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Pinus Densiflora - Siebold.&Zucc.

Common Name Japanese Red Pine
Family Pinaceae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[222].
Habitats Hills and low mountains all over Japan[58]. Coastal regions to mountains, lakesides and rocky hillsides from near sea level to 900 metres[266].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Pinus Densiflora Japanese Red Pine


http://www.flickr.com/photos/joka2000/
Pinus Densiflora Japanese Red Pine
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Summary

Bloom Color: Yellow. Form: Oval.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Pinus Densiflora is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 7 m (23ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in leaf all year, in flower in June, 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, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Inner bark  Seed  Seedpod
Edible Uses: Condiment

Seed - raw or cooked[105, 177, 183]. Quite small, it is only 4mm long[200]. The oil-rich seed has a slightly resinous flavour. The male catkins can be eaten[183]. Inner bark - dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread[105, 177, 183]. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails. Immature female cones - baked[183]. A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[200].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge[4]. 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[4]. 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[4]. Externally it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc and is used in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye  Herbicide  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]. 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. Wood - a useful timber tree in Japan, but it is unlikely to be of much value in Britain[11]. The timber is used for construction, poles, and furniture[266].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Specimen. Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[1, 11]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[1]. Established plants tolerate drought[200]. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow below the tree[18]. The plant is quite fast growing when very young but this soon tails off and the tree is then quite slow growing[185]. Cultivated for its wood in Japan, but it is unlikely to be a worthwhile timber tree in Britain[11]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[200]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[200]. Hybridizes in the wild with P. thunbergii[58]. There are many named forms of this species[200]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200]. Special Features:Not North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant 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].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation (Primorye), China (Heilongjiang Sheng (east & south), Jiangsu Sheng (northeast), Jilin Sheng (southeast), Liaoning Sheng, Shandong Sheng (east & north)), Korea, Japan (Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Siebold.&Zucc.

Botanical References

1158200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Sun-Kee Hong   Mon Apr 18 02:41:39 2005

I would like to send one of important information about distribution of Pinus densiflora forest in Korea. Pinus densiflora is major vegetation of Korean pennisula. It is also mixed with Quercus mongolica and Quercus serrata in some place. Agriculture of Korean tradition had been related to use of this forest (timber and fertilizer) of rural landscape. In current, pine forest in urbanized area in Korea including Japan is changed to other forest by natural succession.

Here I leave a important reference of Pinus densiflora in Korea. This is my paper published in international journal. I wish your site can refer this paper as one of database of your site.

*Hong S-K (1998) Changes in landscape patterns and vegetation process in the Far-Eastern cultural landscapes: Human activity on pine-dominated secondary vegetations in Korea and Japan. Phytocoenologia 28(1): 45-66, Berlin-Stuttgart, 31 March

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