Pine tree. Pine plant: photos, types, cultivation, planting and care in open ground

Today, many people have the idea of planting coniferous trees at home. Decorative foliage plants are a wonderful interior decoration, but they cannot compare with the charming Italian pine. It can be seen on sale under the name pine. It is found in flower shops all year round, but it is best to purchase and plant it in early spring.

Growing in nature

Italian pine is found in the Canary Islands. A very impressive young tree has a pyramidal shape. With age, the crown branches out. Due to powerful branches, the crown of the umbrella is formed. When grown at home, gardeners often use this feature to create an amazing bonsai garden, unique and inimitable.

In its homeland, Italian pine reaches enormous sizes, up to 20 meters in height. In pots this plant is usually no more than one and a half meters high, but it is not suitable for a small room. But in the large hall it will look simply magical. Its bark has a reddish-gray tint, which gives the pine a very decorative appearance. The needles of young trees are soft and silver-green. The length of each needle is about 10-12 cm. Over time, it becomes stiffer and darker. In nature, Italian pine periodically sheds its needles, which then cover the ground around the tree like a carpet. At home, old needles are cut off independently, which stimulates the growth of fresh ones.

Why pine tree

Indeed, there are so many in nature that it’s simply dizzying. In addition, decorative varieties and hybrids have been bred today. But among them, Italian pine occupies a special place. A distinctive feature is an unforgettable pine aroma, surprisingly persistent. Many people grow pine trees in the garden in the summer and bring them to an insulated loggia in the winter. By Christmas, you'll have your own "tree" at home to decorate. This tradition allows us to preserve Christmas trees in wildlife.

Description of the species

Let's take a closer look at what Italian pine (pine) is. The tree is low-branched, highly cleared of branches, with a beautiful crown. The trunks are covered with grooved bark, which is separated by large plates, strongly curved. Young shoots are usually gray-green or light yellow, densely covered with needles. The buds at the ends are quite showy and non-resinous. The length of the needles is 10-15 cm, green or bluish. Mature female cones are single, symmetrical. The scutes of scales are curved, thick, and hide edible seeds, which we call nuts. It is from them that a new tree can be grown.

View properties

Italian pine, or pine, is a resident of the Mediterranean, so it can withstand frost with difficulty. In central Russia and the south of Russia it can grow in open ground (where frosts do not exceed -20), but in Siberia it will not survive. Here gardeners usually plant it in tubs so that with the onset of autumn they can take it to a warmer room. Prefers dry and loose soils, mostly sandy. The breed is light-loving and drought-resistant, undemanding to growing conditions, except that it does not tolerate waterlogging. The tree produces large seeds that resemble kernels. They are considered a delicacy and are regularly used as food. The beneficial properties are not inferior to the fruits of Siberian cedar. This is a longevity product.

Sapling or seeds?

It is most convenient to use a five-year-old seedling of the species you like. In this case, you get a fully grown plant that can be placed in your summer cottage. However, many are not interested in how to buy a ready-made seedling, but how to grow it. Italian pine (pinia) takes a long time to grow, be patient. Growing a tree from cones is a very interesting process; this technology is of great importance for the restoration of coniferous forests, and not just for decorating private gardens.

Selecting seed material

We will talk in detail about how to plant Italian pine seeds. First of all, you will need a mature bud. To do this, she will have to live on a tree for three years. After this, its scales open and expose the seeds. It is now that the finished cone falls to the ground, where it can be collected and used to grow a new plant. Each such house contains about 10 seeds. The optimal time for harvesting is the end of October.

Having brought it home, it needs to be placed in a warm place, on the stove or near the radiator. After a couple of days, the cone will open and allow you to collect the seeds. In nature, they undergo natural stratification. The cone lies under the snow all winter, and with the onset of spring, the seeds are saturated with moisture and germinate. This needs to be repeated at home. To do this, place the seeds on the sand, lightly moisten them, cover them with snow and put them on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

With the coming of spring

Now the seeds can be placed in planting boxes. They need to be filled with light peat soil (one part each of turf, peat and sand), which will definitely need to be calcined in the oven. After the soil is prepared, seeds are sown at a depth of 2-3 cm. Water well and cover with glass. After the emergence of seedlings, the covering material must be removed and the box moved to a sunny place. For prevention purposes, seedlings are sprayed with a fungicide solution. At the beginning of summer, they can be planted in open ground or a tub if climatic conditions do not allow for cultivation on the site.

Plant care

Now you have a young Italian pine (pine) growing. Growing features require regular replanting, approximately once every five years. By this age they reach a height of about half a meter. It must be remembered that young pines need to be covered with spruce branches for the winter. In the warm season, you will need to feed the seedlings 2-3 times. To do this, you need to use mineral mixtures for coniferous trees. But it’s better to be careful with organic matter; pine trees don’t like oily soils. If these conditions are met, you can get a sufficient number of seedlings to decorate your garden plot from one cone.

