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Pinus sylvestris - L.

Scot's Pine

Author	L.	Botanical references	11, 17, 200
Family	Pinaceae	Genus	Pinus
Synonyms	Pinus rubra - Mill.
Known Hazards	The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[222].
Range	Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, Albania and temperate Asia.
Habitat	Forming woods in the mountains of Scotland[7, 9].
Edibility Rating	2 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	3 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen Tree growing to 25m by 10m at a fast rate.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Canopy; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Inner bark.

Edible Uses: Condiment.

Inner bark - dried and ground into a powder and used in making bread[2, 66, 105, 177]. It is often mixed with oatmeal[115]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[115]. A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[200].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Antirheumatic; Antiseptic; Aromatherapy; Bach; Balsamic; Diuretic; Expectorant.

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[254]. The turpentine obtained from the resin is antirheumatic, antiseptic, balsamic, diuretic, expectorant, rubefacient and vermifuge[4, 13, 46]. 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[4]. Externally it is used in the form of liniment plasters and inhalers[4]. The leaves and young shoots are antiseptic, diuretic and expectorant[9]. They are harvested in the spring and dried for later use[9]. They are used internally for their mildly antiseptic effect within the chest and are also used to treat rheumatism and arthritis[254]. They can be added to the bath water for treating fatigue, nervous exhaustion, sleeplessness, skin irritations[9]. They can also be used as an inhalant in the treatment of various chest complaints[9]. The essential oil from the leaves is used in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory infections, and also for digestive disorders such as wind[254]. An essential oil obtained from the seed has diuretic and respiratory-stimulant properties[254]. The seeds are used in the treatment of bronchitis, tuberculosis and bladder infections[254]. A decoction of the seeds can be applied externally to help suppress excessive vaginal discharge[254]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Self-reproach', 'Guilt feelings' and 'Despondency'[209]. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Invigorating'[210].

Other Uses

Dye; Essential; Fibre; Fuel; Herbicide; Lighting; Packing; Resin; Shelterbelt; Wood.

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[168]. 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[201]. A reddish yellow dye is obtained from the cones[6]. This tree yields resin and turpentine[64, 66, 100, 171]. 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[64]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[4, 64]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[64]. Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[64] and is separated by distillation[4, 64]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for making varnish, medicinal etc[4]. Rosin is the substance left after turpentine is removed. This is used by violinists on their bows and also in making sealing wax, varnish etc[4]. 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[46, 61]. A fibre from the inner bark is used to make ropes[115]. The roots are very resinous and burn well. They can be used as a candle substitute[115]. The leaves are used as a packing material[46]. The fibrous material is stripped out of the leaves and is used to fill pillows, cushions and as a packing material[7]. Trees are very wind resistant and quite fast growing. They can be planted as a shelterbelt, succeeding in maritime exposure[75, 200]. Wood - light, soft, not strong, elastic, durable, rich in resin. Used in construction, furniture, paper manufacture etc.[13, 46, 100]. A good fuel but it is somewhat smokey[6, 66, 115].

Scented Plants

Leaves: Crushed

Cultivation details

Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[1, 11]. Trees grow well on poor dry sandy soils[11, 81]. Fairly shade tolerant[186]. Prefers a light acid soil, becoming chlorotic at a pH higher than 6.5[186]. Trees can succeed for many years on shallow soils over chalk[185]. Tolerates chalk for a while, but trees are then short-lived[81]. Tolerates some water-logging[186]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[1]. Established plants tolerate drought[186]. Very wind resistant[49, 75], tolerating maritime exposure[166]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[226]. Fairly long-lived, to 200 years or more and quite fast growing[185], but trees are very slow growing in wet soils[81]. 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[185]. This species is extensively used in cool temperate forestry as a timber tree[200]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[200]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[200]. Cones take two seasons to ripen[7]. Plants are easily killed by fire and cannot regenerate from the roots[186]. A good food plant for the caterpillars of several species of butterflies[30]. This tree has over 50 species of associated insects[81]. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow under the trees[18]. There are several named forms selected for their ornamental value[188]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].

