Editing Pinus roxburghii

{{Short description|Species of conifer}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2012}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Chir pine
| image = Pinus roxburghii tree.jpg
| image_caption = ''P. roxburghii'' in [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Farjon, A. |date=2013 |title=''Pinus roxburghii'' |volume=2013 |page=e.T42412A2978347 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42412A2978347.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| display_parents = 3
| genus = Pinus
| parent = Pinus subsect. Pinaster
| species = roxburghii
| authority = [[Charles Sprague Sargent|Sarg.]]
}}

'''''Pinus roxburghii''''', commonly known as '''chir pine''' or '''longleaf Indian pine''',<ref name=GRIN>{{GRIN | access-date = 26 January 2017}}</ref> is a species of [[pine]] tree [[Native plant|native]] to the [[Himalayas]]. It was named after [[William Roxburgh]].

==Description==
''Pinus roxburghii'' is a large [[tree]] reaching {{convert|30|-|50|m|abbr=off}} with a trunk diameter of up to {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on|frac=2}}, exceptionally {{convert|3|m|0|abbr=on}}. The [[Bark (botany)|bark]] is red-brown, thick and deeply fissured at the base of the trunk, thinner and flaky in the upper crown. The [[leaves]] are needle-like, in fascicles of three, very slender, {{convert|20|-|35|cm|abbr=off|frac=2}} long, and distinctly yellowish green.

The [[conifer cone|cones]] are ovoid conic, {{convert|12|-|24|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} long and {{convert|5|-|8|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} broad at the base when closed, green at first, ripening glossy chestnut-brown when 24 months old. They open slowly over the next year or so, or after being heated by a [[wildfire|forest fire]], to release the seeds, opening to {{convert|9|-|18|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} broad. The seeds are {{convert|8|-|9|mm|frac=16}} long, with a {{convert|40|mm|abbr=on|frac=4}} wing, and are wind-[[Seed dispersal|dispersed]].

{{gallery|mode=packed
|pinrox08.jpg|Bark
|A description of the genus Pinus (Tab. XXI) (7797065438).jpg|Needles
|pinrox00.jpg|Male cones
|Chir Pine Cone.jpg|Female cones
}}

=== Similar species ===
''Pinus roxburghii'' is closely related to ''[[Pinus canariensis|P.&nbsp;canariensis]]'' (Canary Island pine), ''[[Pinus brutia|P.&nbsp;brutia]]'' (Turkish pine) and ''[[Pinus pinaster|P.&nbsp;pinaster]]'' (maritime pine), which all share many features with it. It is a relatively non-variable species, with constant morphology over the entire range.

=== Chemistry ===
''Pinus roxburghii'' contains large amounts of [[taxifolin]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Stefan Willför |author2=Mumtaz Ali |author3=Maarit Karonen |author4=Markku Reunanen |author5=Mohammad Arfan |author6=Reija Harlamow |name-list-style=amp |year=2009 |title=Extractives in bark of different conifer species growing in Pakistan |journal=[[Holzforschung]] |volume=63 |issue=5 |pages=551–558 |doi=10.1515/HF.2009.095 |s2cid=97003177}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
[[File:Pinus Roxburgi Trees Murree.jpg|thumb|''Pinus roxburghii'' trees in [[Murree]], [[Pakistan]]]]
[[File:Pinus roxburghii Ranikhet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|''P. roxburghii'' forest in Uttarakhand, [[India]]]]

The native range extends from [[Tibet]] in [[China]] and [[Afghanistan]] through [[Pakistan]], across northern [[India]] (in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Sikkim]] and [[Arunachal Pradesh]]), [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]], to [[Myanmar]].<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /><ref name="GRIN" /> It generally occurs at lower altitudes than other pines in the [[Himalayas]], from {{convert|500|-|2000|m|abbr=on}}, occasionally up to {{convert|2300|m|abbr=on}}. The other Himalayan pines are ''[[Pinus wallichiana|P.&nbsp;wallichiana]]'' (blue pine), ''[[Pinus bhutanica|P.&nbsp;bhutanica]]'' (Bhutan white pine), ''[[Pinus armandii|P.&nbsp;armandii]]'' (Chinese white pine), ''[[Pinus gerardiana|P.&nbsp;gerardiana]]'' (chilgoza pine), ''[[Pinus densata|P.&nbsp;densata]]'' (Sikang pine) and ''[[Pinus kesiya|P.&nbsp;kesiya]]'' (Khasi pine).

==Ecology==
Owing to its shallow roots it is attributed to [[soil erosion]], particularly in the Himalayas. It does not allow any vegetation to grow around it by making soil more [[Soil pH|acidic]] through its fallen needles.

