Of all the species of these conifers , Siberian pine is the most famous , which forms dense forests in Eastern Siberia. In the north, they extend to the borders of the forest-tundra, and in the mountains rise to a height of 2.5 thousand m. Siberian pine is widespread in some humid and cold places, such as the Primorsky ridge, Khamar-Daban, Sayany, Transbaikalia. In solitary landings, it is found in all forest zones of Siberia.
Siberian cedar pine is a tall evergreen tree with a dark gray bark and an elongated crown. His crown is blunt, cylindrical or ovoid. Some of its specimens reach 45 m. There are trees with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 m. Some old trees have several peaks. This type of pine can live up to 500 years. Some specimens reach a more respectable age. The branching of Siberian pine is strictly whorled. The needles are located on twigs in bundles 8-12 cm long. The young twigs are fluffy, have a reddish tint. The needles of this tree live 3-6 years.
Siberian pine is resistant to waterlogging, frost-resistant, shade-tolerant. The plant prefers slightly acidic, neutral soils. The tree propagates by seeds, grafting. Seed germination lasts up to 2 years, and when in a sealed container - up to 15 years. Good germination requires stratification of the seeds. Most often, winter sowing is used. Seedlings require good water supply. Young growth is fed with special fertilizers in early spring.
On the tree there are anther spikelets of red-violet hue (female) and seed cones, which at the time of flowering have a reddish hue. Mature cones reach 12 cm in length. They have an ovoid-oval shape. Each cone contains 120-130 seeds, called pine nuts.
Siberian pine begins bearing fruit at about 30-40 years of age. This tree blooms in late May. Cones ripen for 2 years. Seeds of Siberian pine ripen in September. They are harvested only after full maturity. Cones are mined with the help of special wooden hammers, which they beat along the trunk, thereby beating the finished fruits. This method of extracting pine nuts is very harmful to the trees themselves.
For medicinal purposes, they often harvest the needles of this tree. Usually this procedure is carried out on cutting areas. Twigs and bundles of needles are used fresh. Essential oil is obtained from them and vitamin infusions are prepared that are superior in quality to those of coniferous pine needles.
Fresh pine nuts contain up to 35% of high-quality fatty oils, sugars, proteins, starch, fiber, vitamins. The nutshell is rich in tannins (up to 12%). Young twigs and needles contain about 1.5% of valuable essential oils, more than 800 mg of vitamin C. In the kernels there are vitamins such as B1 - 0.65 mg, E - 10 mg.
In medicine, the infusion of needles and young branches of cedar is prescribed for vitamin deficiency. Gum is extracted from it, which is used in the production of turpentine, and cedar balsam, used in optics. With it, glass is glued together and their quality is improved.
Siberian pine gives nuts that are consumed raw, toasted, from them extracted fatty oil, which has excellent taste. This oil is used in perfumery as a solvent for medicines, as well as for the production of high-quality paints. Often this oil is used in the canning industry instead of almond and Provence. In nutritious qualities, these nuts and their cake are superior to meat and milk. From cake of pine nuts prepare cakes, halva, pastries.
Siberian pine wood was also widely used in the woodworking industry . It has a beautiful appearance and has a characteristic odor that repels moths and other insects.