By about 7 years the plant acquires a crown, and by 20 the tree is covered with branches almost to the ground. By the age of 30, the lower branches begin to die off, and the crown takes on an ovoid shape. By this time, the maturation process is almost complete, although growth will continue.

Pine tree in the winter garden

According to reviews from those who have the described tree on their property, this is one of the few pine trees that easily tolerates home maintenance. Moreover, its condition and shape will be satisfactory if the tree is in the fresh air during the growth period. And in winter it is best to keep it in a cool place where growth stops.

The soil should be light, a mixture of granules and sand, as well as gravel. The soil must be replaced every 2-3 years. Young plants require moderate watering, and in winter the substrate can be kept temporarily dry.

Crown formation

What do you need to do to grow a beautiful and strong Italian pine (pine)? The use of modern synthetic fertilizers is not encouraged; forest humus will be sufficient. This variety of pine is great for creating a flat, wide canopy, but other styles can be implemented if desired. The final height should be maintained at up to one and a half meters. Young shoots are shortened and shaped using wire. This must be done while the branches are young and flexible, that is, before they reach three years of age. In those places where the wire passes, it is necessary to remove the needles. Make sure that it does not fit tightly to the branches, otherwise it may grow into the bark.

Delicious nuts

In addition to its decorative function, you can count on the fact that from about 12 years of age the pine tree will begin to bear fruit. One tree produces an average of 45 cones. A large plant can produce approximately 7-9 kilograms of edible seeds. Many Italian dishes use the delicious pine nut. Italian pine is a very fertile plant. If there are several trees growing on the site, then you will be provided with a wonderful food supplement. The calorie content is quite high, about 630 kcal per 100 g of product. Nuts are rich in microelements such as vitamins B, E and C, as well as phosphorus and magnesium, zinc and potassium, manganese and iron.

Beneficial features

To date, they have not been fully studied, but it is well known that Italian pine nuts perfectly heal wounds and help cope with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Regular consumption of pine fruits helps strengthen the immune system and has a mild diuretic effect, improves the functioning of the kidneys and liver, stimulates potency, and helps normalize heart function.

Italian pine- or, pine. Coniferous evergreen plant of the Pine family.

origin of name

Pinia - comes from the Latin word “pinus”, which literally translates as “pine”, Italian - from the place of its original growth area, from Madera to the Black Sea coast.

Description

During its 400-500 years of life, pine grows up to 30-40 meters and its straight, even trunk is crowned with a crown in the form of a tent or a huge umbrella - this is the most recognizable pine. In mature trees, the branches grow almost horizontally; they contain needles, up to 12-15 cm long, collected in a bunch of two needles, bright green, which do not change color throughout the year. It gained its popularity not only for its decorative appearance, but, first of all, for its fruit-nuts, which ripen in cones by the end of the third year. The cones, as a rule, grow one at a time, rarely 2-3 together, reach 15 cm and have an ellipsoidal or almost round shape. Inside the cones are seeds, which, after ripening, fall from the open cones in the spring, and the open cones themselves can remain on the tree for another 2-3 years. The seeds, up to 17 mm in size, are brown, edible and have been highly valued since ancient times, even when Roman legionnaires took these nutritious oblong-shaped seeds with them on the road. Pinia seeds - quills, are considered the largest among all coniferous plants, so they are 4 times larger than cedar seeds, and the yield is up to 8 tons per hectare of industrial plantings of Pinia, while 1 kg contains up to 1450-1500 seeds.

Reproduction

Pinia propagates by seeds. This is a very labor-intensive process, since the quills are first subjected to three months of stratification and then planted in specially prepared soil. Young seedlings are very delicate and whimsical, so they often die if they do not receive proper attention and care.

Growing conditions

Since the birthplace of its growth is the Mediterranean coast, it prefers sandy soils and the humid climate of the subtropics, but due to its hardiness and adaptability, it is able to grow on different soils, including dry limestone. Like all conifers, the tree is strong and resilient even in adulthood. Tolerates direct sunlight, moderate drought and short-term temperature drops to minus levels - -18oC. It is susceptible to diseases and pests, and therefore requires constant care and protection in industrial plantations. It grows well both in open ground in warm climates and in tubs outside in the summer in cooler climates, where it is brought indoors for the winter. In its youth it has a cone-shaped crown and is therefore considered a highly ornamental plant, recently used in greenhouses and winter gardens.

Application

It has been known in culture for more than 2000 years, it has been used by people since ancient times, as the Etruscans grew Pine in their gardens, now it is widely used in landscape design, and at a young age in the art of bonsai. Like any coniferous plant, it has many beneficial properties for humans. The most important thing is its seeds, which are eaten both raw and in culinary production, in particular in the preparation of pesto sauce, in Spanish and Italian cuisine when preparing meat and delicacies. The second most important thing is its aroma, which is exuded by the resin and bark of the tree, which is bactericidal and kills pathogenic bacteria. In Italy and Spain, industrial plantations are used to extract raw materials from which high-quality wood for the furniture industry, rosin, and turpentine are produced.

