Common Name: Macedonian Pine

General Information

Pinus peuce is an evergreen tree with a densely-branched slenderly pyramidal crown; it can grow 35 - 40 metres tall. The straight bole can be 50 - 150cm in diameter[].
A valuable timber tree within its native range, where it is commonly harvested from the wild and increasingly from plantations. A valuable ornamental tree, it is very popular in Scandinavian parks and gardens, where it is known as 'Silkefyr' ['Silk pine'] from its silky foliage[].
Pinus peuce has a scattered distribution in the Balkans, with many subpopulations small and some very isolated, and it is considered to be severely fragmented. Extensive exploitation in the past has undoubtedly had an impact on its abundance but no details of a possible reduction are known for much of its range. 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

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Range

Southeast Europe - Serbia, Kosova, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece

Habitat

Mixed conifer forest, sometimes forming pure stands towards the south of its range, growing on a variety of soils, usually poor in nutrients and ranging from acid to basic; at elevations from 600 - 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus peuce is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -25°c when fully dormant[]
Prefers a sunny position, but this species is moderately shade tolerant[]. An undemanding species, it grows well on most soils[].
The cylindrical seed cones can be 5 - 20cm long. They take two growing seasons to mature before shedding their seeds and then falling from the tree[].
Inter-specific hybrids with other species in subsection Strobus have been tested in forestry nurseries for growth performance. Balkan Pine, in contrast with several other species, is resistant to the pathogenic fungus Cronartium ribicola (Basidiomycota) and hybrids may also become resistant to the disease[].
In horticulture the tree has long been used, being first introduced north of the Alps in Germany in 1863. It is mostly grown as a 'species tree' for large gardens and parks; only a limited number of cultivars, mostly producing dwarfed forms, is known[].
At higher elevations (over 1,800 metres) multitrunk trees are frequent, becoming predominant at the 2,200 metre treeline, indicating seed dispersal by birds (in this case the nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes), with trees germinating several together from unutilised seed caches[].
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 grey-brown, 7-8 mm[].

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[].

The resin is used in the optical instruments industry[].
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 light in weight, soft and durable. It is used in construction[]. The wood from trees growing in natural stands can be rather knotty and so is used mainly locally for purposes such as carpentry and furniture. However, trees are now being grown in plantations and, when these come of age to be harvested, this tendency will be reduced[].

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[].