Pinus discolor — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Seeds

The seed is eaten raw or cooked and is a reasonable size at around 12mm long, with an oil-rich, slightly resinous flavour. The pulpwood also yields a vanillin flavouring as a by-product of resin processing.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant.

Central America, Mexico, North America, USA,

Countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, St Vincent

How to Identify

Evergreen tree reaching 15m tall. Hardy to UK zone 8. Grows year-round with seeds ripening in October. Monoecious and wind-pollinated. Requires full sun and well-drained soil; tolerates poor soils, drought, and both dry and moist conditions. Prefers mildly acid to neutral pH.

How to Grow

Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils. Established plants tolerate drought. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c. This species is very closely related to P. cembroides and is viewed as no more than a synonym of that species by many botanists. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus. The cones open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow below the tree. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation: Sow seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe, or in late winter. Stratification at 4°c for 6 weeks can improve germination of stored seed. Transplant seedlings to permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them through the first winter or two. The root system is very sparse, making early planting critical. Set trees out when small — between 30 and 90cm, ideally around 5–10cm tall — with a thorough weed-excluding mulch. Larger trees check badly and may make little growth for several years, with lasting harm to root development and wind resistance. Cuttings are only viable from trees under 10 years old, using single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot. Disbudding some weeks before taking cuttings can help, but cuttings are generally slow to grow away.

Medicinal Uses

Turpentine from pine resin is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient, and vermifuge. Taken internally it treats kidney and bladder complaints; used both internally and as a rub or steam bath it addresses rheumatic conditions. It also benefits the respiratory system and is useful for mucous membrane diseases, coughs, colds, influenza, and TB. Applied externally via liniment plasters, poultices, steam baths, and inhalers, it treats skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, and boils.

Other Uses

The needles yield a tan or green dye and contain terpene, released by rain, which negatively affects germination in some plants including wheat. Oleo-resins are present in all pine tissues but are often insufficient for commercial extraction; they are obtained by tapping the trunk or through destructive distillation of the wood, with warmer-climate trees generally giving higher yields. Turpentine constitutes roughly 20% of the oleo-resin, separated by distillation, and is used as a solvent for waxes, in varnish-making, and medicinally. Residual rosin is used on violin bows and in sealing wax and varnish. Pitch from the resin is used for waterproofing and wood preservation.

Wikipedia