Common Name: Soledad Pine

General Information

Pinus torreyana is an evergreen tree with a rounded to flattened or irregular crown; it usually grows up to 15 metres tall, occasionally reaching 23 metres in the wild and up to 33 metres or more in cultivation. The bole is usually crooked or leaning, up to 100cm in diameter[, ].
The seeds have a long history of use as a food, the native Americans have long been tending the trees and planting the seeds to extend its range. Due to its rarity, this species is generally protected by law and is not exploited for its wood. It is unclear if the seeds are still harvested from the wild for food. The tree is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental, where it can grow considerably taller and straighter than the wild stands.
Pinus torreyanaThe plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' 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

South-western N. America - southwestern California.

Habitat

Low coastal bluffs[]. Found in the dry fogbelt zone on eroding, mostly dry slopes; at elevations up to 125 metres, Subspecies insularis is found in ravines and on low ridges; at elevations up to 180 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus torreyana 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 requires humid air conditions, though it tolerates dry soils[]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Established plants tolerate drought[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
The broadly ovoid seed cones are 10 - 15cm long, taking 3 growing seasons to reach maturity[]. The seeds are shed soon after, the empty cones remaining on the tree for up to 5 years[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, , , , ]. The oil-rich seed has a pleasant nutty flavour with a hint of resin[]. It is gathered in quantity from wild trees and eaten raw or roasted[]. Rather large, the brown seeds are around 16 - 24mm long and up to 14mm wide, with a thick, hard shell[].

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[].

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 light in weight, soft, not strong, coarse grained[]. Used for fuel[].

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[].