Common Name: Chinese Red Pine

General Information

Pinus massoniana is an evergreen tree with a broadly pyramidal or umbrella-like crown; it can grow 18 - 45 metres tall. The cylindrical bole can be crooked, it is up to 150cm in diameter[, ].
This species is a very important source of timber and resin in China, both for domestic use and for international trade. The plant is also often used in traditional medicine.
Despite the fact that one of its two varieties has been assessed as Critically Endangered, the species as a whole, remains common and widespread. 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

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Range

E. Asia - central and southern China from Shaanxi to Jiangsu, south to Hainan.

Habitat

Mixed forests from moist river valleys to montane regions, often on poorer acidic soils of mountain slopes and ridges, also invading abandoned agricultural fields or growing in secondary vegetation in forest clearings; to elevations of 2,000 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus massoniana is found in the warm temperate zone of central to southern China and at elevations from near sea level to 2,000 metres, so it experiences a variety of climatic conditions. It is a moderately cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -15°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[, ]. Avoids limestone formations in the wild[]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Established plants tolerate drought[].
A fast-growing tree wen young.
This species is a very important source of timber, pulp, resin and various other products in temperate China, where it is widely grown in plantations[, , ].
China is now the world's leading producer of gum resin, both for domestic consumption and export, and this species is the major provider of the resin, supplying 95% of China's oleoresin and employing 200,000 workers[].
The ovoid, conical-ovoid, or ovoid-cylindric seed cones are 25 - 70mm × 25 - 50mm; taking two growing seasons to reach maturity[].
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

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

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)[].
Seeds narrowly ovoid, 4 - 6mm long[266[.

Medicinal

An oil is extracted from the needles, and this and other parts of the tree are extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine[].
The chopped or decocted leaves are used in the treatment of rheumatism and intestinal parasites[].

The pollen is cardiac and astringent[].

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 wood of the stems is carminative and demulcent[].

The stem bark is astringent, parasiticide and vulnerary[].

The root bark is astringent and tonic[].

Agroforestry Uses:

An important tree for afforestation in southern China[]. It readily invades open spaces and so can be used as a pioneer for establishing native woodland;K].
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 tree is an excellent source of resin. The pine resin obtained from this species forms the basis for a variety of chemical products, the so-called naval stores industry[].
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[].

An oil is extracted from the needles and is extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine[].

The heartwood is yellow-brown and distinct from the sapwood. The wood is straight-grained, light in weight, durable in water but easily attacked by termites and insects on land. Of good quality, it is used for construction, underwater construction, mining poles, boxes, furniture, cooperage, tool handles, wood carving, musical instruments etc, as well as providing material for the pulp and wood fibre industries[, , ]
Natural stands, especially of old growth, provide most of the sawn timber, while fast growing plantations are mostly converted into pulpwood[].

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[].