A medium sized tree reaching up to 90 feet tall, often with a twisted or poorly formed trunk (depending on origin of seed). Young crowns are rounded; older crowns become round-topped. Bark orange to orange-brown and scaly or peeling when young; later developing irregular gray or red-brown ridges and furrows. Upper crowns always show orange peeling bark. Twig moderately stout, green when young, changing to yellow-brown to olive-brown with large orangish, narrowly ovoid buds. Leaves evergreen needles, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, with two stout, twisted needles per fascicle, blue-green with distinct stomatal bands. Flowers monoecious; males cylindrical, yellow, in large clusters along twigs; females oval, yellow-green to purple. Fruits: cones are ovoid, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, yellow-brown in color and slightly stalked; umbo is somewhat armed, with a blunt spine; apophysis resembles a pyramid, particularly on basal scales; maturing in the fall.

Antirheumatic, antiseptic, balsamic, diuretic, expectorant, rubefacient and vermifuge (turpentine from the resin); antiseptic, diuretic and expectorant (leaves and young shoots); diuretic and respiratory-stimulant (seed essential oil)

Plants For A Future

(+)-catechin, epicatechin, estragole, eugenol-methyl-ether, isopimaric acid (plant); phenol, pinocembrin, pinosylvin (wood); 1,8-cineole, alpha-carotene, alpha-phellandrene, alpha-pinene, anisaldehyde, ascorbic acid, beta carotene, beta-myrcene, beta-pinene, borneol, bornyl acetate, butyric acid, capric acid, caryophyllene, chamazulene, citral, cuminaldehyde, d-limonene, l-Limonene, limonene, lutein, neoxanthin, pinitol, sabinene, valeric acid, violaxanthin, xylose (leaves); delta-3-carene (resin); abietic acid, alpha-pinene, beta-phellandrene, beta-pinene, camphene, dehydroabietane, dehydroabietic acid, delta-cadinene, dipentene, neoabietic acid (resin, exudate and sap); adenine, choline (flower); testosterone (pollen); alpha-terpinene, furfural, terpineol (root); beta-sitosterol, campesterol, dihydroquercetin, ferulic acid, n-nonacosane, protocatechuic acid, quercetin, quinic acid, raffinose, shikimic acid, tannin, vanillic acid (bark)

The turpentine obtained from the resin is a valuable remedy in the treatment of kidney, bladder and rheumatic affections, and also in diseases of the mucous membranes and the treatment of respiratory complaints. Externally it is used in the form of liniment plasters and inhalers. The leaves and young shoots are used internally for their mildly antiseptic effect within the chest and are also used to treat rheumatism and arthritis. They can be added to the bath water for treating fatigue, nervous exhaustion, sleeplessness, skin irritations. They can also be used as an inhalant in the treatment of various chest complaints. The essential oil from the leaves is used in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory infections, and also for digestive disorders such as wind. The seeds are used in the treatment of bronchitis, tuberculosis and bladder infections. A decoction of the seeds can be applied externally to help suppress excessive vaginal discharge.

James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P: 658-659, CRC Press July 2002.