Pine Tree

Probably have all of us seen a pine tree, but it might not be known that there are pine trees all over the world. Both in the north and south hemispheres, and on every continent, the pine tree can be found in lots of different shapes and forms. Although some scientists claim there to be 125 different kinds of species of pine trees, the number that usually is claimed is around 115 different species.

The pine tree is green all year, even in the very snowy or very warm parts of the world. This makes the pine tree an evergreen tree and that is one of the reasons it is as special as it is and why the pine tree is used as a symbol for life’s triumph over death in many cultures.

This is something that dates all the way back to ancient Egypt. What makes this work is that while being evergreen, the pine tree does not need to rebuild its own stock of nutrition. Therefore the need for a good and healthy or non-acid soil, demanded by so many other plants, can be avoided and allows the pine tree to grow almost anywhere and especially where nothing else will grow. This makes the sap of the pine tree very special and if you injure one you might notice that the tree actually bleeds. The sap is quite tasteful and full of energy, therefore it is a basic survival fact that sap from pine trees can keep you alive just a bit longer.

One might say that the pine tree is leafless while actually not having leafs like any normal tree. Instead the pine tree has thousand of needles that work similar to leaves. It performs pretty much the same work and does even photosynthesis, renewing breathable oxygen from carbon dioxide that is. Although not bound to season, the pine tree drops its needles from the inside out due to the lack of sunlight. These needles enrich the soil so that the pine tree can continue to grow big and strong.

Although the pine tree is evergreen and the needles don’t care for season, the cones of the pine tree do. Usually pollinating in spring the male cone releases a dust of pollen once a year and then falls off. The female cone will take care of this pollen and get pollinated. The female pine tree cones will then open to release the seeds that will become new pine trees. The opening of a cone can be natural but can also be forced by pecking birds or forest fires.

Except for being a symbol of life and a very beautiful, the pine tree is also used in the industries. Although the timber can be made planks and furniture out of, the main use is in the paper industry where huge amount of pine tree is consumed every day. Some countries, like Sweden, have enormous pine tree plantations which are carefully taken care of and later harvested just to be sold to the paper industry. The wood keeper then replants the forest using sprouts from the previous forest. The circle of the pine tree in the industry is complete.

Pine Trees

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