The well-known fairy tale by A. Tolstoy “Pinocchio” is a retelling of the Italian fairy tale about Pinocchio, who was made by Carlo from a pine log. In the episode where Karabas Barabas's beard sticks to a resinous tree, it is about Pinya, and the cones that Pinocchio threw at him were from this tree. The famous Italians Botticelli and Boccaccio depict and describe Pina in their artistic and literary works (Botticelli’s illustrations for Boccaccio’s “Decameron”).

These nuts are the seeds obtained from the Italian pine tree.

They are located in cones growing on a tree. As a rule, cones are located on the branches in clusters. One brush can include from 1 to 3 cones. The ripening of cones occurs only in the third year after their appearance, and in mid-autumn.

With the onset of spring, the seeds begin to fall out. The optimal time for harvesting is the end of October or the beginning of November, depending on the region.

The seeds are characterized by an oblong shape and oval outline. Their color is dark brown, but there are small spots of light color. The shell is more durable when compared to pine nuts. Therefore, pine trees are processed (peeled) with hand nut crackers or industrial rollers. The side of the nut has about three sides. A ripe seed is about 1.5 centimeters long. The taste is delicate with notes of resin, similar to the nuts of Siberian pine trees.

It is worth noting that pine seeds are the largest known seeds in the pine family. Only edible nuts are taken into account.

Another distinctive feature is its excellent yield. From 1 hectare of forest of mature trees you can collect from 3 to 8 tons of seeds. The life cycle of Italian pine is over 500 years. Every year there is a harvest.

Where does it grow

On the Mediterranean coast, in Asia Minor, as well as on the Iberian Peninsula, you can often find wild pine. And the tree is cultivated in the Crimea and the Caucasus.

The world leaders in the cultivation and export of these nuts are Italians, Turks, Spaniards, Portuguese and Tunisians.

How to choose and where to store

If you decide to purchase pine seeds, then look exclusively for unshelled nuts. This is due to the fact that in this state they can be stored much longer than in their purified form. At the same time, the beneficial properties are preserved.

If the shell is removed, after about 15 days the seeds will lose their taste and the beneficial properties will become much less. This phenomenon is associated with the oxidation of fats that make up the nut. As a result, the seeds become bitter and tasteless.

Do not forget about another important property of pine nuts - they absorb foreign odors. But if you bought peeled seeds, you can prolong their freshness at home. To do this, place them in the freezer.

Nutritional value and calorie content

As studies of pine have shown, its nuts are not only tasty and aromatic, but also have components beneficial to humans.

Per 100 grams of product there are:

There is also a component such as ash weighing 2.4 grams.

Chemical composition

As for chemical elements, pine nuts are rich in vitamins and microelements, such as:

Vitamins: B, E, C.
Phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, iron.

Beneficial and healing characteristics

In fact, all the beneficial properties of pine have not been fully studied. But today we can identify a lot of ways to use Italian pine nuts to benefit people and their health.

Harm and contraindications

Of course, you need to take advantage of some foods wisely. In addition, do not forget that each organism is special, which means it can react differently to certain components.

As for pine, its nuts have certain contraindications:

They should not be used if there is an individual intolerance;
Not recommended for obesity;
They should not be given to small children (due to the risk of small nuts blocking the airways);
If consumed excessively, hearing may be impaired (nut components cause irritation of the mucous membranes and receptors). But after a few days it goes away on its own.

So be careful and benefit the right way.

Oil

The oil obtained from these nuts comes in different varieties. Depending on this, it is used as technical or edible oil.

Thus, refined edible oil is characterized by a light yellow tint and a pleasant taste. There is practically no smell.

As for the technical stuff, it is added to the composition of paints and varnishes.

If we talk about essential oils, which are also obtained from the seeds of Italian pine, then their properties are similar to the essential oils of other conifers. This tells us that it has an antiseptic, bactericidal, deodorizing effect.

Application

In cooking

Despite the fairly wide distribution of these nuts throughout the world, they have found the most active use from a culinary point of view in France, as well as in Italy.

The kernels are crushed or added whole to salads. A variety of baked goods, cookies, and confectionery products with the addition of seeds are also very popular.

The nuts are also finely ground, which makes it possible to obtain one of the best seasonings for marinating meat. Use only for red meat.

We bring to your attention a couple of recipes that are incredibly popular among the French and Italians. Try making these dishes at home. You will certainly pleasantly surprise your guests and household members.

Pumpkin in Italian

To prepare it, you will need the following set of ingredients:

Pumpkin - 0.8 kg;
Beef - 0.5 kg;
Carrots - 0.2 kg;
Red onion - 1 piece;
Pork - 0.5 kg;
Cherry - 0.2 kg;
Butter - 0.1 kg;
Arugula - 0.1 kg;
Pine - 0.1 kg;
Sauerkraut - 0.3 kg;
Paprika pepper - 1 piece;
Seasonings to taste.

