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Lim (Himalayan Blue Pine)

  • Writer: Saryan Foundation
    Saryan Foundation
  • Jan 19
  • 2 min read

Pinus wallichiana (Himalayan Blue Pine)

Vernacular name:  Lim (in Kinnauri); Kail (in Hindi)


Click here to watch a short video about this species

Click here to watch a short video about this species


Range

Pinus wallichiana is a coniferous evergreen tree native to the Himalayas spaning across seven countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China. Commonly known as the Himalayan blue pine (referred to as Kail - in Hindi and Lim - in the Kinnauri dialect), this tree is found at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 3,700 meters.  


Uses

  • The wood from the blue pine tree is highly durable, making it suitable for construction. It is also used to craft various tools such as skyoba, a traditional Kinnauri wooden hand-blending device or mixer. Additionally, the bark of the blue pine tree has traditionally been used as a splint to support fractured bones in farm animals, such as sheep and cows.

  • The resin from the blue pine tree serves as a source of turpentine, rosin, and pitch, making it valuable as a construction material and wood preservative. Additionally, the resin is believed to have therapeutic properties and is used by locals to alleviate joint pain, and heal cracked heels. Resin acids also contribute to the tree's chemical defense against insect predators.


Other interesting facts

  • Pinus wallichiana is an early successional species and is characterised by its rapid growth and ability to stablise soil in disturbed or challenging environments. Its resilience enables it to thrive in relatively drier climates that are prone to wildfires. By colonising such harsh conditions, it not only secures its own survival but also improves soil stability and microclimatic conditions (such as providing shade, better soil, reduced erosion), paving the way for establishment and growth of other plants in the ecosystem.

  • Recent studies have shown that the radial growth (girth/thickness of the trunk) of the blue pine tree is positively associated with an increase in temperature due to global warming. However, high rainfall and humidity have been found to negatively affect its radial growth, which could have implications for forest composition, biodiversity, and ecosystem dynamics as climate change continues to alter environmental conditions.


References

  1. Li, Jun, et al. "Response of radial growth of Pinus wallichiana to climate change in Mount Qomolangma, Tibet, China." Ying yong sheng tai xue bao, The journal of applied ecology 35.5 (2024): 1205-1213.

  2. Kaur, Amanpreet, and Rajesh Monga. "Quantifying: Genetic Traits in Pinus wallichiana Seedlings in the Northwestern Himalayan." (2023).

  3. Sinha, Dwaipayan. "A review on ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Pinus wallichiana AB Jacks." Pharmacognosy Journal 11.4 (2019).

  4. Ghimire, Balkrishna, et al. "Regeneration of Pinus wallichiana AB Jackson in a trans-Himalayan dry valley of north-central Nepal." Himalayan Journal of Sciences 6.8 (2010): 19-26.


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