valleys[9], usually on limestone[7], to 3000 metres. Gregarious on dry steep rocky slopes on granite or clay slate in areas beyond the reach of the S.W. monsoons[6].
Edibility: Seed - raw or cooked[10][11][12]. Rich in oil, they have a pleasant flavour with a hint of resin and can be used as a staple food[13]. Used like pistachio nuts[14]. A very good size, up to 25cm long[3]. The seed is an important local food source[2][6], and is considered to be a great delicacy[9][14].
A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[3].
Medicinal: The seed is anodyne and stimulant[15].
The oil obtained from the seeds is used as a dressing on wounds and ulcers, it is also used externally in the treatment of head diseases[15].
The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge[10]. It is a valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections[10]. It is also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza and TB[10]. Externally it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc and is used in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers[10].
Usage: A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[16].
The needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of some plants, including wheat[17].
The bark of the tree is made into baskets and also into rough buckets for fetching water[6].
Oleo-resins are present in the tissues of all species of pines, but these are often not present in sufficient quantity to make their extraction economically worthwhile[18]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[10][18]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[18]. Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[18] and is separated by distillation[10][18]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for making varnish, medicinal etc[10]. Rosin is the substance left after turpentine is removed. This is used by violinists on their bows and also in making sealing wax, varnish etc[10]. Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc.
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Monoecious
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Known Hazards: The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[19].
Links
References
- ↑ McMillan-Browse, Philip. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books, 1985.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rushforth, Keith. Conifers. Batsford, 1991.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Gamble, James. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1972.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Royal Horticultural Society. The Plantsman Vol. 2. 1980 - 1981. Royal Horticultural Society, 1980.
- ↑ Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Polunin, Oleg and Adam Stainton. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press, 1984.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Howes, Frank. Nuts. Faber, 1948.
- ↑ Gupta, Basant. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press, 1945.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ Allardice, Pamela. A-Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers, 1993.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Howes, Frank. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Chronica Botanica, 1949.
- ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.