Pinus veitchii

Roezl.

Pinaceae Edible: Seeds Potential hazards — see below 58 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Evergreen tree growing to 25m at medium rate. Hardy to UK zone 8. Year-round leaves with flowers May to June; seeds ripen September to October. Monoecious, wind-pollinated, not self-fertile. Suitable for light sandy and medium loamy well-drained soils with poor nutrition tolerance. Mildly acid to neutral pH preferred. Full sun required. Tolerates both dry and moist soils, drought, and strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Description

Edible Uses

The seeds, which are rich in oil and have a slightly resinous flavour and soft texture, can be eaten raw, cooked, or ground into a powder. Each seed is about 12mm long and 10mm wide, with a harder shell than pinyon pine seeds. The inner bark can also be used — typically dried, ground into a powder, and added as a thickener to soups or mixed into cereals when making bread. A vanillin flavouring is additionally obtained as a by-product of resins released from the pulpwood.

Medicinal Uses

The turpentine obtained from the resin is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient, and vermifuge. Taken internally, it is a valuable remedy for kidney and bladder complaints; used as a rub or steam bath, it addresses rheumatic conditions. It is also beneficial to the respiratory system, helping with diseases of the mucous membranes and complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza, and TB. Externally, it treats skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, and boils, applied as liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths, and inhalers.

Known Hazards

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

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Central America, Mexico, North America,

Cultivation

Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils. Established plants tolerate drought. Fairly wind-resistant. Plants are likely to vary in hardiness according to provenance. A form of this tree was grown at Westonbirt Arboretum in the 19th century and this coned freely. Seed production in the wild consists of a cycle of one good year followed by several years of low crops. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby inhibiting the growth of other plants below the tree. The branches are very flexible. The cones open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus. Closely allied to P. strobiformis, and perhaps no more than a sub-species, differing mainly in its larger cones. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Sow seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe, or in late winter if not. A short stratification of 6 weeks at 4°C can improve germination of stored seed. Plant seedlings into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two. Because plants have a very sparse root system, early planting is important for good establishment. Trees should be planted out when quite small — between 30 and 90cm — though we typically plant them at around 5–10cm tall. A thorough weed-excluding mulch aids establishment well. Larger trees check badly and may put on little growth for several years, which also harms root development and wind resistance. Cuttings work only when taken from trees less than 10 years old. Use single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot; disbudding the shoots a few weeks before taking cuttings can help. Cuttings are normally slow to grow away.

Other Uses

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles. The needles release terpene when washed by rain, which negatively affects the germination of some plants, including wheat. Oleo-resins are present in all pine tissues but are often not commercially extracted; they are obtained by tapping the trunk or by destructive distillation of the wood, with trees from warmer areas generally yielding more. Turpentine makes up an average of 20% of the oleo-resin and is separated by distillation, with uses including as a solvent for waxes, in varnish, and medicinally. Rosin, the residue after turpentine removal, is used on violin bows and in sealing wax and varnish. Pitch from the resin is used for waterproofing and as a wood preservative. The wood is light, soft, and close-grained; it is occasionally made into lumber and used for general carpentry.