Pinus wallichiana
Himalayan Blue Pine
a perennial woody evergreen 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.
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[8]. It has a very resinous flavour and so is not much relished[5]. The seed is quite small, to 7mm long[10]. The honeydew from aphid infested leaves is eaten as a manna[18][4][5]. Another report says that a manna-like substance that exudes from the leaves and twigs is eaten or used like honey[8]. 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
- Sap
- Product or use
- Manna
- 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]. The wood is diaphoretic and stimulant[13]. It is useful in treating burning of the body, cough, fainting and ulcers[13].
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Rubefacient
- Product or use
- Stimulant
- Product or use
- Vermifuge
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A commercial source of turpentine and tar. It is said to be superior to P. roxburghii but not produced so freely[19][4][5]. 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[19]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[15][19]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[19]. Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[19] and is separated by distillation[15][19]. 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. The leaves are used as a stuffing for pillows etc[5]. A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[6]. 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]. Wood - moderately hard, durable, highly resinous. Used in construction, carpentry etc[16][18][4][5][14]. A good firewood but it gives off a pungent resinous smoke[18]. The wood is rich in resin. It can be splintered and used as a torch[3][5].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Fuel
- Product or use
- Herbicide
- Product or use
- Lighting
- Product or use
- Pitch
- Product or use
- Stuffing
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Himalayas from Afghanistan to S.E. Tibet.
- Habitat
- The dominant species in drier areas, it is also found in secondary forest in wetter areas to 4300 metres[18].
- 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
- high wind, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- 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.
Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[1][2]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils or shade[1][2]. Established plants tolerate drought[10]. Prefers sandy or clay soils rather than limestone[4]. A very hardy but relatively short-lived tree in cultivation[2]. The Himalayan blue pine succeeds in exposed positions but it looks much better when grown in a sheltered position[2][21]. It is a very fast growing tree when young, with new shoots up to 1metre long per year[2] and 30 year old trees 20 metres tall. New growth takes place from April to mid-July[9]. Growth in height diminishes rapidly when trees are 25 metres tall, probably due to their dislike of exposure at that height[9]. Cultivated for timber in Italy[17]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[10]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[10]. Cones open and shed their seed whilst still on the tree[1]. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow under the trees[7]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[10].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00
Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00
Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945-00-00
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
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
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
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6
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
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00
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