Common Name: Spruce Pine

General Information

Pinus glabra is an evergreen tree with a conic to rounded crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The bole can be 100cm in diameter, it is usually straight, but is often bent and twisted on trees that have regenerated beneath a canopy[, ].
Although of good size, the wood of this species is not highly valued and only occasionally harvested.
Due to changes in land use, including forestry practices that favour other species of pine, it is likely that Pinus glabra has undergone some decline. The species is still widespread, however, and given its scattered occurrence in most localities is still relatively common. The plant 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

Range

Southeast N. America - South carolina, Georgia, northern Florida, Alabama, Missisippi, Louisiana

Habitat

Sandy alluvium and mesic woodland; at elevations up to 150 metres[]. Scattered in river valleys on banks of streams and in hummocks and swamps, growing in acidic sandy soils, often with a high water table[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus glabra is a plant of the warm temperate climate in the SE United States, where summers are long, hot and humid and winters mild. It is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -10°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[, ]. Young plants are more shade tolerant than most yellow pines, often growing in hardwood forests and even regenerating beneath a hardwood canopy[, ]. They need more light as they grow larger, however, and will not usually reach maturity unless the canopy opens for any reason[]. Usually found in the wild in acidic sandy soils, often with a high water table[]. Tolerant of seasonal inundation of the soil[].
The seed cones take two seasons to mature, shedding their seeds whilst still attached to the tree[].
Although the trees grow large, the wood is not much valued[].
Unlike most members of the genus, this specie is sensitive to fire, from which events it will not or only poorly recover through regeneration[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

The seeds of all Pinus species are more or less edible, and some are of good size and make very tasty and nutritious foods, often eaten in quantitiy. Others can be less desireable, either having a strongly resinous flavour, being bitter or, more commonly, rather too small and fiddly to make it very worthwhle even trying to eat them,
We have no specific information of the desireability of this species, though they are rather small (the size given includes the shell)[].
The seed is around 6mm long with a wing 12mm long[].

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

Medicinal

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[].

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 not highly valued[], though it is used for its lumber[]. Brittle and not durable[]. Due to radically different drying rates, spruce pine cannot be intermixed with other southern pine species in lumber manufacturing. It can be made into lumber, but it must be dried separately. It is often used for large timbers and beams[].

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[].