Pinus jeffreyi
| Pinus jeffreyi | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 82' |
| Width: | 20' |
| Speed: | Moderate |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Pinus jeffreyi (common name: jeffrey 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: Succeeds in most soils[5], but prefers a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[6][2]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[6]. Established plants tolerate drought[3].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[3].
A very ornamental plant[7]. It is often short-lived in Britain but is moderately fast growing with some trees reaching a height of 15 metres in 29 years[8].
A long-lived tree in the wild, specimens 500 years old are known[9]. It commences bearing seeds when about 10 - 15 years old, though good production does not commence until twice that age[9].
Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby inhibiting the growth of other plants below the tree[10].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[3]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[3]. Closely related to P. ponderosa[6], and hybridizes with it in the wild[11]. Some of the earlier plantings under this name in Britain have turned out to be P. ponderosa[8].
The cones are 12 - 35cm long, they open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree[12][13].
The resin from broken shoots has a very strong lemon scent[8].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[3].
Range: South-western N. America - Oregon to California.
Habitat: Usually found on dry and exposed slopes, 1800 - 2700 metres in California[11][12]. Found on a variety of soils, but growing best in those that are deep and well-drained[9].
Edibility: Seed - raw or cooked[14][15]. Large[16]. The oil-rich seed has a resinous flavour and is about 10 - 12mm long[12][3].
The crystallised sap has been gathered and eaten like candy[17].
A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[3].
Medicinal: The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge[18]. 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[18]. 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[18]. 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[18].
Usage: A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[19].
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[20].
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[21]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[18][21]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[21]. Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[21] and is separated by distillation[18][21]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for making varnish, medicinal etc[18]. 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[18]. Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc. The resin contained in this plant is very unusual in that it contains the hydrocarbon n-heptane. This is unmixed with other isomers of heptane and is formed by a very complex and little understood biochemical process. Its purity lead it to be used as the zero-point in the octane rating for petrol[3].
Wood - light, strong and fine-grained, it can vary from soft to hard[9]. It is used for making furniture, boxes, toys etc[9]
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Winter-Late Winter
Flower Type: Monoecious
Known Hazards: The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[22].
Also Known As: P. ponderosa jeffreyi.
Links
References
- ↑ McMillan-Browse, Philip. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books, 1985.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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 3.9 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Rushforth, Keith. Conifers. Batsford, 1991.
- ↑ Alpine Garden Society. Alpine Garden Society Bulletin Volume 56. Alpine Garden Society.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Royal Horticultural Society. The Plantsman Vol. 2. 1980 - 1981. Royal Horticultural Society, 1980.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Mitchell, Alan. Conifers in the British Isles. Stationery Office Books, 1975.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
- ↑ Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Munz, David. A California Flora. University of California Press, 1959.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ Lauriault, Jean. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada. Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1989.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ Allardice, Pamela. A-Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers, 1993.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 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.