Preparation

Cut the pumpkin fruit and remove the contents. Cut the meat into small pieces and fry. Coarsely chop the onion and place it in the pan with the meat. Coarsely chop carrots and throw them into the meat. Simmer the ingredients for about 10 minutes. Mix the meat with cabbage, cherry tomatoes and sweet peppers, do not forget to add butter at this stage. Mix the ingredients and place in the peeled pumpkin. Cover it with foil and place in the oven for 60-90 minutes. The temperature should be about 180 degrees. Eat!

By the way, it is not necessary to use carrots, since the taste of the pumpkin itself perfectly compensates for it.

Salmon with cheese and vegetables

If you are a fan of red fish, then this recipe is definitely for you. Tasty, tender, healthy.

To prepare you will need the following set of ingredients:

Eggplants - 0.6 kg;
Carrots - 0.6 kg;
Zucchini - 0.6 kg;
Root celery - 80 grams;
Fresh basil - 50 grams;
Thyme - 20 grams;
Breadcrumbs;
Parmesan - 0.16 kg;
Ground hot pepper, salt - to taste;
Butter - 80 grams;
Olive oil - 240 ml;
Salmon - 1 kg;
Pine nuts 60 grams.

Preparation

Make thick slices of fish fillet, or you can cut it however you like. Fry it in olive oil;
Mix butter with breadcrumbs in one container, add grated cheese;
Brush the fried fish in the mixture;
Place the fish in the oven, preheated to 160 degrees. Bake until fish is golden brown;
Make the sauce. To do this, take 100 milliliters of olive oil, finely chopped basil, nuts, hot pepper and salt to your personal taste. Mix (you can use a blender);
Cut all the vegetables into strips or cubes, fry in oil (for a richer taste, squeeze a couple of cloves of garlic into the oil, add thyme and your favorite spices to taste);
Serve and serve.

The recipes, as you can see, are quite simple. At the same time, the dishes turn out incredibly tasty, light and healthy. You should definitely try them.

In medicine

Since they contain an impressive amount of vitamins, microelements, and proteins, this makes nuts extremely useful in the treatment of anemia and vitamin deficiency. They also help improve the tone of the whole body and promote recovery from injuries and illnesses.

When coughing, take mint (150 grams), pineoli (pine seeds) and nettle seeds - 30 grams each. Pour in 100 milliliters of linseed oil and also add hot pepper. Mix with honey and consume in small portions.
If potency weakens, you can mix pineoli, almonds and honey, and consume this mixture for three days in a row before bed. This will allow you to be at your best in bed on the fourth night. This recipe was developed by the ancient Greeks.
The Arabs have their own recipe that works on men in a similar way. Their healers advise eating 100 pine seeds and 12 almonds every evening for three days. By the fourth night you will be in great shape.

Growing

Having at least one Italian pine tree on your property is not only useful, but also very beautiful. Any beginning gardener can grow it. This is because the plant is unpretentious and does not require special care.

Please note that young seedlings often become infected with all sorts of diseases. This is fine.

Prepare more seedlings, since only the strongest seedlings will ultimately allow the tree to grow.

Place the boxes in the sun and water regularly, especially during drought. Don’t forget about weeding and using ready-made fertilizers.

After about six months, the stem can reach 7-10 centimeters. In winter they are left in a box, but not stored in greenhouse conditions. This will allow you to adapt to the cold.

With the onset of spring, you can transplant the seedlings into the ground (not to a permanent place). Be careful with the roots, don't damage them. Planting is carried out at a distance of 10-20 centimeters between seedlings. The planting is shallow, almost like in boxes. Sawdust sprinkled on the soil will help protect plants from weeds.

Periodically, do not forget to add fertilizer, water and weed. Such manipulations will have to be carried out for the first couple of years. Around the third year of life, the tree can grow to more than 0.5 meters. This indicates that it is time for the tree to move to its permanent place. Plant together with soil that has stuck to the roots.

The simplest care and periodic watering will allow you to grow a huge pine tree, the smell and appearance will be enjoyed by you, your children, grandchildren and many generations after them.

A few facts about bud ripening

They ripen in the third year after their appearance on the tree;
They are revealed only in the spring of the next year;
The tree produces the most abundant harvest once every 3-4 years;
One mature tree has an average of 45 cones;
From one tree you can collect approximately 7-9 kilograms of nuts (seeds);
Pine begins to bear fruit at the age of 12;
The Italian name for the seeds is pineoli.

There are some pretty interesting facts that are associated with Italian pine.

This tree has a very close relative in Siberia - the Siberian pine.
Pinocchio was made from Italian pine.
The composition, properties and appearance of seeds obtained from pine nuts are almost similar to pine nuts, but pine nuts are several times larger.
In ancient Rome, these nuts were used as a powerful aphrodisiac.
The seeds were cheap and were an analogue of sunflower seeds for our time.
They were often found in ruins, amphorae, and on the territory of legionnaire camps in provinces where pine did not grow.
The ancient Romans always took pineoli with them when going to battle. With their help, they restored strength and also satisfied their hunger.

