Common Name: Korean Nut Pine

General Information

Pinus koraiensis is an evergreen tree that usually grows up to 30 metres tall, exceptionally to 40 metres or more. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 150cm in diameter[].
The plant is widely harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials - the green cones are sold for making wine in local markets. It is a highly important timber tree, harvested in large quantities for commercial use of its good quality wood; the large seed is also harvested commercially and comprises the major source of pine nuts imported into Europe and America[]. The plant is also commonly grown as an ornamental, especially in China[].
Pinus koraiensis has a wide distribution but exploitation for its timber and edible seeds has resulted in forest degredation and a decline in its area of occupancy of up to 50% in some parts of its range. Despite the continuing exploitation, this species' large distribution and (still) large overall population size means that it does not yet meet the requirements for any of the threatened categories or those for Near Threatened. This situation may change within the next decade should current trends continue. The plant is currently classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

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

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East, northeast China, Japan, Korea

Habitat

Mixed coniferous and mixed conifer-deciduous forests on dry mountain slopes, especially those facing north; at elevations from 200 - 600 metres in the north of its range, ascending in more southerly latitudes from 500 - 2,500 metres[, , , ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus koraiensis is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to at least -35°c when fully dormant[]. The climate has a summer monsoon character within proximity of the coast, but with a strong continental influence further inland. Temperature extremes can range from plus 37°c to minus 45°c within its natural range[].
Pine species in general require a sunny position if they are to grow well and, whilst the different species have their own soil preferences, most will thrive in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[, ]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Established plants tolerate drought[]. This species prefers a cool moist climate[].
This species is sometimes cultivated for its edible seed, there are some named varieties[]. It is one of the main species utilized for its edible seeds[], being gathered from cultivated and wild trees. Large quantities of the seeds are exported as a food crop from northern China[].
The seed cones are 9 - 11cm long and 5 - 6cm wide. They take two growing seasons to mature and remain closed on the tree and even after falling from the tree.
This is one of several species of pine that depend upon a mutualistic relationship with a species of bird (in this case the Spotted Nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes) to disperse its seed. The birds have powerfull beaks which enable them to extricate the seeds and crack the shells. They store many of the seeds at some distance from the parent plant - some of these seeds never get eaten and can germinate and grow into new trees[].
Cultivated plants bear cones when they are 3.5 metres tall in Cornwall, southwest England[].
Trees are slow growing when young[, ]. Growth in the south-east of Britain is generally poor but trees in the west and north are healthy and growing well with average annual height increases of around 25cm and girth increases of 3cm or more[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked. Rich in oil[, , , , , , ]. A soft texture with a hint of resin in the flavour, it makes a delicious snack and can also be used as a staple food[]. The seed can also be dried and ground into a powder then used as a flavouring and thickener in soups etc[]. Fairly large, the seeds are up to16mm x 12mm[].

The seeds are rich in a vegetable oil with a high nutritive value, and this is used in the food processing industry[].

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

The pollen is used to flavour cookies in Korea[].

Immature female cones are used in making wine[].

Medicinal

The seed contains several medically active compounds and is analgesic, antibacterial and antiinflammatory[]. It is used in Korea in the treatment of earache, epistaxis and to promote milk flow in nursing mothers[].

Oil of turpentine, obtained from the oleo-resin of all pine trees, is antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, rubefacient, stimulant and vermifuge[, ]. 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[]. 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[].
Applied externally in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers, it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc[].

The stem bark is used in the treatment of burns and skin ailments[].

Agroforestry Uses:

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[].

Other Uses

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[].

The seeds are a source of oil used for making soap and lubricating oil[].

Extract of various parts of the plant, including the cones, seed shells and the seed oil are used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations as antioxidants, emollients, humectants, perfumes and skin conditioners[].

Tannin is obtained from the bark[].

Oleo-resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[, , , ].
Oil of Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[] and is separated by distillation[, ]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for thinning and dissolving varnish and paints, a shoe polish, medicinal etc[, ].
Rosin is also obtained by distillation of pine resin. This is used in paper glue and soap manufacturing, as a constituent of varnishes and paints, and for coating the bows of stringed musical instruments such as violins[, ].
Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc[].

The wood is light in weight, soft, straight grained and fairly decay resistant. Of good quality and easy to work with in milling and carpentry, it is used for purposes such as telephone poles, railway sleepers, wooden bridges, and boat building. In construction it provides building timbers as well as flooring, plywood and veneers. It can be chipped for particleboard or flakeboard manufacture, or pulped for the paper industry. More specialized uses are furniture, sports equipment and musical instruments[, , , ].

Propagation

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[]. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two[]. Plants have a very sparse root system and the sooner they are planted into their permanent positions the better they will grow[]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm[]. 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[]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[].
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[].