Common Name: Chinese Red Pine

General Information

Pinus tabuliformis is an evergreen tree with a conical crown becoming flat-topped with age; it can grow up to 25 metres tall. The bole can be 100cm or more in diameter[].
Chinese Red Pine is an important forestry tree yielding timber for construction. The plant also has medicinal properties and is a source of resin. The tree is commonly planted in plantations in China for forestry purposes and is also occasionally planted there as an ornamental[].
Pinus tabuliformis as a whole is so widespread and common that there is no threat to it. 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 - northern and central China, Korea

Habitat

Dry, sunny slopes and hills where competition from broad-leaved trees is less severe, also as a pioneer in secondary vegetation where it is commonly mixed with deciduous shrubs and trees; at elevations from 100 - 2,600 metres[, ]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus tabuliformis is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -25°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[, ]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Established plants tolerate drought[].
The ovoid to ovoid-globose seed cones are 3 - 9cm long and 4 - 9cm wide, taking two growing seasons to mature. The cones usually persist on the tree for several years[, ].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow under the trees[].
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)[].
The pale brown, mottled, ovoid or narrowly so seeds are 6 - 8mm long and 4 - 5mm wide[].

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 stems are carminative and demulcent[].

The pine needles are used medicinally[]. No further details are given.
An essential oil distilled from the leaves is used medicinally[].

The pollen is used in traditional Chinese medicine[].

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[].
The plant is a natural pioneer species in China, often found in secondary vegetation and disturbed woodland[]. It can be used in planting schemes for restoring native woodland[].

Other Uses

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

The bark is a source of tannin[, ].

An essential oil is distilled from the needles[]. It is used medicinally[].

An extract of the bark is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner and tonic[].

The needles have insecticidal properties[].

The resin is extracted from the bark and leaves and produces turpentine[]
The trunk is a source 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 wood is straight-grained, hard and strong. It is used for ship building, mining props, poles, railway sleepers, to build wooden bridges and carts or wagons, to make tools, furniture, and for artificial fibres[, ].

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[].