Pinus sylvestris L.

Horticultural & Botanical History

Ancient garden plant.  Grown by John Gerard as ‘Pinaster, the Wilde Pine tree’ by 1596.  ‘The wild pine.  Pinus sylvestris.  This pine grows near as tall as the former [Pinus sativa], its leaves are much shorter and slenderer, especially on the bottom of the branches, the catkins & cones smaller and sharper; but much of the same colours.  It grows in great plenty in Germany, & flowers much about ye time with the other.  From this tree comes the common Turpentine, chiefly used by the Ferriers; from which is distill’d the oil of Turpentine and the spirit; the dregs that are left at the bottom of the still is the common Rosin.  Mr. Dale affirms from Doctor Kreig that ye Burgundy pitch is made of Turpentine from this tree.  The curious may consult Mr. Miller; the Apothecary Botanicum Officinale p.347 where there is a beautiful account of this tree.’  [Blackwell p.190/1737].  English Botany vol.8, pl.MCCCLXXX/1868.

History at Camden Park

Pinus sylvestris is marked with a ‘c’ in an 1836 edition of Loddiges’ Nursery catalogue held at Camden Park [CPA].  In William Macarthur’s code, used and explained elsewhere, this means grown at Camden.  It is almost certain that it was grown in the gardens around this time but may have been short lived as it did not appear in the catalogues.

Notes

Pinus sylvestris Herb. (1790) = Pinus merkusii Jungh. & de Vriese

Pinus sylvestris Lour (1790) = Pinus massoniana Lamb.

Pinus sylvestris Mill (1768) = Pinus pinaster Ait. which see

Pinus sylvestris Gouan (1764) = Pinus halepensis Mill. which see

Pinus sylvestris Baung. (1816) = Pinus laricio Poir.

Pinus sylvestris Thunb. (1784) = Pinus thunbergii Parl.