Practical
Plants

Pinus palustris

Pitch 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
slow
Height
30 m
Spread
5 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[9].

Edible uses

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

A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[7].

Product or use
Condiment

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[14]. 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[14]. 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[14]. 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[14]. The turpentine was formerly used in the treatment of colic, chronic diarrhoea, worms, to arrest bleeding from tooth sockets and as a rubefacient[9].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Rubefacient

Material uses

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

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[3]. 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[8]. Carpets are woven from the leaves[14]. This species is exceedingly rich in resinous secretions and is a major source of resin and turpentine in America[16][19][7], but it is too tender in Britain for it to be used here. 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[16]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[14][16]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[16]. Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[16] and is separated by distillation[14][16]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for making varnish, perfumery, medicinal etc[14][13]. 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[14]. Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc. Wood - heavy, very hard, tough, strong, coarse grained, durable[15][19][4]. It weighs 44lb per cubic foot[12]. It is largely used for construction, pulp, interiors of buildings, masts, fencing, fuel, flooring, charcoal[15][19][4].

Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Herbicide
Product or use
Resin
Product or use
Weaving
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
South-eastern N. America - Virginia to Florida and Texas.
Habitat
Poor acid soils that are low in organic matter on sandhills, flats and scrubland from sea level to 650 metres[11], but usually near the coast[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
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[17]. 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[7]. 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[7]. 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[18].

Cultivation

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

Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[1][2]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[1]. Established plants tolerate drought[7]. This species grows in an area where the summers are long and hot and the winters are mild[11]. It is not very hardy in Britain[1], especially when young, and grows much smaller in this country than it does in the wild[7]. It dislikes temperatures falling below about -5°c[13]. There are, however, some trees that were 15 metres tall in south-eastern England in 1970[6]. Trees in the wild grow slowly, taking about 150 years to reach maximum size and living 200 - 300 years[11]. Young seedlings are very slow growing for their first few years and look more like a clump of grass than a tree. They do not begin to grow a stem for their first few years. It is believed that this is a form of protection from forest fires since the heat might pass over the small tree without killing it and leaving it without much competition[K]. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow under the trees[5]. The cones are 15 - 25cm long, they open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree[19][10]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[7]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[7]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[7]. This species is notably resistant to fusiform rust[11].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  4. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  7. 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

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩1↩2

  13. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  15. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  19. 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

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