I walk on a street named Pine Tree Circle. I lived for over 30 years in Longview and Tyler, Texas, in a region known as the piney woods. The front yard of my home was often filled with pine straw — or needles — which is effective at containing moisture in flower beds. Occasionally, people would stop and ask if they could gather the pinecones from my yard to be used in art projects. So, I am no stranger to pine trees. At their best, they are examples of soaring beauty invoking a spiritual communication with nature. At their worst for a homeowner, they are an inconvenience requiring much labor and cleanup. In Longview, the name of one of the high schools was Pine Tree High School. The pine tree has been exalted in many ways — through naming, art, literature, etc. Let’s find out more about it.
According to Wikipedia, a pine is any conifer in the genus Pinus of the family Pinaceae. Pinus is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The Plant List compiled by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accepts 126 species names of pines as current, together with 35 unresolved species and many more synonyms. Pine may also refer to the lumber derived from pine trees; pine is one of the more extensively used types of wood for lumber.
Description
Pine trees are evergreen, coniferous resinous trees or, rarely, shrubs growing 10–260 feet tall, with the majority of species reaching 50–150 feet tall. The smallest are Siberian dwarf pine and Potosi pinyon, and the tallest is a 268.35-foot-tall ponderosa pine located in southern Oregon’s Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Pines are long-lived and typically reach ages of 100–1,000 years, some even more. The longest-lived is the Great Basin bristlecone pine Pinus longaeva. One individual of this species, dubbed "Methuselah," is one of the world’s oldest living organisms at 4,852 years old. This tree can be found in the White Mountains of California. An older tree, now cut down, was dated at 4,900 years old. It was discovered in a grove beneath Wheeler Peak, and it is now known as "Prometheus" after the Greek immortal.
The spiral growth of branches, needles and cone scales may be arranged in Fibonacci number ratios. The new spring shoots are sometimes called "candles;" they are covered in brown or whitish bud scales and point upward at first, then later turn green and spread outward. These "candles" offer foresters a means to evaluate fertility of the soil and vigor of the trees.
Bark
The bark of most pines is thick and scaly, but some species have thin, flaky bark. The branches are produced in regular "pseudo whorls," actually a very tight spiral but appearing like a ring of branches arising from the same point. Many pines are uninodal, producing just one such whorl of branches each year, from buds at the tip of the year's new shoot, but others are multinodal, producing two or more whorls of branches per year.
Foliage
Pines have four types of leaves:
- Seed leaves or cotyledons on seedlings are borne in a whorl of 4–24.
- Juvenile leaves, which follow immediately on seedlings and young plants, are 2–6 cm long, single, green or often blue-green and arranged spirally on the shoot. These are produced for six months to five years, rarely longer.
- Scale leaves — similar to bud scales — are small, brown and not photosynthetic, and arranged spirally like the juvenile leaves.
- Needles, the adult leaves, are green (photosynthetic) and bundled in clusters called fascicles. The needles can number from one to seven per fascicle, but generally number from two to five. Each fascicle is produced from a small bud on a dwarf shoot in the axil of a scale leaf. These bud scales often remain on the fascicle as a basal sheath. The needles persist for 1.5–40 years, depending on species. If a shoot's growing tip is damaged e.g., eaten by an animal, the needle fascicles just below the damage will generate a stem-producing bud, which can then replace the lost growth tip.
Cones
Pines are mostly monoecious, having the male and female cones on the same tree, though a few species are sub-dioecious, with individuals predominantly, but not wholly, single sex. The male cones are small, typically 1–5 cm long, and only present for a short period — usually in spring, though autumn in a few pines — falling as soon as they have shed their pollen. The female cones take 1.5–3 years — depending on the species — to mature after pollination, with actual fertilization delayed one year. At maturity, the female cones are 3–60 cm long. Each cone has numerous spirally arranged scales, with two seeds on each fertile scale; the scales at the base and tip of the cone are small and sterile, without seeds.
The seeds are mostly small and winged, and are anemophilous or wind-dispersed, but some are larger and have only a vestigial wing and are bird-dispersed. Female cones are woody and sometimes armed to protect developing seeds from foragers. At maturity, the cones usually open to release the seeds. In some of the bird-dispersed species, for example whitebark pine, the seeds are only released by the bird breaking the cones open. In others, the seeds are stored in closed cones for many years until an environmental cue triggers the cones to open, releasing the seeds. This is called serotiny. The most common form of serotiny is pyriscence, in which a resin binds the cones shut until melted by a forest fire, for example in Pinus rigida.
