Beach Pine, Lodgepole pine, Bolander beach pine, Beach pine, Sierra lodgepole pine, Yukon pine, Shor

Pinus contorta

Physical Characteristics

Pinus contorta is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year, in flower in May, and the seeds ripen from January to February. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Distribution

Western N. America - Alaska to California.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Inner bark Sap Seed Edible Uses: Condiment Gum Inner bark - raw or cooked[2, 94, 105, 161, 257]. It can be used fresh or dried. It is mashed into a pulp and made into cakes then baked[94]. Harvested in early spring, the taste is not unpleasant, but it develops a strong taste of turpentine as the season advances[2]. The inner bark is ready to harvest when the male cones are producing pollen[257]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails. Sap - collected in spring and used as a drink[161, 177]. Seed - raw or cooked[257]. A gum is made from the pitch obtained from the trunk. It is allowed to harden and used for chewing[257]. A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[200].

Medicinal Uses

Antiseptic Blood purifier Cathartic Diuretic Pectoral Poultice Salve TB Tonic VD Vulnerary Beach pine was widely employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used it especially for its antiseptic and healing properties on wounds, infections etc, and also for its beneficial effects upon the chest and lungs[257]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient, vermifuge and vulnerary[4, 257]. It is a valuable remedy when taken internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and can be used both internally and externally in the treatment of rheumatic affections[4, 257]. It is also used in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints[4, 257]. Externally it is used in the form of liniment plasters and poultices in treating a range of skin complaints, wounds, boils etc[4, 257]. A decoction of the young shoots has been used in the treatment of stomach pains[257]. The young buds have been chewed in the treatment of a sore throat[257]. The inner bark has been eaten as a blood purifier, diuretic and cathartic[257]. A decoction has been used as a tonic and in the treatment of coughs, colds, consumption and gonorrhoea[257].

Known Hazards

The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[222].