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[80]. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two[11]. Plants have a very sparse root system and the sooner they are planted into their permanent positions the better they will grow[K]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm[200]. 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[K]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[200]. 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[81].

Cultivars

No entries have been made for this species as yet.

Links

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[6] Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979 ISBN 0-00-635555-2
Details on some of the useful wild plants of Britain. Poor on pictures but otherwise very good.

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[13] Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[18] Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979
Details of beneficial and antagonistic relationships between neighbouring plants.

[30] Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982 ISBN 0-330-26642-x
An excellent book on Lepidoptera, it also lists their favourite food plants.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[49] Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties. 0
Trees and shrubs that grow well in Cornwall and other mild areas of Britain. Fairly good, a standard reference book.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[64] Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber 0
A very good book dealing with the subject in a readable way.

[66] Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985 ISBN 0-946284-51-2
Very readable, giving details on plant uses based on the authors own experiences.

[75] Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984
A small booklet packed with information on trees and shrubs for hedging and shelterbelts in exposed maritime areas.

[80] McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985 ISBN 0-901361-21-6
Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.

[81] Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X
Deals with conifers that can be grown outdoors in Britain. Good notes on cultivation and a few bits about plant uses.

[100] Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969 ISBN 0192176218
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.

[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[115] Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 0
Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.

[166] Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990
A good book on plants that you didn't know could be grown outdoors in Britain.

[168] Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
A very good and readable book on dyeing.

[171] Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some a bit of detail about the plants it does cover.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[185] Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975 ISBN 0-11-710012-9
A bit out of date (first published in 1972), but an excellent guide to how well the various species of conifers grow in Britain giving locations of trees.

[186] Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979
An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[201] Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993 ISBN 0-304-34324-2
A well produced and very readable book.

[209] Chancellor. P. M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies C. W. Daniel Co. Ltd. 1985 ISBN 85207 002 0
Details the 38 remedies plus how and where to prescribe them.

[210] Westwood. C. Aromatherapy - A guide for home use. Amberwood Publishing Ltd 1993 ISBN 0-9517723-0-9
An excellent little pocket guide. Very concise.

[222] Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990 ISBN 0395467225
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.

[226] Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989 ISBN 0889025649
Very good on identification for non-experts, the book also has a lot of information on plant uses.

[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Pinus sylvestris

Michael Frankis Tue Oct 31 20:10:52 2000

Common name is Scots Pine (not Scot's - delete the apostrophe!)

Pinus sylvestris

Lukasz Luczaj Thu Feb 28 16:19:58 2002

Young shoots of Pinus sylvestris are soft and tasty (though very resinous). It is still common in the Polish countryside to make a syropy beverage by soaking these soft shoots in water and sugar. I also adore them raw or add them to pasta sauces, they taste exactly like pesto.

Pinus sylvestris

Debbie Wed Mar 1 2006

Wow what an invigorating report! this is going to help me with my university work so thanks. i was trying to figure out why scots pine was so adaptable and now i have so thankyou.

Pinus sylvestris

carl Wed Dec 19 2007

The wood is strong and elastic, it makes a good bow.

Pinus sylvestris

S TO BE H/G Mon Apr 7 2008

A beautiful tree forming vast forests in Scandinavia with spruce, birch, and juniper with ground cover of bilberry and cloudberry. Lynx hunt roe deer and the moose feeds of the young shoots in these great forests. Once there used to be another animal in these forests, a animal that also hunted the deer and ate the berries in the shade of the pines, that animal was the hunting and gathering human, they would follow the deer herds migrating and live in a balance with nature that we have forgotten now farming has engulfed us but they did which they did not even realise. it was the same all over the world, man had made mistakes in his hunting and gathering past like contributing to the extinction of megafauna on the continents out of africa but they learned and lived by their instincts as just another part of the forest. Because hunting and gathering is living by your instincts is is part of the natural order.

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