Evolutionary history
Conifers evolved about 300 million years ago, and pines perhaps 200 million years ago.
Pinus is the largest genus of the Pinaceae, the pine family, which is the oldest and largest conifer family. It dates back to 206 million years ago. Based on recent transriptome analysis, Pinus is most closely related to the genus Cathaya, which in turn is closely related to spruces. These genera, with firs and larches, form the pinoid clade of the Pinaceae. The oldest verified fossil of the genus is Pinus yorkshirensis from the Hauterivian-Barremian boundary in the Speeton Clay, a Lower Cretaceous geologic formation in Yorkshire, northern England.
The evolutionary history of the genus Pinus has been complicated by hybridization. Pines are prone to inter-specific breeding. Wind pollination, long life spans, overlapping generations, large population size and weak reproductive isolation make breeding across species more likely. As the pines have diversified, gene transfer between different species has created a complex history of genetic relatedness.
Distribution
Pines are native to the Northern Hemisphere, and in a few parts of the tropics in the Southern Hemisphere. Most regions of the Northern Hemisphere host some native species of pines. One species — Sumatran pine — crosses the equator in Sumatra to 2°S. In North America, various species occur in regions at latitudes from as far north as 66°N to as far south as 12°N.
Pines may be found in a very large variety of environments, ranging from semi-arid desert to rainforests, from sea level up to 17,100 feet, from the coldest to the hottest environments on Earth. They often occur in mountainous areas with favorable soils and at least some water.
Various species have been introduced to temperate and subtropical regions of both hemispheres, where they are grown as timber or cultivated as ornamental plants in parks and gardens. A number of such introduced species have become naturalized, and some species are considered invasive in some areas and threaten native ecosystems.
Ecology
Pines grow well in acid soils, some also on calcareous soils; most require good soil drainage, preferring sandy soils, but a few e.g., lodgepole pine, can tolerate poorly drained wet soils. A few are able to sprout after forest fires e.g., Canary Island pine. Some species of pines e.g., bishop pine, need fire to regenerate, and their populations slowly decline under fire suppression regimens.
Several species are adapted to extreme conditions imposed by elevation and latitude e.g., Siberian dwarf pine, mountain pine, whitebark pine and the bristlecone pines. The pinyon pines and a number of others — notably Turkish pine and gray pine — are particularly well adapted to growth in hot, dry semidesert climates.
The seeds are commonly eaten by birds, such as grouse, crossbills, jays, nuthatches, siskins and woodpeckers, and by squirrels. Some birds — notably the spotted nutcracker, Clark’s nutcracker and pinyon jay — are of importance in distributing pine seeds to new areas. Pine needles are sometimes eaten by some butterfly and moth species, the Symphytan species pine sawfly and goats.
Pine pollen may play an important role in the functioning of detrital food webs. Nutrients from pollen aid detritivores in development, growth and maturation, and may enable fungi to decompose nutritionally scarce litter. Pine pollen is also involved in moving plant matter between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Lumber and construction
Pines are among the most commercially important tree species valued for their timber and wood pulp throughout the world. In temperate and tropical regions, they are fast-growing softwoods that grow in relatively dense stands, their acidic decaying needles inhibiting the sprouting of competing hardwoods. Commercial pines are grown in plantations for timber that is denser and therefore more durable than spruce. Pine wood is widely used in high-value carpentry items such as furniture, window frames, paneling, floors and roofing, and the resin of some species is an important source of turpentine.
Because pines have no insect- or decay-resistant qualities after logging, untreated they are generally recommended for construction purposes as indoor use only — indoor drywall framing, for example. For outside use, pine needs to be treated with copper azole, chromated copper arsenate or other suitable chemical preservative.
Ornamental uses
Many pine species make attractive ornamental plantings for parks and larger gardens with a variety of dwarf cultivars being suitable for smaller spaces. Pines are also commercially grown and harvested for Christmas trees. Pinecones, the largest and most durable of all conifer cones, are craft favorites. Pine boughs, appreciated especially in wintertime for their pleasant smell and greenery, are popularly cut for decorations. Pine needles are also used for making decorative articles such as baskets, trays, pots, etc., and during the U.S. Civil War, the needles of the longleaf pine or "Georgia pine" were widely employed in this craft. This originally Native American skill is now being replicated across the world. Pine needle handicrafts are made in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Nicaragua and India. Pine needles are also versatile and have been used by Latvian designer Tamara Orjola to create different biodegradable products including paper, furniture, textiles and dye.
