Practical
Plants

Pinus coulteri

Big-Cone Pine

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Pinus genus in the family Pinaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Pinaceae
Genus
Pinus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
18 m
Spread
7 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[12].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - raw or cooked[9][16][17][24][6]. Large[7], individual seeds are up to 15mm x 8mm[10]. The oil-rich seed has a delicious taste with a slightly resinous flavour, it used to be gathered in large quantities by the local Indians who ate it as a staple food[22]. A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[10].

Product or use
Condiment
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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge[15]. 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[15]. 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[15]. 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[15].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[4]. 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[11]. 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[15][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[15][18]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for making varnish, medicinal etc[15]. 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[15]. Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc. Wood - coarse-grained, light, soft, not strong. Occasionally used for fuel and second class lumber[22][23][14].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Herbicide
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California to N.W. Mexico.
Habitat
Scattered singly or in small groves in coniferous forests on dry rocky slopes and ridges to 2000 metres[19][22] in the coastal mountains of California and N.W. Mexico[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[20]. 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[10]. 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[10]. 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[21].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils, including clay[21]. Prefers in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[1][2][3]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[1]. Established plants tolerate drought[10]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[10]. A short-lived tree in Britain. It is slow to get established but it then grows strongly[3]. Of moderate growth in height with increases of about 30 - 40cm a year, but of rapid increase in girth, about 3 - 5cm a year[8]. Trees grow better in the southern part of the country[3]. Trees do not often bear cones in Britain[2][21]. A tree planted in 1954 at Kew was about 12 metres tall in September 1993 and was carrying a number of large cones[K]. The summer had been cool and damp[K]. The same tree had another good crop of cones in the autumn of 1996 and continues to cone quite well in 1999[K]. An 11 year old tree at Kew had two small female cones in January 1999[K]. The fresh cones can weigh 2.2 kilos and when dried in a warm room for a year or so still weigh ½ kilo. The cones open and shed their seed whist still attached to the tree[13]. The seeds are ejected explosively from the dry cone over a period of several weeks[8]. The cones are 25 - 35cm long[22], they can hang on the tree for a number of years with their seed intact[21]. This species is closely related to P. sabiniana[14]. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby inhibiting the growth of other plants below the tree[5]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[10]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[10]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 2. 1980 - 1981. Royal Horticultural Society 1980-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

  5. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  8. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩1↩2

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  11. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩

  12. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  13. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩

  14. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2

  15. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  16. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  17. Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00

    ↩

  18. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  19. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

    ↩

  20. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩

  21. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  22. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  23. Coyle. J. and Roberts. N. C. A Field Guide to the Common and Interesting Plants of Baja California. Natural History Publishing Co. 1975-00-00

    ↩

  24. Balls. E. K. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-520-00072-2

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