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Pine trees – pine provides a bounty of uses in survival situations.

Pinus balfouriana subsp. balfouriana pine tree

About the Pine tree (Pinus species)

Pine trees are easily recognized by their needle-like leaves grouped in bundles. Each bundle may contain one to five needles, the number varying among species. They are a resinous tree growing up to 250 feet tall. The tree’s odor and sticky sap provide an uncomplicated way to distinguish pines from similar looking trees with needle-like leaves.

The bark of most pine trees is thick and scaly (although some pines have thin, flaky bark).  The branches grow off the trunk in a spiral pattern.  New spring shoots are covered and brownish or whitish bud scales and later turn green as they spread outward.

The pine leaves go through several stages during their growth.  The seed leaves are followed by juvenile leaves (single leaves, green or blue-green, and arranged spirally on the shoot).  Needles are the adult leaves and are green and bundled in clusters of 1-6 needles together.

Seeds grow in pinecones covered in numerous spirally arranged scales with two seeds on each scale (except for the scales at the base and tip of the cone).  The seeds are small, winged seeds that are dispersed via the wind.

Where to Find Pine Trees

Pines prefer open, sunny areas. They are widespread and found throughout North America, Central America, much of the Caribbean region, North Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and some places in Asia.

Edible Parts of Pine Trees

The seeds of all species are edible (but some are very small or hard to get out). Some species have large seeds called pine nuts.  You can collect the young male cones, which grow only in the spring, as a survival food. Boil or bake the young cones. Eat the seeds raw or cooked.

The bark of young twigs is edible as is the soft, moist, white inner bark found clinging to the woody outer bark.  Peel off the bark of thin twigs. You can chew the juicy inner bark; it is rich in sugar and vitamins.

Green pine needle tea is high in vitamin C. Gather the needles and remove any of the brown, papery sheaths located at the base of the needles.  Chop the needles into small bits.  Steep (soak) the young, green pine needles in boiling water for 5-10 minutes.  The needles should be settled to the bottom of the cup by this time.

Other Uses for Pine Trees in a survival situation

Use pine tree resin to waterproof articles. Also, you can use pine resin as a glue. Collect the resin from the tree. If there is not enough resin on the tree, cut a notch in the bark so more sap will seep out. Put the resin in a container and heat it. The hot resin is your glue. Use it as is or add a small amount of ash dust to strengthen it. Use it immediately. You can use hardened pine resin as an emergency dental filling.

Pine tree picture gallery

Image Credits

In-Article Image Credits

Large eastern white Pine in Southern Ontario, Canada via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. April 8, 2021
Pine Pinus koraiensis pine nuts via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. May 30, 2004
Fully grown and fallen fresh female eastern-white pine (pinus strobus) via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. November 21, 2017
Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) cone and leaves via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. November 21, 2017
Flowering young pine cones via Wikimedia Commons by Oleg Bor with usage type - Creative Commons License. June 11, 2019
Illustration Pinus sylvestris 1885 via Wikimedia Commons by Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé with usage type - Public Domain. 1885
Bark of Pinus taeda pine tree via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Public Domain. April 21, 2009
Pinus radiata pine cone via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. March 21, 2009
Pinus radiata pollen cones via Wikimedia Commons by Adrian J. Hunter with usage type - Creative Commons License. August 31, 2017
Pine nuts in various stages via Wikimedia Commons by Nuno Tavares with usage type - GNU Free
Branch of young Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Pinus longaeva, showing needle clusters and mature cone with characteristic bristles via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. July 20, 2010
Pinus albicaulis pine tree via Wikimedia Commons by USDA Forest Service with usage type - Creative Commons License
Monte Alban pine tree via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License
Mountain forest dominated by Pinus armandii pine trees via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. November 10, 2008
Pinus armandii foliage and cones via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. November 10, 2008
Knobcone Pine Pinus attenuata in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz Mountains, California via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. October 14, 2009
Pinus attenuata pine tree top of young tree with cones via Wikimedia Commons by Bureau of Land Management with usage type - Public Domain. June 20, 2008
Pinus balfouriana subsp. balfouriana pine tree via Wikimedia Commons by USDA Forest Service with usage type - Public Domain
Pinus nigra salzmannii pine tree trunk bark via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - GNU Free. June 17, 2007
Pinus eldarica Medw., = Pinus brutia subsp. eldarica (Medw.) Nahal illustration via Wikimedia Commons by Jakob Sergejevitsch Medwedew with usage type - Public Domain. 1902
Exposed roots of Pinus canariensis pine tree via Wikimedia Commons by Frank Vincentz with usage type - GNU Free. February 27, 2008
Bark of Pinus canariensis pine tree via Wikimedia Commons by Frank Vincentz with usage type - GNU Free. February 20, 2008
Pinyon cones with pine nuts via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. October 8, 2011
Pinyon Pine Cone with Seeds via Flickr by Bandelier National Monument with usage type - Creative Commons License. July 1, 2010

Featured Image Credit

Pinus balfouriana subsp. balfouriana pine tree via Wikimedia Commons by USDA Forest Service with usage type - Public Domain

 

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