Common Name: Western White Pine

General Information

Pinus monticola is an evergreen tree with a narrowly conical crown that becomes broad and flattened with age; it can grow up to 70 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 250cm in diameter[].
The tree has a range of traditional uses, being harvested from the wild for use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It has been widely exploited from the wild as a commercial source of timber.
Pinus monticola has a very wide range, but there are estimates of substantial reductions in regeneration in at least one major area (of more than 44% between 1941 and 1979) due to competition and pine blister rust. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' 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

Western N. America, British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, California, Nevada.

Habitat

Mountain moist forests, lowland fog forests, occasionally in pure stands; at elevations up to 3,000 metres[, , ]. Found on a variety of soils, though the best specimens are growing in deep, well-drained, moisture-retentive soils[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	50.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus monticola is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -30°c when fully dormant[]. There are two major climate response ecotypes in Pinus monticola, found in trees respectively north and south of an abrupt transition zone in the southern Oregon Cascades. Trees south of this line experience warmer, drier summers, have lower tolerance for low temperatures, and have lower growth potential (there is also a gradient in cold tolerance from maritime to continental sites)[].
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[].
A fast growing tree, capable of sustaining growth of 75cm per year over a long period of time even when in an unfavourable site[].
This species establishes very well on severely altered sites such as after a forest fire[]. Trees on a site 300m above sea level in N. Wales have grown exceptionally well[]. Girth increases of up to 4cm a year have been recorded[].
Trees take 30 - 40 years before they produce reliable crops of seeds[]. Good crops are produced every 2 - 4 years in the wild, with little seed in the intervening years[].
The seed cones are 12 - 27cm long and take 2 years to mature[, ], they open and shed their seed in late summer and early autumn whilst still attached to the tree, falling soon after[, , ].
This species is the State Tree of Idaho[].
The plant is very susceptible to 'white pine blister rust' this tree should not be planted near Ribes species (currants and gooseberries) because they can transmit the rust(1, , 120).
Most of the older trees in Europe have been killed by the rust. However, it seems that infection only occurs when the trees are young in this country and new plantings in areas isolated from species of Ribes are being made[].
Plants are also subject to damage by aphis.
Trees have a thin bark, which makes them susceptible to forest fires[].
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[, ]. The oil-rich seed has a resinous flavour. Rather small, the seed is only 5mm long[]. The seed is up to 9mm long[, ].

An edible gummy exudation from the stem is used as a chewing gum[].

Inner bark - raw or cooked[, ]. The inner bark can be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread[].

The roasted young cones can be eaten[].

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[].

An infusion of the bark has been used as a blood purifier and in the treatment of stomach disorders and tuberculosis[].
A decoction of the bark has been used as a wash on cuts and sores[].

A decoction of the young shoots has been used as a soak in the treatment of rheumatism[].

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[].

Wood - straight and close-grained, soft, light in weight, not strong, very durable, resistant to shrinking and warping. An important, high quality timber, it is used in making doors, window frames, shelves, flooring, interior construction, furniture, plywood etc[, , , , , ]. The wood has dark knots, making it attractive for panelling[]. Matches and toothpicks are a major product obtained from the wood of smaller trees that are produced in secondary growth forests[].

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[].