Pinus cembra
Swiss Stone Pine
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Pinus genus in the family Pinaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[15].
Edible uses
Seed - raw or cooked[1][12][17][16][8][10]. Much valued as a food, the oil-rich seed has a delicious flavour but with a slight flavour of turpentine. A reasonable size, it is about 10mm x 8 mm[13]. An edible drying oil is obtained from the seed[12][19][21][10]. A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[13].
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Product or use
- Oil
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge[17]. 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[17]. 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[17]. 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[17].
Material uses
A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[7]. 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[14]. Turpentine is obtained from the leaves[18][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[22]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[17][22]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[22]. Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[22] and is separated by distillation[17][22]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for making varnish, medicinal etc[17]. 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[17]. Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc. Wood - soft, easily worked. Used for furniture, turnery etc[18][20][2].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Herbicide
- Product or use
- Resin
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- Europe - Alps, running north to Russia and Siberia.
- Habitat
- Rarely found below elevations of 1500 metres, it grows with larch up to the tree line[3][24].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
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[23]. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two[3]. 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[13]. 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[13]. 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[24].
Cultivation
Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[1]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[1]. Established plants tolerate drought[13]. Succeeds in most situations, flourishing on N. facing slopes and in moist heavy clay soils[24]. Grows best in the cooler wetter areas of Britain[3][24]. A very hardy plant tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c[6]. The edible seeds are collected in large numbers in Siberia and are often exported[5]. (This report probably refers to the sub-species P. cembra sibirica.) This species does not appear to be long lived or to produce its cones freely in S. Britain[3]. It does not produce cones until it is 30 years old[13]. The cones take three years to ripen and then fall from the tree with the seeds still inside[4]. The seed is often eaten by squirrels etc before it can fall to the ground. The cones do not open, seed is extracted by breaking up the soft scales of the cone[13]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[13]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[13]. Slow growing in cultivation[24][4], plants usually make less than 30 cm increase in height per year even when young[11]. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby inhibiting the growth of other plants below the tree[9]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[13].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
? The Plantsman. Vol. 2. 1980 - 1981. Royal Horticultural Society 1980-00-00
Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-12-136450-x
Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975-00-00
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00
Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber
McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6
Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X