Common Name: Chir Pine

General Information

Pinus roxburghii is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 55 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be over 100cm in diameter[]. In the driest parts of its native range the leaves are shed after 10 - 11 months, making it deciduous[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is an important source of resin and is extensively tapped for this commodity, especially in northwestern India[, , ]. The tree is also often exploited for its timber and is also grown as an ornamental. This species is uncommon in cultivation outside India and Pakistan, but has been introduced to South Africa as a forestry plantation tree. It is sometimes seen as an ornamental tree in countries around the Mediterranean Sea[].
Pinus roxburghii must have had a reduction in area of occupancy and numbers of mature trees in the past due to over-exploitation, but matters appear to have improved due to better management of the forests. If there is still decline, it is probably insufficient to seriously impact this common and widespread species. 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 - Himalayan regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China (Tibet), India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh

Habitat

Widespread and common in north-south oriented valleys, often forming extensive pure stands especially on dry, fire-prone slopes; at elevations from 400 - 2,700 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	40.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus roxburghii is restricted to the monsoon belt with summer rains[]. It is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -5°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[, ]. This species succeeds on calcareous soils[]. Found in the wild on a variety of substrates, from deep soil to bare rocks[]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Dislikes shade[]. Established plants tolerate drought[].
Mature trees are relatively fire resistant; regeneration after destructive fires can be massive and rapid when it acts as a pioneer species. In prolonged dry seasons it may drop most of its leaves[].
The ovoid seed cones are 10 - 20cm long and 6 - 9cm wide[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
This species is closely related to Pinus canariensis[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, , , , , ]. Not very nice, it has a strong flavour of turpentine[] and is only eaten as an emergency food[]. A reasonable size, the seed can be 8 - 12mm long[].

A sweet edible manna exudes from the bark and twigs[, ]. It is actually a gum[].

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[].

The resin is used for treating tumors and bleeding wounds. It is also useful for treating severe cough[].

Leaves and bark powder, used with cold water, are useful in the treament of dysentery[1731.

The wood is diaphoretic and stimulant[]. It is useful in treating burning of the body, cough, fainting and ulcers[].

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 needles are mixed with manure to serve as a traditional fertilizer for agriculture[].

The bark has a high tannin content (11-14%) and is used for tanning leather and for staining wood to give it an orange colour[].

A resin is obtained from the sapwood[, , ]. Trees are tapped for three years and then rested for three years[]. The yield is up to 5.5 kilos per tree[]. Artificial camphor is the main end product derived from resin of Pinus roxburgii in the region; it is also used for medicinal treatments[].
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 very resinous and can be splintered and used as a torch[].

A charcoal made from the leaves, mixed with rice water, is used as an ink[].

Smoke from the burning wood is used to repel the mosquitoes and other insects[]

The leaves and bark are used as house thatching[].

Wood - moderately hard. Used for construction, furniture making, shingles, boxes etc. It is useful in cold climates but is not resistant to white ants[, , ].
The wood is of importance for railway sleepers after treatment for preservation, and for construction, carpentry and joinery; it is also pulped for the paper industry[].
The seed cone burns well and is used for fuel purposes[].

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[].