Wildlife
Pine needles serve as food for various butterflies and moths. Several species of pine are attacked by nematodes, causing pine wilt disease, which can kill some quickly. Some of these Lepidoptera species — many of them moths — specialize in feeding on only one or sometimes several species of pine. In addition, many species of birds and mammals shelter in pine habitats or feed on pine nuts.
Farming
When grown for sawing timber, pine plantations can be harvested after 25 years, with some stands being allowed to grow up to 50, as the wood value increases more quickly as the trees age. Imperfect trees — such as those with bent trunks or forks, smaller trees or diseased trees — are removed in a "thinning" operation every 5–10 years. Thinning allows the best trees to grow much faster, because it prevents weaker trees from competing for sunlight, water and nutrients. Young trees removed during thinning are used for pulpwood or are left in the forest, while most older ones are good enough for saw timber.
A 30-year-old commercial pine tree grown in good conditions in Arkansas will be about 1 foot in diameter and about 66 feet high. After 50 years, the same tree will be about 1.6 feet in diameter and 82 feet high, and its wood will be worth about seven times as much as the 30-year-old tree. However, this growth depends on the region, species and silvicultural techniques. In New Zealand, a plantation’s maximum value is reached at around 28 years with height being as high as 98 feet and diameter of 1.6 feet, and maximum wood production around 35 years, again depending on factors such as site, stocking and genetics. Trees are normally planted about 1,000 per hectare.
Food and nutrients
Some species have large seeds, called pine nuts, that are harvested and sold for cooking and baking. They are an essential ingredient of pesto alla genovese.
The soft, moist, white inner bark or cambium beneath the woody outer bark is edible and very high in vitamins A and C. It can be eaten raw in slices as a snack or dried and ground up into a powder for use as an ersatz flour or thickener in stews, soups and other foods, such as bark bread. Adirondack Indians got their name from the Mohawk Indian word atirú:taks, meaning "tree eaters."
A tea made by steeping young, green pine needles in boiling water — known as tallstrunt in Sweden — is high in vitamins A and C. In eastern Asia, pine and other conifers are accepted among consumers as a beverage product and used in teas, as well as wine.
In traditional Chinese medicine, pine resin is used for burns, wounds and dermal complaints.
Literature
Writers of various nationalities and ethnicities have written of pines. Among them, John Muir, Dora Sigerson Shorter, poet Eugene Field, the Chinese, Theodore Winthrop and lyricist Rev. George Allan.
Art
Pines are often featured in art, whether painting and fine art, drawing, photography or folk art.
Religious texts
Pine trees, as well as other conifers, are mentioned in The Bible. In Nehemiah 8:15, the King James version renders the following translation:
"And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written."
Pines are also mentioned in Isaiah 60:13: “The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious."
Chinese culture
The pine is a motif in Chinese art and literature, which sometimes combines painting and poetry in the same work. Some of the main symbolic attributes of pines in Chinese art and literature are longevity and steadfastness: the pine retains its green needles through all the seasons. Sometimes the pine and cypress are paired. At other times the pine, plum and bamboo are considered as the "Three Friends of Winter". Many Chinese art works and/or literature — some involving pines — have been done using paper, brush and Chinese ink: interestingly enough, one of the main ingredients for Chinese ink has been pine soot. Many Chinese ink sticks are made out of pine: the wood being burned and the soot collected as an ingredient to provide the coloring.
Korean culture
According to the April 23, 2020 article “Pine Trees: Meaning and Culture of the Great Evergreen” at owlcation.com, pine trees have a very special meaning in the hearts of the Korean people. For the most part, the pine tree represents longevity and virtue to the Koreans.
However, its meaning goes much deeper than that. In Korea, the pine tree is viewed as an honorable, strong and wise being. It is held in deep reverence, much more so than other trees. Some are even worshipped as divine beings in rural areas of Korea. Many traditional Koreans pray to a sacred pine tree for good luck, prosperity and good health.
When babies are born, pine branches are left on doors as a way to congratulate the couple, and for girls, this branch might be tied to a rope made of straw with charcoal for three weeks to keep evil spirits away.
The Korean pine tree is also regarded as a messenger that transports the souls of the dead to the afterlife. Many coffins are made of pinewood which helps facilitate transportation of the deceased's soul to heaven.
