Common Name: Lace-Bark Pine

General Information

Pinus bungeana is an evergreen tree with a broadly pyramidal or umbrella-like crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 300cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is a decorative tree, valued for its colourful, patterned bark, and it is commonly cultivated, especially in China, as an amenity tree[].
Pinus bungeana has a wide range and grows at higher elevations. In addition, most exploitation for its wood tends to be very local). There do not appear to be any concerns about this species and it is 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

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Range

E. Asia - central China (Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan).

Habitat

Scattered in mixed mountain forestss, often on limestone rocks and on south-facing slopes, also common on acid soils in the northern part of its range; at elevations from 500 - 2,150 metres[]. Mud and sandstone shales, 1,000 - 1,250 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus bungeana is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -25°c when fully dormant[].
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[, ]. Prefers a deep loamy soil[]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Established plants tolerate drought, succeeding in hot dry sites[].
A very ornamental tree with beautiful bark.
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
Seed cones solitary, shortly pedunculate or subsessile, usually pale green, yellowish brown at maturity, ovoid or conical-ovoid, 5 - 7cm × 4 - 6cm[]
This is one of several species of pine that have a mutualistic relationship with species of birds in the family Corvidae (in this case Jays and Nutcrackers) 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[].
This species is slow growing and hard to establish in Britain, doing best in the mild areas of the country[, ].
Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby inhibiting the growth of other plants below the tree[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, ]. A reasonable size, being up to 10mm x 8mm[]. The oil-rich seed has a resinous flavour.

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

Medicinal

The seeds are used to treat respiratory complaints[].

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[].

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[].

An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

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[]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[, ]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[].
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 locally a source for roundwood such as poles as well as construction timber, fences and gates, and utilities such as boxes, crates and pallets, while more refined applications are in furniture and veneers[].

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[].