Evergreen coniferous plants, the appearance of which varies from dwarf shrubs to forest trees up to 75 m high. Most species have a height of 15-50 m and a trunk diameter of up to 2 m. Pines reach such dimensions - depending on the type and conditions - at the age of 70 -100 years. In young trees the crown is conical, while in mature trees it is flattened, although it can remain quite dense and compact. There are many dwarf or slow-growing forms that look good in rock gardens or extensive landscape compositions.

Some pines are used as ornamental trees, others, especially Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), as windbreaks. Long prickly needles are collected in bunches of two, three or five pieces (two-, three- and five-needle types) at the ends of shortened shoots and are surrounded by a sheath of brownish scales. In many cases the bark and/or pine cones are quite picturesque.

Male and female cones are formed on the same plant in groups, usually in the spring, and only in P. montezumae (S. Montezuma) in the summer. Male cones are 1.5-5 cm long, vaguely similar to catkins of deciduous trees and are located at the base of a young shoot, and female cones, usually the size of a pea, are at its top. The seeds ripen approximately two years after pollination.

Ripe cones are spherical, conical or even banana-shaped. Typically, their scales split apart in dry, sunny weather, releasing winged seeds carried by the wind. For some species, this requires intense heat during forest fires, which regularly break out in their natural habitat.

Most pine trees prefer acidic soils and dry locations; some tolerate thin, infertile or waterlogged soil well. All of them are common in the temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern Hemisphere - up to Central America and Indonesia. Only P. merkusii (S. Merkuza) comes south of the equator. Of the pines discussed below, some (for example, pine) can only be grown in the extreme south of Russia. A number of others are not suitable for standard garden plots due to their too large size.

Вungeana (S. Bunge)

This large, slow-growing pine, on trunks that have reached a diameter of 10 cm, begins to beautifully peel off the top layer of bark, leaving gray-green and creamy white spots. In mature pines, numerous branches extending from a height of about 2 m form a broadly conical crown. Hard, sharp needles 7.5 cm long are collected in sparse bunches. When rubbed they smell like turpentine. Male cones are yellow. Women's are green first; as they mature, they become yellow-brown and, finally, reddish-brown, ovoid, sessile, 7 cm long. Their scales are spinous. The species grows well on dry rocky soil. Resistant down to -35°C. The height and diameter of the plant is 2x1 m (10 years). Maximum dimensions - 20x4 m.

Сembra (S. European cedar)

This tree has a compact, strict shape: the crown is narrowly conical to pyramidal. The species is cold-resistant, withstands frosts down to -40°C. Glossy dark green on the convex side and gray-blue on the flat side needles 5-9 cm long. Male cones are purple, and female cones are red, turning purple as they mature and finally becoming chestnut, broadly ovate, 7.5 cm long. The scales diverge weak. This species is too large for most gardens. The height and diameter of the plant is 1.5x1 m (10 years). Maximum dimensions are 20x2.4 m.

Сoulteri (S. Coulter)

This large California tree grows slowly in damp climates and has difficulty taking root and reproducing. The habit is often bushy, although some specimens are tall and slender, with a long, branching lower part of the trunks. The cones are the largest in pine trees: up to 30 cm long, up to 20 cm wide and weighing up to 3 kg. However, only about a dozen of them are formed over the entire life of a tree. They are ovoid, with a slightly curved axis. Each scale has a sharp spike at the end. The cones do not fall off or open for many years. The seeds are about 1.5 cm in diameter. Male and young female cones are formed in the upper part of the crown. The first are purple, the size of a thumb, and the second are red, the size of a walnut. The needles are gray-green, 30 cm long. Young shoots (up to 2 cm thick) have a picturesque grayish tint. A heat-loving tree, resistant to frosts not lower than -12″C. The height and diameter of the plant is 2x0.5 m (10 years). Maximum dimensions - 25x12 m.

P. densiflora "Umbraculifera" (S. dense-flowered)

A very slow growing, highly branching tree with a dense umbrella crown. Well suited for rock gardens, but with age it takes up a lot of space. The pinkish-orange young bark is gradually divided by cracks into red-gray plates. Thin bright green needles up to 5 cm long are directed towards the tips of the shoots. Male cones are yellow-brown, female cones are initially red, and when ripe they are pale brown, sessile, conical, about 4 cm long, often collected in groups of three or more. In the second summer they open, dispersing winged seeds. This species is resistant to -35 degrees Celsius. The height and diameter of the plant is 2x1 m (10 years). Maximum dimensions -4x6 m.

