Pinus tabuliformis

Pinus tabuliformis, also called Manchurian red pine,[2] Southern Chinese pine[3] or Chinese red pine, is a pine native to northern China from Liaoning west to Inner Mongolia and Gansu, and south to Shandong, Henan and Shaanxi, and also northern Korea. In some older texts the name is spelled "Pinus tabulaeformis".

Pinus tabuliformis

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Subgenus: P. subg. Pinus
Section: P. sect. Pinus
Subsection: P. subsect. Pinus
Species:
P. tabuliformis
Binomial name
Pinus tabuliformis
Carr.

Description

Pinus tabuliformis is a medium-sized evergreen tree 20–30 m tall, with a flat-topped crown when mature (whence the scientific name, 'table-shaped'). The growth rate is fast when young, but slows with age. The grey-brown bark fissures at an early age compared to other trees. The broadly spreading shape is very pronounced, in part due to the long horizontal branching pattern.

The needle-like leaves are shiny grey-green, 10–17 cm long and 1.5 mm broad, usually in pairs but occasionally in threes at the tips of strong shoots on young trees. The cones are green, ripening brown about 20 months after pollination, broad ovoid, 4–6 cm long, with broad scales, each scale with a small prickle. The seeds are 6–7 mm long with a 15–20 mm wing, and are wind-dispersed.

Varieties

There are two varieties:

  • Pinus tabuliformis var. tabuliformis. China, except for Liaoning. Broadest cone scales under 15 mm broad.
  • Pinus tabuliformis var. mukdensis. Liaoning, North Korea. Broadest cone scales over 15 mm broad.

Some botanists also treat the closely related Henry's pine (Pinus henryi) and Sikang pine (Pinus densata) as varieties of Chinese red pine; in some older texts even the very distinct Yunnan pine (Pinus yunnanensis) is included as a variety.

Uses and cultivation

The wood is used for general construction. The pulpwood produces certain resins that are used as artificial vanilla flavouring (vanillin). The resin is also used to make turpentine and related products, and is used medicinally to treat a variety respiratory and internal ailments, such as kidney and bladder upsets, wounds, and sores. The bark is a source of tannin. Medicinal use of the pine needles also takes place, which also contain a natural insecticide, as well as a source for a dye. The needles are used to brew pine needle tea (sollip-cha).[4]

It is uncommon in cultivation outside of China, grown only in botanical gardens.

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References
  1. Farjon, A. (2013). "Pinus tabuliformis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42419A2978916. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42419A2978916.en.
  2. English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 575. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2016 – via Korea Forest Service.
  3. "Pinus tabuliformis". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  4. "sollip-cha" 솔잎차. Standard Korean Language Dictionary (in Korean). National Institute of Korean Language. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2017.

Further reading
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