Pine needles
Here you can find all you need to know about pines, pine needles properties and pine bark. Would you like a pine needles tea ? Read and discover why get one...
ETYMOLOGY
Pine derives from latin pinus and It is commonly used to define a genus of evergreen tree and shrubs belonging to the pinaceae family which belongs over 120 species of pines. By the Assyrians was considered the guardian of life.
TAXONOMY
We can divide pines into three subgenera, based on seed, leaf and cone:
- Pinus (about 75 species) We can find them in Europe, Asia, some species in North America and Cuba.
- Ducampopinus (about 20 species) They grow in Mexico, central Asia and southwest United States.
- Strobus (about 25 species) Spread in North and Central America, Europe and Asia.
DESCRIPTION
These trees are evergreen and resinous.
Growing range go from 3 meters to 80 meters tall, but most of species are tall between 15 and 45 meters. The bark is thick and scaly, but some of them have thin bark. Pines are long-lived trees that can reach the honorable age of 1'000 years. The most ancient pine human know is about 4'700 years old and He's located in North America.
Foliage: pine leaves have four growing steps
- Seed leaves, on new born plants produced until 6 months of life.
- Juvenile leaves, come on new plants, are produced after 6 months to 5 years of life. Leaves are 2-6 cm long, green or blue-green and spirally arranged.
- Scale leaves, arranged spirally like the juvenile leaves. They are small, brown and don't activate photosynthetic reaction.
- Needles, green and photosynthetic, grow on adult trees. We can identify pine species looking at their needles lenght, how they are bundled and cone diameter.
BOTANICAL USES
Resins are the most important products from conifers except for wood harvesting. Distillation of pine resins is used to produce turpentine, that is used as a solvent for artists painting. Turpentine made from Himalayan pines are rich of longifolene, that is used in perfumery for It's woody and ambra-like odor.
Bark extract can protect against cancer and other diseases
HEALTH EFFECT
Turpentine essence is use for a variety of therapeutic indications like bronchitis, rheumatism and skin complaints. Essential oil and derivates of pines are used for Mental and physical fatigue, Arthritis, Bronchitis, Cholelithiasis, Cystitis, Digestion, Disinfection of objects, Gonorrhea, Hyperhidrosis, Influenza, Injuries, Laryngitis, Leukorrhea, Menopause, Neuralgia, Pediculosis, Prostatitis, Pyelitis, Rheumatism, Rickets, Sinusitis, Sore throat, Tonsillitis, Urethritis, Vitiated air, Water retention, Asthma, Chlorosis, Cholecystitis, Circulatory failure, Cough, Cuts, Decreased sexual desire, Frigidity, Gastric pain, Gotta, Hepatitis, Impotence, Intestinal pain, Muscle pain, Nervous breakdown, Otitis, Pests of animals, Plugs of ear wax, Pneumonia, Scabies, Sprains, Stomach pain, Stress, Tracheitis, Wounds.
Pine needles contains hight concentrantion of vitamin C and many minerals. For pine needles tea preparation you can follow the usual procedure, put some pine needles into boiling water and let stand for some minutes. Filter before drinking.
Bark extract from maritime pine tree (growing in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal) contains natural substances called proanthocyanidins. Those substances are known as powerful antioxidant because they are able to block the action of free radicals that damage cells and so to prevent cancer. Other effect from pine bark extract are protection against arthritis, complications from diabetes, heart disease and varicose veins.
HOW GROW YOUR PINE
Would you like to try this green experience ? Just follow our steps to get your pine grow.
- For first, you have to choice the right seeds for germination. Find some pine seeds in the cones and put them into a container of fresh water. Slightly swirl water and seeds and wait some seconds. Remove the floating seeds and the others that are underwater are the most suitable for planting.
- If you want to plant outdoor your pine in spring, best at the end of march, you have to prepare your cultivation no later than decembrer. For your pine is suitable a square pot about three and half inches deep. Put the seeds vertically into the soil, keep watered and put the pot near a sunny window.
- After three months you should be able to see the small plants coming out the soil and plant them into a bigger pot. In next 2 years your pine can grow about 30 cm and after you can plant it directly in the ground.