Нeldreichii var. leucodernis (S. Geldreich, S. bosnian whitebark)

A slow-growing pine with a narrow-conical crown and densely arranged, hard, dark green needles 8 cm long. Leafy shoots resemble dish brushes. Male cones are yellow, and female cones, growing in pairs, are first purple, then blue, yellow-brown and, finally, pale brown, ovoid, pointed. This species prefers dry gravelly soil and even tolerates chalky soil. Withstands frosts not lower than -29°C. The height and diameter of the plant is 2.4x2 m (10 years). Maximum: dimensions - 25x8 m.

"Compact Gem"

A very slowly growing compact shrub with a spherical shape, reaching its maximum size by the age of 40: a height of 1 m and a diameter of 50 cm. Recommended for rock gardens.

"Satelbt"

The steeply ascending branches of the variety form a narrow pyramidal crown with a maximum height and diameter of 15x3 m (50 years). The densely arranged needles adhere to the young shoots and then diverge, like those of a pipe cleaner.

"Schmidtii"

A very slow growing dwarf variety, reaching a height and diameter of 3 m only at 100 years of age. This compact, very bushy, dome-shaped shrub makes a great addition to a garden with dry or chalky soil.

R. montezumae (S. Montezuma)

This heat-loving species with a very spreading crown above a non-branching trunk is distinguished by its unusual, very long needles, at least 30 cm. For good growth and to achieve maximum dimensions, it requires windless conditions. Each thick, smooth-barked, chestnut-colored branch is densely covered with tufts of needles and resembles a wide chimney sweeper. The needles are serrated and rough to the touch. Male cones are purple, and female cones are first red, becoming blue-lilac as they mature, then red again and, finally, yellow-brown, prickly, 15 cm long. In young specimens these cones are single, in old ones they are collected in groups. Cultivated on the Black Sea coast. The height and diameter of the plant is 3x1.5 m (10 years). Maximum dimensions - 20x20 m.

P. mugo (S. mountain)

Groups of 2-3 bright red young female cones are the main decoration of this very cold-resistant, slow-growing species, forming large multi-stemmed bushes or, less commonly, low erect trees. Usually the stems first spread along the ground, and then sharply point upward, becoming clearly geniculate. Green male cones are often hidden among thick dark green needles 3-4 cm long. The needles are hard, curved, sometimes twisted. Blackish-brown female cones become yellow-brown when ripe. They are sessile, usually erect, ovoid, but strongly pointed, 6 cm long. Sometimes they are collected in groups of 3-4, but in young specimens they are always solitary. This undemanding species is well suited for landscaping hard-to-reach areas such as steep slopes, but until old age it looks rather sprawling. Tree-like form no higher than 9 m, with a dense crown 2-3 m in diameter. The species has proven itself well in the middle zone. The height and diameter of the bushy form is 1x1 m (10 years). Maximum dimensions - 3x9 m.

"Gnom"

A compact, dense plant with tightly packed, radiating pairs of dark green needles 4.5 cm long. The dome-shaped form, reached by 70 years (height and diameter 2 m), can later become conical.

"Humpy"

Compact variety suitable for growing in containers. At 40 years old, this variety has a conical habit with a height and diameter of 1 m. The needles are 1.5 cm long, and the winter buds are bright chestnut.

"Humpy"

"Mops"

Densely branched dwarf spherical shrub resembling the head of a pug. At 30 years old, its height and diameter are 1 m. This dwarf pine, suitable for any situation, pleases the eye in winter with its resinous brown buds.

"Ophir"

A low shrub with a flattened bulb-shaped crown and decorative golden-yellow winter needles. They are slightly twisted, 4-7 cm long, light green in summer. 10-year-old specimens have a height and diameter of 30x60 cm.

Var. pumilio

The dwarf, usually creeping variety reaches approximately 2 m in height and 3 m in diameter in 100 years. Bright purple female cones become dark brown when ripe. Unlike the original species, they are more spherical, only about 2.5 cm long. Very dark needles successfully set off the resinous, almost white winter buds.

"Winter Gold"

The variety has widely spread, twisted needles 7 cm long, with golden ends in winter. This is a loosely branched dwarf shrub, the height and diameter of which at 50 years rarely exceed 1x2 m. Its resinous winter buds, 1 cm long and 4 mm wide, look good.

P. parviflora (S. parviflora)

This pine makes a wonderful centerpiece for an expansive lawn with its abundant, soft, emerald-colored needles. They are 6 cm long, with a bright blue and white stripe on the flattened side. The needles in bunches diverge widely only at 4-5 years of age. Male cones are purple at first, while female cones are bright red. At the beginning of summer, through dense groups of dusty, already yellow-brown male cones, pale green, slightly rising candles of young shoots up to 18 cm long with purple female cones at the top by this time grow. The latter, when ripe, become emerald, ovoid, 3-4 cm long. The branches of this tree with short lateral branches diverge almost horizontally. The bark is smoother than that of other pines. Withstands frosts down to -29°C. The height and diameter of the plant is 3x2 m (10 years). Maximum dimensions - 15x10 m.

