What Are the Uses of the Lacebark Pine? Read the Latest Analysis in One Article
The lacebark pine, also known as the white-bone pine, three-needle pine, white-fruit pine, tiger-skin pine, etc., is an evergreen tree of the genus Pinus in the family Pinaceae. It mostly grows at elevations of 500-1800 m and reaches up to 30 m tall. The bark of young trees is grayish green, while that of mature trees is light brownish gray, grayish greenish white where it peels off, and gradually turns powdery white toward the upper part. Now let us take a look together at what uses the lacebark pine has!
Where does the lacebark pine come from?
The lacebark pine is a tree species endemic to China, produced in Shanxi (Luliang Mountains, Zhongtiao Mountains, Taihang Mountains), western Henan, the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi, southern Gansu and the Maiji Mountain in Tianshui, the Guanwu Mountain in Jiangyou, northern Sichuan, and western Hubei, among other places. Artificial cultivation extends all across the country, from south of Hohhot in Inner Mongolia in the north to Nanjing, Changsha, Kunming and other places in the south.
What uses does the lacebark pine have?
1. Medicinal value: The fruit of the lacebark pine is bitter in taste and warm in nature, with effects of relieving cough, resolving phlegm and calming asthma. It has a notable therapeutic effect on people who often have throat discomfort, especially those with coughing and phlegm, and can be collected by oneself, soaked in hot water and taken.
2. Economic value: The trunk of the lacebark pine has a very good grain, and its wood is also of the light and soft type, so wooden furniture made from it can be used for a long time. If wooden houses are to be built in scenic areas, the wood characteristics of the lacebark pine also meet the requirements. After deep processing it shows a unique luster, and its grain for joinery is absolutely beautiful.
3. Landscape value: The lacebark pine possesses the indomitable character of pines, and its white bark is a style of its own. Whether planted in large areas or as a single solitary specimen by the roadside, it is the most beautiful scenery. Its chance of surviving in any soil is very high, so its ability to improve the soil and purify the environment is in no way inferior.
Cultivation techniques for the lacebark pine
1. Nursery site selection: The seedling-raising site should be selected as sandy loam or loam with good drainage, irrigation conditions, flat terrain and deep soil layers. Heavy clay soil, saline-alkali soil or low-lying waterlogged places must not be chosen as nursery sites.
2. Seed treatment: The seeds of the lacebark pine have a relatively long dormancy period, so they should be soaked and disinfected with Bordeaux mixture. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water (50°C to 60°C) to promote germination, or stratify them with sand to promote germination. When the number of cracked seeds reaches 50% of the total number of seeds, they can be sown. Alternating-year low-temperature stratification to promote germination and high-temperature germination promotion can also be carried out; sow when 40% of the seeds have cracked seed coats.
3. Sowing method: Spring sowing is usually adopted, and sowing within 10 days after the soil thaws is most suitable. The lacebark pine is afraid of waterlogging, so raised beds or raised ridges should be used for seedling raising. Water the bed thoroughly before sowing, sow in drills, with a sowing rate of 70-100 kg per mu. After sowing, cover with 1-1.5 cm of soil, and on top of that a further 1 cm of wet sawdust can be applied to keep warm and retain moisture.
4. Seedling management: After sowing, the seedlings emerge with the seed coat still attached and shed it after about 20 days. During this period, bird damage must be prevented. First-year seedlings should have soil mounded up for cold protection; 2-year-old seedlings are transplanted bare-rooted, and it is best to plant them as soon as they are dug out, then tread firm and water after planting. Young seedlings are suitable for dense planting, while large seedlings are suitable for sparse planting. After about 5 years, they are transplanted a second time with soil or taken out of the nursery for afforestation.