Canadian pine (Pinus strobus)

El Pinus strobus it is a beautiful and immense tree that belongs to the pine trees; also known as Canadian pine, white pine or Weymouth pine. It reaches a height of 50 meters and its diameter is 1,5 meters.

The pyramidal shaped pine crown is narrow when young, while being an adult it is branched and flattened; for this reason at Christmas it serves in the houses of ornament; is an emblem that is customarily adorned with lights and various elements.

Uses

Wood is often used in carpentry, since does not warp and is extremely light. It is also used in the manufacture of matches, floors, accessories and the paper industry. Due to its imposing beauty, it adorns parks and gardens.

For being a very resistant tree can be reborn in areas ravaged by fire. It has a rough texture trunk; its bark is brown with reddish tones and the leaves (pine needles), which are approximately 15 cm long; They are usually flexible, thin, acicular, green in color, fresh scent and even have an emollient effect; contain vitamin C.

Origin of Pinus strobus

The word 'pine', comes from Latin Pinus. This plant belongs to the category of conifers because the seeds are cone-shaped. What's more, is made up of plant cells, and its leaves and trunk have resin channels, with which pitch and turpentine are made. In general, its branches are whorled, that is, they emerge from the same place.

Pine It is a tree from whose bark comes an oil that is used as a diuretic, expectorant, antiseptic, antipyretic, antiviral, sedative and hair balm. However, wood is highly valued for being used for industrial purposes. With the trunk they build houses and make furniture, musical instruments, veneers, boxes for packaging and handicrafts, among others.

The properties that pine possesses are innumerable, but excess tannins could cause digestive discomfortLikewise, in children under six years of age and women who are breastfeeding or pregnant, medicines based on this plant are not recommended.

It is originally found in North America (U.S. and Canada), distributed in the four cardinal points of this geography. In the XNUMXth century it was introduced in Europe, specifically in northern Italy, the Czech Republic and Poland.

The species tends to develop in clayey or humid soils and cold climates; does not need much light to progress and together with other thick groves it forms mixed forests. Between the months of April and May, the flowering period begins. When the fungus called rust attacks this tree, damages it completely.

There are varieties that differ by their characteristics such as shape, color, foliage and dimensions, and rhodes favor the life of animals such as owls or squirrels. Depending on the genus, the pine nuts (cylindrical in shape) that sprout from its branches are nutritious, very sweet, contain fiber and protein; for what the Mediterranean gastronomy uses them in sauces, meats, salads and desserts.

The resin produced by this conifer has great properties. It is used in the production of perfumes and incense; food additives, adhesives and varnishes. Also to waterproof boats, and the sap to make turpentine. In fact, in the XNUMXth century Icelanders mixed the sap with honey and drank it to calm lung ailments. Botanists of Asian origin use it as a remedy for arthritis.

With the buds and shoots of the pinus strobus diseases are treated such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, anemia, cold or flu, rheumatism, problems related to the bladder, womb, kidneys and urethra. Also depression.

Some recommendations to keep you strong and healthy are prune its branches and the crown when they are very bushyThis prevents the roots from being weakened by the little sunlight that penetrates them, and the tree from falling down since pruning compensates for the weight. Do not cut them when it snows or rains as it accelerates the appearance of fungi and insects that harm the pine.