"Adcock's Dwarf"

Compact bush, not tree. It has a conical crown, reaching a height of 2.4 m with a diameter of 1.2 m by the age of 30. At the ends of its young shoots, dense bunches of grayish-green needles up to 2.5 cm long are formed.

F. glauca

The glaucous variety is smaller than the original species, but otherwise similar to it. At 50 years old, its height reaches 12 m. Needles of a more bluish tint densely cover the ends of the growing shoots. Young trees are conical, but with age their crown branches at the top, reaching a diameter of 3 m or even more.

P. patula (S. drooping, S. Mexican weeping)

This heat-loving species is afraid of winds and frosts. Hanging needles up to 30 cm long are collected on grayish shoots in bunches, usually three, sometimes 4-5. Weeping, brilliant emerald needles on long, spreading branches and often multi-stemmed growth make this a very picturesque species. Groups of five banana-shaped cones up to 9 cm long are evenly distributed along the branches. Tiny cones are noticeable on their large scales. Frost resistance - down to -17°C. The height and diameter of the plant is 2x0.5 m (10 years). Maximum dimensions are 20x9 m.

Pinea (Pinea, Italian Pine)

The powerful trunk, about 6 m high above, is divided into heavy, crooked and twisted branches, giving an umbrella-shaped crown with dense needles on thinner shoots. On the branches the bark is orange-brown, and on the trunk, which is usually slightly inclined, it is gray to black with deep cracks and evenly distributed rounded bumps. Hard and smooth gray-green needles 12 cm long are collected in pairs. Male cones are yellow, while female cones are green at first. The latter, when ripe, become round, 12 cm long, similar to glued handfuls of greenish-brown pebbles. The seeds (“nuts”) also resemble small smooth pebbles. Relatively thermophilic, tolerates temperatures not lower than -12°C. Cultivated on the Black Sea coast. The height and diameter of the plant is 2x2 m (10 years). Maximum dimensions - 10-15x10 m.

P. pumila "Glauca" (S. dwarf, Siberian pine)

This variety often lacks a main trunk. All branches with thick gray-blue needles are directed upward, while in the original species the lower ones spread and can take root, due to which the plant spreads widely. This very slow-growing pine has needles 10 cm long, dark green with a bluish-gray stripe on the flat side, collected in bunches of five, sometimes more. Only the red male bumps are noticeable. The female ones are initially lilac, and when mature they are dull brown, round, 3.5 cm in diameter. They are collected in fragile, easily falling bunches. The homeland of the original species is Chukotka, Kamchatka, Primorsky Krai. Winter hardiness is very high. The height and diameter of the plant is 1x1 m (10 years). Maximum dimensions - 2x6 m.

Syn: pinia pine, Italian pine.

Pine is an evergreen coniferous tree of the genus Pine (lat. Pínus) with a beautiful umbrella-shaped crown. From the 1st millennium BC. to this day, this tree is cultivated both for use in cooking nutritious nuts and for the use of various parts of the tree in folk medicine.

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In medicine

Pinia is not used in official medicine and is not included in the State Register of Medicines of the Russian Federation.

Contraindications and side effects

The use of any parts of the plant internally or externally is contraindicated for children, pregnant and lactating women, and persons with individual intolerance. In addition, consuming pine nuts is not recommended for obese people.

In cooking

Pine nuts, which Italians call “pineoli,” have been used as food since ancient times. Even the ancient Romans took them with them when going to battle to satisfy their hunger and restore strength.

In appearance and composition, pineoli resemble pine nuts, and in taste they even surpass them. Pine nuts are especially popular in Italian and French cuisine, used to make pesto sauce and also added to salads and pastries. A delicious seasoning for marinating red meat is made from ground kernels. The oil obtained from these seeds is also used in cooking. It has practically no smell, but has a pleasant taste.

In gardening

The Etruscans began growing pine trees at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. It was mainly planted along roads to create shade. The beautiful crown of the tree has contributed to its continued cultivation today; pine is grown in Africa, the USA, England, China, Japan, the Caucasus and Crimea.

Over time, this pine began to be used not only for decorating parks and bonsai art, but also for growing in private gardens. Gardeners order seeds of this exotic tree from Mediterranean countries.

Pinia loves light, tolerates drought well and is undemanding to the soil; it can even grow on limestone and sea sands. Another advantage is that the tree tolerates gusty winds and frosts down to -20 C°.

In other areas

Durable pine wood, containing a small amount of resin, is used to make parquet, furniture, window frames and stairs. Rosin is used for the protective coating of ship decks and hulls, and technical oil extracted from nuts is added to varnishes and paints. In ancient times, ink was made from the soot of pine wood and Arabian copper, and the nuts were considered a powerful aphrodisiac in Ancient Rome. As with any representative of the Pine genus, essential oil is obtained from pine.

Classification

Pinia is one of the many species of the genus Pine (lat. Pinus), the Pine family (lat. Pinaceae).

