The pino laricio, scientifically known as Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold, is a species of pine tree that yields a valuable wood with a variety of applications. Commonly referred to as pino negral, pino salgareño, pino maderero, or pino albar, this tree is also known by regional names such as pudio, pino carrasco, pino real, pino silvestre, pino nasarre, and pino bord. This article delves into the characteristics, properties, uses, and ecological aspects of pino laricio wood.
Distribution and Habitat
The pino laricio is native to Southern and Central Europe, ranging from Spain to Crimea, and extending into Asia Minor, including Turkey, Cyprus, and the Caucasus. It can also be found in North Africa, specifically in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria.
In Spain, the tree is naturally present in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, the Catalan Coastal Range, the Iberian System (Serranía de Cuenca, Maestrazgo), and the Betic mountain ranges, including the Segura-Cazorla Massif, Sierra Mágina, Sierra de Baza, Sierra Nevada, and Sierra de Los Filabres. It is also found in the Central System, such as the Iruelas Valley in the western Sierra de Gredos and the La Jarosa Valley in the Sierra de Guadarrama. In some regions of Spain, it is known as pino cascalbo.
The tree thrives at altitudes ranging from sea level up to 2000 meters above sea level, but it is most common between 250 and 1600 meters above sea level. Predominantly orophilic, in Spain, it is found between 800 and 2000 meters above sea level.
Pino laricio prefers calcareous soils but can adapt to siliceous substrates. It is an evergreen tree that is resistant to cold, tolerating intense frosts and snowfalls. It can also withstand pronounced summer droughts. While it prefers partial shade when young, it requires ample light to grow in later stages.
Madera de Pino: Características y Usos
Historically, the pino laricio was present in the Cantabrian Mountains and the northern plateau, but its natural range has been reduced over millennia due to fires and grazing, leading to its replacement by oak forests, scrublands, and pastures. Reforestation efforts since the mid-20th century have helped extend its presence.
Tree Description
The pino laricio is a medium to large tree, reaching heights between 20 and 55 meters, although mature stands typically range from 15 to 20 meters. It features a cylindrical and straight trunk with verticillate branching that persists into adulthood. The crown is conically rounded in its youth, becoming irregular with age.
The bark is white-ashy to gray-brown or dark gray, with coarse furrows and fine plates that become more cracked with age. Its needles are grouped in pairs, long and strong, measuring between 8 and 20 cm, and are dark green.
The cones are small, ranging from 5 to 10 cm in length, and have rounded scales. They mature from green to pale yellow 18 months after pollination, appearing between May and June and opening from December to April, dispersing winged seeds by wind.
The tree grows moderately fast, with annual growth rates of 30-70 cm. It is a very long-lived species, with some specimens exceeding 1000 years. Notably, some specimens in Puertollano (Sierra de Quesada, Jaén) are dated to be around 1050 years old, potentially the oldest of this variety in the world. The tree reaches sexual maturity between 15 and 40 years, with large seed crops every 2 to 5 years.
Ideas creativas con rodajas de madera de pino
Wood Characteristics
Color and Appearance
The sapwood (albura) of pino laricio is white-yellowish or yellowish, while the heartwood (duramen) ranges from pale red to light orange. The wood exhibits clearly visible growth rings and present grain, especially on radial and tangential surfaces. The grain is medium, uniform, and fine, facilitating finishing and polishing. The fiber is straight. The wood contains small to medium-sized knots, which are relatively abundant. It is slightly resinous, with numerous resin pockets and a characteristic strong resinous odor.
Physical Properties
The apparent density of pino laricio wood (at 12% humidity) ranges between 510 and 580 kg/m³, although some sources cite up to 650 kg/m³. It is considered semi-light, semi-hard, or semi-soft, with a Chaláis-Meudon hardness of 2.35. The volumetric shrinkage is 0.39%, indicating relatively stable wood. The ratio between radial and tangential shrinkage is 1.82%, indicating a medium tendency to cup. There is an abrupt transition between earlywood and latewood. Resin canals are present and numerous, while parenchyma is absent or scarce.
Mechanical Properties
Pino laricio wood has a static bending resistance of 1169 kg/cm² and a modulus of elasticity of 96,500 kg/cm². Its axial compression resistance is 456 kg/cm². The wood is very elastic and resistant, considered slightly inferior to Scots pine but quite close.
Durability and Resistance
The durability of pino laricio wood against fungi ranges from durable to non-durable, depending on the conditions. The heartwood is non-impregnable or very difficult to impregnate, while the sapwood is impregnable and can be treated to improve durability. It is resistant to water and rot, making it suitable for outdoor use with proper treatment. The wood dries easily and is stable, with a low risk of deformation or cracking during drying, although it may exhibit resin exudation.
Workability
Pino laricio wood is easy to saw, except when there is excessive resin. It dries easily and quickly, with little risk of damage. Gluing can be problematic if there is excess resin. Nailing and screwing are easy, without significant issues. Finishing can be complicated on surfaces with a lot of resin. It lends itself well to carving and polishing, with a pleasant appearance and odor. It is considered an aromatic wood due to its strong natural scent.