The oldest pine tree standing in Korea is the tree that was used to build the roof of the oldest building in Korea! This tree, which is known as "Solnamu" — meaning "best tree" in Korean — has stood for over a millennium and has withstood wars, climate change and much, much more. This tree can be found at Mt. Bukhan in South Korea.
Japanese culture
In Japan, the pine tree or matsu, shares the same meaning as the Chinese and Korean pine trees i.e., longevity, virtue and youth. The pine is also associated with masculinity and power.
"Matsu" means "waiting for the soul of a god to descend from heaven" in Japanese. In ancient Shinto beliefs, gods were said to have ascended to heaven on a pine tree, where they now reside on a beautiful volcanic mountain in giant or old trees.
Pine trees are associated with the New Year in Japan. So much so that many Japanese hang a bundle of pine twigs and bamboo trunks known as a Kado matsu or "Gate pine" in English on their doors to receive a blessing from the gods.
Pines are also used to mark the boundaries of the sacred ground of temples and shrines.
Pines are also a popular tree of choice for the art of bonsai. Many of these bonsai trees live to be hundreds of years old!
Prior to the Edo period (1600-1867), pine trees and branches were a popular choice of decoration for samurai on their armor and katana, due to all their associations with masculinity.
After the Great East Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, the city of Rikuzentakata was devastated and the surrounding forest of 70,000 pine trees were almost completely destroyed. That is, except for one lone pine tree. This tree became a national symbol of resilience and determination to stand tall and rebuild in the face of the massive destruction in northeast Japan. Sadly enough, seawater seeped into the roots of the Rikuzentakata tree, causing it to rot and die. In September 2012, the tree was cut down.
Ancient Greek culture
In ancient Greece, the pine was particularly sacred to Dionysus and his worshippers. In the ancient city of Corinth, the Corinthians were ordered by the Delphic Oracle to worship the pine along with Dionysus as a god.
Ancient Roman culture
The pine tree was very symbolic to the religions of ancient Rome. The pine was the sacred tree of the Mithraic cult which became widespread in ancient Rome. On March 22nd, the followers of Cybele would cut a pine tree down and bring it into her sanctuary in honor of her consort Attis, who died underneath, and was said to have been turned into a pine tree. During the Roman holiday of Saturnalia Dec. 17-25, the ancient Romans would decorate pine trees with ornaments such as oscilla, which were made in the image of Bacchus, and little clay dolls known as sigillaria.
Scottish culture
Pinus sylvestris, the Scots pine, grows naturally in Scotland, but can be found across much of Europe and as far north as the Arctic Circle. Vast forests of Scots pines growing across the Scottish countryside bring to mind ancient Druid rituals in which the pine was burned to commemorate the changing of seasons and to bring back the sun. Massive pine trees surrounded ancient Scottish castles and villages. Scots pine lumber is very durable and water-repellent, which made it highly desirable for shipbuilding in Scotland and the UK for many centuries.
In movies
“The Place Beyond the Pines” is a 2012 American neo-noir crime drama film directed by Derek Cianfrance, and written by Cianfrance, Ben Coccio and Darius Marder. The film tells three linear stories: Luke (Ryan Gosling), a motorcycle stunt rider who supports his family through a life of crime, Avery (Bradley Cooper), an ambitious policeman who confronts his corrupt police department, and lastly, two troubled teenagers (Emory Cohen and Dane DeHaan) who explore the aftermath of Luke and Avery fifteen years later. The supporting cast includes Eva Mendes, with Ben Mendelsohn, Rose Byrne, Mahershala Ali, Bruce Greenwood, Harris Yulin and Ray Liotta.
Cianfrance was inspired to write the film based on his experiences as a father. Coccio and Marder — who shared similar interests in film and media — helped write the story. Cianfrance envisioned the main themes to be about fathers and sons, masculine identity and legacy. The film reunites Cianfrance and Gosling, who had previously worked together in 2010's “Blue Valentine.” The role of Luke was written for Gosling, as he expressed an interest in playing a bank robber. Filming took place in Schenectady, New York, during the summer of 2011.
The film premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, followed by a United States theatrical release on March 29, 2013. Focus Features purchased the distribution rights after being impressed by the film screening. It received a generally positive response from critics and moderate success at the box office. The soundtrack was composed by Mike Patton and included music by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and Ennio Morricone.
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