Common Name: Gray Pine

General Information

Pinus sabiniana is an evergreen tree with a conic to raggedly lobed, sparse crown; it can grow from 12 - 25 metres tall. The straight to crooked, often forked bole can be up to 120cm in diameter[].
The seeds are an important traditional food for native people and are harvested in quantitiy[]. The plant also has a range of traditional medicinal uses and is a source of other materials for local use. It has little value as a timber tree[].
Pius sabiiana is not exploited commercially at present and despite some localized threats from urban expansion, there is no evidence of decline in the global population. 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

South-western N. America - central California.

Habitat

Scattered singly or in small groups, growing in scrub or in open woodland on dry rocky hillsides; at elevations from 30 - 1,900 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 sabiniana is found at elevations up to 1,800 metres in the Mediterranean-type climate of central California, with its hot, dry summers and cool, moister winters. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 250 - 1,780mm. It is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures falling to around -5 and -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[, ]. This species succeeds in a heavy clay soil[]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils and shade[, ]. Established plants tolerate drought[].
The tree is cultivated on a small scale for timber in Europe[].
Pinus sabiniana thrives in Britain[]. It is fast growing when young with annual height increases of 60cm not uncommon, but the trees are normally short-lived in cultivation[]. An open, round-topped tree, remarkable for the sparseness of its foliage[].
The ovoid to ovoid-cylindrical seed cones are 15 - 25cm long, taking two growing seaons to mature. They open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree[, ].
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 coulteri[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, , , , , ]. Rich in oil[]. Sweet, large and slightly resinous[, , , ], it makes an excellent staple food[]. The dark brown seed is quite large, up to 25mm long and 8mm wide with a thick shell[, ]. An important food source for local Native Americans[]. The seed contains 28% protein and 51% fatty oil[].

The green cones, roasted for about 20 minutes, are soft and syrupy in their centre[]. They are much relished by local Indians[].

Inner bark - raw or cooked[]. The inner bark can be used fresh or it can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickener in soups or can be added to cereal flours when making bread etc. An emergency food, it is only used when better foods are not available[].

A gummy exudation from the tree is chewed[, ].

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

The leaves are used as a tea substitute[].

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 yellow pitch-like gum is used as a protective healing covering for burns and sores[].

The twigs are used in sweat-baths to treat rheumatism[]. They are laid over hot rocks, the patient lies on them and water is occasionally sprinkled onto the rocks so that steam plus the volatile oil from the pine are constantly given off. The patient remains for 8 - 10 hours, sweating profusely and is said to invariably be able to move without pain afterwards[].

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 tree yields a copious quantity of resin[]. 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 pitch has been used as an adhesive for mending pottery etc[].
Yields an essential oil called 'Abietine'. It is colourless, with the odour of oranges, and is obtained by distilling the resinous juices[, ].

Twigs and rootlets are used as a sewing material for coiled and twined baskets[, ].

The wood is light in weight, soft, not strong, close grained, brittle[, ]. Of irregular size, it makes a poor lumber, and is seldom used other than for railway sleepers, pallets and for wood chips[].
The wood makes a good fuel, generating considerable heat when properly seasoned[].

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[].