Guía completa de tablones de pino de 20x7.2 cm
Uses and Applications
Construction and Carpentry
Pino laricio wood is used in auxiliary construction for formwork, props, light structures, roofs, and walls. It is also used in interior and exterior carpentry for doors, windows, coverings, moldings, friezes, and flooring. It is suitable for framing carpentry, both indoors and semi-outdoors. The wood is highly valued in naval construction for manufacturing masts and main poles of sailing vessels due to its elasticity and resistance. It is also used in the construction of light structures and structural elements in buildings.
Furniture
The wood is used in rustic and youth furniture, as well as interior decoration. It is utilized for chairs (dining, garden, and office), tables (dining, center, and garden), beds (double, single, bunk), wardrobes (clothing, kitchen, bathroom), and shelves for books and decorative objects. Thanks to its resistance to water and insects, it is used for outdoor furniture such as chairs, tables, and benches. It is also used in office furniture, including desks, chairs, and filing cabinets.
Crafts and Other Uses
Pino laricio wood is used in the manufacture of wooden toys due to its ease of working and lightness. It is also used for decorative items such as frames for photos and mirrors. It is suitable for fine carpentry and DIY projects due to its ease of machining. Traditionally, it has been used for the extraction of resins for rosin, although with lower yields than other pines like the pino pinaster.
Forest and Landscape Use
The tree is used as an ornamental plant in urban parks and gardens, as it tolerates polluted atmospheres. It is widely used in reforestation efforts in Spain and other countries, especially in marly and calcareous soils.
Ecological and Biological Properties
Pino laricio exhibits moderate variability in its morphological characteristics. It has a rapid growth rate and a generally conical rounded shape that can become irregular with age. It prefers calcareous terrains but is adaptable. Management is required to prevent pest incidences, especially the pine processionary, which particularly affects reforestation efforts at low altitudes and less suitable areas. It is resistant to extreme climatic conditions such as intense cold and summer droughts. It has a preference for partial shade during the early stages of growth.
Taxonomy and Varieties
The scientific name of pino laricio is Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold. It is classified within the Pinaceae family, order Pinales. Notable subspecies and varieties related to pino laricio include:
- Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii var. corsicana (also known as subsp. laricio), the laricio pine of Corsica and central Italy.
- Pinus nigra var. salzmannii, known as pino salgareño in Spain and southern France.
- Pinus nigra var. mauretanica or Atlas black pine in Morocco and Algeria.
The subspecies laricio typically refers to the pino laricio proper, although common names may overlap between subspecies.
Wood Identification
At an anatomical level, pino laricio wood can be confused with closely related species such as Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine). Genetic techniques used for its identification include nuclear and chloroplast microsatellites, with recent advances. Spectrometric methods, such as the FTIR-ATR technique, are employed to distinguish between Pinus nigra and Pinus sylvestris.
Numerical and Technical Summary
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Tree Height | 20 - 55 m (Medium to Large) |
| Needle Length | 8 - 20 cm |
| Cone Size | 5 - 10 cm |
| Specific Weight/Apparent Density (12% Moisture) | 510 - 580 kg/m³ (some sources up to 650 kg/m³) |
| Chaláis-Meudon Hardness | 2.35 (Semi-soft Wood) |
| Volumetric Shrinkage Rate | 0.39% |
| Static Bending Resistance | 1169 kg/cm² |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 96,500 kg/cm² |
| Axial Compression Resistance | 456 kg/cm² |
| Annual Growth | 30 - 70 cm per year |
| Maximum Recorded Age | Approximately 1000-1050 years |
Considerations for Working with the Wood
Pino laricio wood is easy to saw when it does not have excessive resin. It offers rapid and simple drying with a low risk of cracking. Nailing and screwing can be performed without significant difficulties. Control and cleaning are necessary to avoid issues with resin during gluing and finishing. It demonstrates good dimensional stability once dry, making it suitable for furniture and structures that require durability.
Typical Uses
| Use | Description |
|---|---|
| Construction | Props, formwork, framing carpentry, structure |
| Interior and Exterior Carpentry | Doors, windows, coverings, flooring, moldings |
| Rustic and Youth Furniture | Chairs, tables, beds, wardrobes, shelves |
| Naval Construction | Masts and main poles for sailing vessels |
| DIY Material | Toys, decorative items, carpentry projects |
| Outdoor Furniture | Resistant to water and insects, suitable for garden furniture |
Curiosities
Pino laricio has been traditionally valued in naval construction for its elastic wood. Some of the oldest specimens in Spain belong to this species, demonstrating its great resistance and longevity. It is the pine species with the highest incidence of pine processionary attacks, especially in reforested areas at lower altitudes, which can weaken forest stands. It has been commercially important for the extraction of resins and rosins, although with lower yields than other pine species.
The pino laricio presents a bark with fine cracked plates of white-ashy to dark gray color, a straight trunk with verticillate branching, and long, green needles grouped in pairs. The wood has a light coloration with visible grains and knots, as well as a strong aroma of resin.
In summary, the wood of pino laricio is a coniferous wood valued for its combination of elasticity, resistance, and aesthetic beauty, making it suitable for multiple applications both indoors and outdoors. Its easy machining, dimensional stability after drying, and environmental resistance (especially with proper treatment) make it a useful option for construction, carpentry, boats, and furniture. Its wide natural distribution and ability to adapt to calcareous soils and varied climatic conditions make it a significant forest species in Europe, especially in Spain, and adjacent areas.