Botanical description

Pinia is an evergreen coniferous tree 20-30 m tall, with a dense dark green umbrella-shaped crown, with a round or semi-circular contour. The root system is well developed, branched, with a powerful tap root. The trunk of the tree is sparsely branched, curved, reddish-gray in maturity, reaching 1-1.5 m in diameter. The bark is thick, furrowed, highly flaky, the wood is grayish-yellowish or reddish, with a small amount of resin. Young shoots are bare, densely leafy, with scaly, jagged, sharply ovoid buds 6-12 mm long. The needles are narrow, dense, gray or dark green, 10-15 cm in length, collected in bunches of two. Changes every 2-3 years. The needles are pointed, serrated at the edges, sometimes slightly twisted. The cones are single or in clusters of 2-3, ovoid, resinous, shiny, light brown, on short stalks. They reach a length of 8-15 cm. The scale shields are slightly pyramidal and curved, thick, with radial ribs forming a longitudinal keel. The seeds ripen in October in the third year after flowering, but the cones open until the end only next spring, and then hang for another 2-3 years. The seeds are large, elongated, ribbed, 1.5-2 cm long. The shell is dark brown, thick, durable, with the rudiment of a wing on the thickened part. The kernel is white, oily. Pine nuts are edible and are the largest seeds in the Pinaceae family. From one hectare they get 3-8 tons of seeds, 1 kg contains about 1500 pieces.

Spreading

The natural habitat of pine trees is the Mediterranean countries, from Asia Minor to the Iberian Peninsula. The tree is occasionally found in Germany and other Central European countries. Pinia prefers mild climates and dry, loose soils.

Procurement of raw materials

Pine nuts are usually harvested in October-November. For long-term storage, they should be left in the shell, since due to fat oxidation, shelled nuts lose their taste and beneficial properties after two weeks. It is recommended to store unpeeled seeds in a tightly closed glass container in a cool, dry place, and peeled seeds in the freezer. In this case, it is necessary to exclude their contact with products that have a pronounced odor. The shelf life of pine nuts is up to 1 year.

Chemical composition

In addition to proteins, fats and carbohydrates, pine nuts are rich in vitamins B, C, E, K1, as well as phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, and iron. The oil of these seeds contains oleic, linoleic, palmitic and stearic acids.

Pharmacological properties

Despite the fact that pine is not included in the Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation, scientists do not deny its beneficial properties. Pine nuts contain a large number of different vitamins and microelements that affect the functioning of the whole body. Thus, linoleic acid can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, folic acid helps the liver, and potassium is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and regulates water balance.
In addition, pine, like other representatives of the Pine family, saturates the air with phytoncides and ethereal vapors of pine needles, and the oils obtained from its nuts have not only a deodorizing, but also an antiseptic effect.

Use in folk medicine

The first information about the beneficial properties of pine nuts dates back to the beginning of the 1st century. AD The Persian scientist, doctor and philosopher, known in the West as Avicenna, argued that eating nuts boiled in red wine helps cleanse the lungs of pus, treat coughs and otitis media. Amirdovlat Amasiatsi, an Armenian scientist and doctor of the 15th century, also wrote about their benefits. He recommended using the seeds for nervous tremors, cough and asthma, burning during urination, and bladder ulcers. Amasiatsi claimed that rinsing with a decoction of shells relieves toothache, and a decoction of pine needles helps with liver and stomach diseases.

It is believed that eating nuts is beneficial for stomach ulcers, diseases of the intestines, liver, kidneys, and heart. They are also recommended to be eaten to enhance potency, relieve chronic fatigue, and improve immunity. Crushed nuts are used to heal ulcers, wounds and burns; for this, the powder is applied to the affected area of the skin, and a gauze bandage is applied on top. An infusion of this powder is used for coughs, colds and for rinsing for gum diseases, and its steam is used for inhalation for bronchial diseases. Gum turpentine, obtained from pine, is used for rheumatism; for influenza and tuberculosis, it is used in steam baths or rubbed.

Historical reference

Pinia is one of the most popular plants in the world of art, Sandro Botticelli depicted it more than once on his canvases, composer Ottorino Respighi dedicated the symphonic poem “Pine of Rome” to it, images of the cones of this tree decorated the furniture of Mesopotamia, and a large bronze cone cast in the 9th century , stood in the Aachen Chapel. And it was from a log of pine that Pinocchio, the famous character from Carlo Collodi’s fairy tale, was made, named, in fact, in her honor.

Literature

1. Large encyclopedia in 62 volumes. Volume 36. "Terra". Moscow.

2. Klimenko Z.K. Exotic plants of the South Coast. - “Business-Inform”, 1999.

3. Chavchavadze, E. S., Yatsenko-Khmelevsky, A. A. Pine family (Pinaceae) // Plant life: in 6 volumes / ch. ed. Al. A. Fedorov. - M.: Education, 1978. - T. 4: Mosses. Moss mosses. Horsetails. Ferns. Gymnosperms / ed. I. V. Grushvitsky and S. G. Zhilin. - P. 350-374. - 447 p. - 300,000 copies.