Usually, the accumulating carpet of needles on the forest floor under these trees makes conditions unfavourable for many common plants and trees to grow. The most common trees which are able to grow in this environment are ''[[Rhododendron]]'', banj oak (''[[Quercus leucotrichophora]]'') and trees from the family [[Ericaceae]] (known locally as ''eonr'' and ''lodar''). This could possibly be due to the relative immunity from fire that the thick bark of these species gives them. The [[Himalayan nettle]] (''Girardinia diversifolia'') is another plant which seems to thrive well under this tree.

The [[caterpillar]]s of the [[moth]] ''[[Batrachedra silvatica]]'' are not known from foodplants other than chir pine. The [[white-bellied heron]] (''Ardea insignis''), a large [[critically endangered]] [[heron]], is known to roost in chir pine.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}

==Uses==
Chir pine is widely planted for [[timber]] in its native area, being one of the most important trees in [[forestry]] in northern Pakistan, India and Nepal. For local building purposes, the wood of this tree is the least preferred, as it is the weakest and most prone to decay when compared with other conifers. However, in most low altitude regions, there is no other choice, except for the fact that these being tropical latitudes there are other trees at lower altitudes.

When this species of pine tree reaches a large girth, the bark forms flat patches which can be broken off in chunks {{clarify span|text=of about {{convert|8|sqin|disp=flip|abbr=on}} by {{convert|2|in|disp=flip|abbr=on}} thick|explain=Original passage was «(of about 8 inches or 20 centimetres square by 2 in or 5.1 cm thick)»|date=December 2013}}. <!--{{convert|8|in|cm|disp=or}} square by {{convert|2|in|cm|disp=or|abbr=on}} thick). -->It has a layered structure like plywood, but the individual layers have no grain. The locals use this easily carvable bark to make useful items like lids for vessels. Blacksmiths of that region also use this bark exclusively as the fuel for their furnaces.

Old trees which die from fire or drought, undergo some metamorphosis in their wood due to the crystallization of the resin inside the heart wood. This makes the wood become brightly coloured (various shades from translucent yellow to dark red) and very aromatic with a brittle, glassy feel. This form of wood known as ''jhukti'' by the locals is very easy to ignite, since it never gets wet or waterlogged. They use it for starting fires and even for lighting, as a small piece of the wood burns for a long time (owing to the high resin content). Of all the conifer species in the area, only ''P. roxburghii'' seems to be ideal for that purpose.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

Every autumn, the dried needles of this tree form a dense carpet on the forest floor, which the locals gather in large bundles to serve as bedding for their cattle, for the year round. The green needles are also used to make tiny hand brooms.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

The locals of the [[Jaunsar-Bawar]] region of Uttarakhand have several uses for this tree, which is known in the local dialect as ''salli''.

It is also occasionally used as an ornamental tree, planted in parks and gardens in hot dry areas, where its heat and drought tolerance is valued.

=== Resin ===
It is also tapped commercially for [[resin]]. On [[distillation]], the resin yields an essential oil, commonly known as [[turpentine]], and non-volatile [[rosin]]. The proportion of rosin and turpentine oil in chir pine is 75% and 22% respectively with 3% losses, etc.

The turpentine is chiefly used as a solvent in pharmaceutical preparations, perfume industry, in manufacture of synthetic pine oil, disinfectants, insecticides and denaturants. It is one of the most important basic raw materials for the synthesis of [[terpene]] chemicals which are used in a wide variety of industries such as adhesives, paper and rubber, etc.

Chir pine rosin is principally used in paper, [[soap]], cosmetics, paint, varnish, rubber and polish industries. Besides these, other uses include manufacture of linoleum, explosives, insecticides and disinfectants, as a flux in soldering, in brewing and in mineral beneficiation as a frothing agent.

Presently, India imports resin which is far superior in quality as well as cheaper than the indigenous one. Quality of resin depends on the [[pinene]] content. Imported resin contains 75–95% pinenes, whereas chir pine resin contains only about 25% pinenes.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027152645/http://www.geocities.com/dsmutum/chir.html Retapping Chir Pines the Environmentally Friendly Way]
* [http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Pinus+roxburghii Plants For A Future: Chir Pine]
* [https://archive.org/stream/floraindicaordes03roxb#page/650/mode/2up Flora Indica: ''P. longifolia'' (Chur Pine), III, p. 651.]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q3239892}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pinus|roxburghii]]
[[Category:Trees of Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Trees of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Trees of the Indian subcontinent]]
[[Category:Flora of Tibet]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1897]]
[[Category:Trees of temperate climates]]
[[Category:Least concern plants]]