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Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) Today we are going to talk about the characteristics and care of a pine tree in our region. It is the Scots pine. Its scientific name is Pinus Sylvestris and it is known by other common names such as red pine, candelabra pine and pine. It is an evergreen tree that belongs to the family of pináceas and can reach up to 40 meters high. If you want to know all the features and what care a Scots pine needs for your garden, this is your post. PINUS SYLVESTRIS Main characteristics The stems have fissures and their bark is grayish brown. The upper part of the leaves has a reddish and orange color. The branching is more complete in the specimens that are young and have a pyramid shape in their entirety. As the tree grows, its lower branches are lost until the trunk is left alone. One can roughly estimate the age of a Scots pine by observing the altitude of the branches. The trunk remains solitary and the branches increase more and more. The cup becomes flatter and in its entirety it takes on a more ungainly appearance. The leaves are green and can measure between 3 and 8 centimeters in length. They have a sharp shape and are arranged in pairs. While more young people are more elongated and are placed in groups of three or four. The female cones are conical and pointed brown or gray. They usually measure about six centimeters long and are solitary. They can also be found placed in pairs or even trios of the same peduncle. The seeds of this pine are winged and only measure 4 mm in length. Its color is grayish. This tree is pollinated during the spring and reaches maturity at two years. PINUS SYLVESTRIS LEAVES Habitat and distribution area It is one of the most widespread and abundant pines in the coldest areas, both in Europe and Asia. It can reach a huge dimension in the coniferous forests of northern Europe. In Scandinavia we can find pure forests composed of wild pines. According to the theory, this tree should occupy all the northern part of Europe where it reaches the limit of the trees. However, this does not occur because the entire area of latitude 50-70 ° north is expanded by birch forests. The birch forests are a colonizing species that takes advantage of the holes that remain in the forests after fires. They have great capacity for rapid growth, so they are able to colonize the entire territory. Only in about 60 years can they colonize lands that should be colonized by wild pines. This tree is found in most mountain areas that have light soils at altitudes between 600 and 1800 meters. They appear in the center of Europe and the Balkans. It usually does next to species such as mountain pine and pine. It has been extensively replanted in recent years mixed, in many cases, with black pine. In many mountains, however, they are taking the place that beech and fir trees should have. The latter have been destroyed by man and the Scots pine has seen a perfect opportunity for colonization. On the other hand, in areas of the Atlantic it has been introduced in countries where they were overexploited. Those places are Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland and Holland. Uses of The Scots pine It is one of the most commonly used conifers in forestry. All the plantations of wild pine are exploited for the production of wood. The wood that is extracted supports very well all fungal attacks, so it is of very good quality. It is also very resistant to rot and can not be impregnated. The wood of the external part is of yellowish color and has smaller resistance. It is the interior of good quality. In general, it is considered a semi-heavy and semi-hard wood. It is easy to work with her. It is used for the manufacture of furniture, planks for wooden houses and plywood. In the field of construction, it is used to produce beams of various sizes and frameworks. On numerous occasions, it has been used for mine beams because of its hardness and resistance. Medicinal properties Of course, this pine could not be short in terms of its various uses. Apart from the mentioned uses and the culinary applications that the fruit has, some medicinal benefits are found. The yolks are rich in essential oils. We can not confuse them with the buds of the fir trees, since they have great similarity. This oil mentioned has a great balsamic action. You have to use it with caution since allergy sufferers can be provoked by allergic or sensitive people. If it is used in large quantities, it can cause hypertension. Because it is a moderate diuretic, uric acid eliminator, it is used in gout processes; but in patients with kidney problems their use should be restricted. Cultivation and care Scots pine can be grown to give our garden greatness. We must remember that the dimensions of it must be enough to hold a tree 40 meters high. It has some requirements that must be met to have it in good condition. The first thing is the amount of light. Although it holds up well to semi-shade, it prefers that the sun give it completely. Therefore, we need a place the garden fully illuminated for a large number of hours a day. As for irrigation, it is not necessary to water it. With rainwater is more than enough. However, if the area where you live is too dry, it will have to be watered moderately. To place it, look for a place where there are not too many air currents or gusty winds. At the time of cultivating it, it is necessary to avoid that the ground is completely puddled. The preferred soil is dry. If we want to multiply it, we can do it by means of seeds in a greenhouse in the warmer time of spring.