Common Name: Siberian Pine

General Information

Pinus sibirica is an evergreen tree with a broad, dense, ovoid crown; it can grow up to 35 metres tall. The bole can be up to 180cm in diameter[]. The tree has a well-developed taproot with strong, wide-spreading lateral roots[].
The seeds are commonly harvested from the wild for local use asnd for trade[]. The tree is also harvested for its wood and is often planted for amenity, especially in Russia[].
Pinus sibirica is too widespread and abundant to be considered for any threatened category. 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

Eurasia - eastern European Russia and Kazakhstan, eastwards to eastern Siberia, Mongolia and northern China

Habitat

A canopy tree, it is found on a range of sites from moist to fairly wet. It is a component of mixed forests in lowland areas, becoming more dominatant at higher elevations where it eventually forms pure stands; at elevations from 100 - 2,400 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus sibirica is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -45°c when fully dormant[]. It grows best in climates where there is a distinct transition from winter to spring. It is easily excited into growth as the season warms up and, in areas where periods of mild weather can be interspersed with a return to cold conditions, this new growth is very susceptible to damage by temperates near to or below freezing[].
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[] - this report conflicts with the plants reported natural habitat of wet soils[, ]. Established plants tolerate drought and also seasonal inundation of the soil[, ].
Pinus sibirica is one of the major forest-forming conifers in the Siberian taiga and is estimated to cover around 45 million hectares. It is the slowest growing species in these extensive forests and may live up to 850 years[].
The conical-ovoid seed cones are 50 - 80mm × 30 - 55mm. They mature in their second growing season and remain closed on the tree until opened as a food source by animals[].
This is one of several species of pine that depend upon a mutualistic relationship with a species of bird (in this case the Spotted Nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes) to disperse its seed. The birds have powerfull beaks which enable them to extricate the seeds and crack the shells. They store many of the seeds at some distance from the parent plant - some of these seeds never get eaten and can germinate and grow into new trees[].
The seeds are a commonly harvested food resource. In the Altai Mountains annual yields of the wild-harvested seeds can be 200 - 300 kilos per hectare. The seeds have to be separated from the cones with a mechanical cone-thresher as the cone scales do not open to release the seeds (which in nature is done by the strong bill of a bird - the Eurasian Nutcracker[]..
Plants are slow growing in cultivation[].
Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby inhibiting the growth of other plants below the tree[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[]. The cones do not open, seed is extracted by breaking up the soft scales of the cone[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, , , , , ]. An important local food source in Siberia and China[], the oil-rich seed has a delicious flavour with a slight taste of turpentine. The seeds contain around 65% oils and are also rich in vitamins[]. A reasonable size, they are about 10mm x 8 mm[].

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[].

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 oil obtained from the seed is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a hair and skin conditioner[].
An extract of the needles is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a humectant, hair and skin conditioner[].

Turpentine is obtained from the leaves[, ].

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 soft, easily worked. It is considered to be inferior to many other pines but is available in great quantity and is is used as roundwood for poles, sawn timber for light construction, carpentry, turnery, furniture, veneers, utensils, boxes, wood carving, and musical instruments[, , , ].

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[].