Common Name: Scot's Pine

General Information

Pinus sylvestris is an evergreen tree with a broadly conical to irregular or flattened crown; it usually grows 25 - 40 metres tall. The bole can be straight or contorted, erect or leaning; it is usually up to 60cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is harvested on a large scale, both from for its wood, which is currently used mainly for pulp to make paper, and for its resin which has a range of uses. The tree is often grown as an ornamental, a large number of cultivars being known including dwarf forms, and it is used in shelterbelt plantings to give protection from the wind..
Pinus sylvestris is the most widespread of all pines, occupying many millions of hectares across Eurasia. 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

Throughout Europe to the Caucasus and Turkey and east through northern Asia to the Russian Far East and northern China

Habitat

Found in a wide variety of habitats that are linked by generally having a deficiency of nutrients in the soil; often forming open woods or forests, sometimes with other conifers and sometimes with broadleaved trees; at elevations up to 2,600 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	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus sylvestris is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -40°c when fully dormant[].
Grows best in a sunny position, but plants are fairly shade tolerant[]. Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[, ]. Trees grow well on poor dry sandy soils[, ]. Grows wild in a variety of habitats, the common denominator of which is deficiency of nutrients in the soil[]. Prefers a light acid soil, becoming chlorotic at a pH higher than 6.5[]. Trees can succeed for many years on shallow soils over chalk[]. Tolerates chalk for a while, but trees are then short-lived[]. Tolerates some water-logging of the soil[]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Established plants tolerate drought[]. Very wind resistant[, ], tolerating maritime exposure[]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[].
Fairly long-lived, to 200 years or more and quite fast growing[], but trees are very slow growing in wet soils[]. Young trees can make new growth of 1 metre a year though growth slows down rapidly by the time the tree is 18 metres tall[]. This species is extensively used in cool temperate forestry as a timber tree[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
The broadly ovoid to depressed-globose seed cones are 3 - 6cm long; they take two growing seasons to mature[, ]. They open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree[].
Plants are easily killed by fire and cannot regenerate from the roots[].
A good food plant for the caterpillars of several species of butterflies[]. This tree has over 50 species of associated insects[].
Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow under the trees[].
There are several named forms selected for their ornamental value[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Inner bark - dried and ground into a powder and used in making bread[, , , ]. It is often mixed with oatmeal[]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[].

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)[].
The gray to near black, obovoid seeds are 3 - 5mm long[].

Medicinal

Scot's pine has quite a wide range of medicinal uses, being valued especially for its antiseptic action and beneficial effect upon the respiratory system. It should not be used by people who are prone to allergic skin reactions whilst the essential oil should not be used internally unless under professional supervision[].

The turpentine obtained from the resin is antirheumatic, antiseptic, balsamic, diuretic, expectorant, rubefacient and vermifuge[, , ]. It is a valuable remedy in the treatment of kidney, bladder and rheumatic affections, and also in diseases of the mucous membranes and the treatment of respiratory complaints[].
Applied externally the turpentine is used in the form of liniment plasters and inhalers[].

The leaves and young shoots are antiseptic, diuretic and expectorant[]. They are harvested in the spring and dried for later use[]. They are used internally for their mildly antiseptic effect within the chest and are also used to treat rheumatism and arthritis[]. They can be added to the bath water for treating fatigue, nervous exhaustion, sleeplessness, skin irritations[]. They can also be used as an inhalant in the treatment of various chest complaints[].

The essential oil from the leaves is used in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory infections, and also for treating digestive disorders such as wind[].

An essential oil obtained from the seed has diuretic and respiratory-stimulant properties[]. The seeds are used in the treatment of bronchitis, tuberculosis and bladder infections[].
A decoction of the seeds can be applied externally to help suppress excessive vaginal discharge[].

The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Self-reproach', 'Guilt feelings' and 'Despondency'[].

The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Invigorating'[].

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[].
Trees are very wind resistant and quite fast growing. They can be planted as a shelterbelt, succeeding in maritime exposure[, ].
The tree is also used to stabilize dunes, but not those close to the sea as it is not very resistant to salt-laden winds[]. (which rather contradicts the report above and our own experience of the plant[].

Other Uses

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[].
A reddish yellow dye is obtained from the cones[].

The tree yields resin and turpentine, which are often obtained by destructive distillation of the stumps and roots of felled trees[, , , , ]. 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[].

An essential oil obtained from the leaves is used in perfumery and medicinally[, ].
Extracts from various parts of the plant are used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations as hair conditioners, masking agents, oral hygiene, perfumes, skin conditioners and tonics[].

A fibre from the inner bark is used to make ropes[].

The roots are very resinous and burn well. They can be used as a candle substitute[].

The leaves are used as a packing material[]. The fibrous material is stripped out of the leaves and is used to fill pillows, cushions and as a packing material[].

The wood is light in weight, soft, not strong, elastic, durable, rich in resin. Most of the harvested wood currently (2013)) is used to produce pulp for the paper industry. In the past it was more often put to use as mining props and for interior construction. The wood has also been used in construction, furniture making etc.[, , , ]. Other uses of Scots Pine wood are (or were) street paving blocks, railway sleepers, fencing, crates, pallets, boxes, laminated wood, particleboard, fibreboard, and various wood-based materials[].
A good fuel but it is somewhat smokey[, , ].

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[].