PINUS ROXBURGHII

(chirpine)
Family: Coniferae
 Habit
– Large evergreen tree sometimes nearly
deciduous.
• Branches up to middle age whorl but not
so defined.
• Crown elongated, more or less pyramidal
later becoming spreading, round &
umbrella shaped.
Chir- needles
Male cone
Female cone
 Distribution and habitat
Himalayan sub tropical pine forests.
- Up to 3000ft to 6000 ft.
- Bhutan in East to Afghanistan in west;
Jammu, Punjab, U.P, & Nepal.
- Associates: Deodar, Blue pine, Quercus,
Rhododendron, Shorea robusta,
Anogeissus latifolia, Bauhinia retusa.
 Climate and soil
• Temp:- 32-38o c, Rain fall: 100-175 cm

• Geology& soil:- In outer Himalayas &

Shiwaliks on tertiary sandstone with
occasional band of clay.
• Often grow on bare rock but trees in
localities stunted.
• On quartzite Chir forest usually
pure.
• On mica schist with a deep soil.
 LEAF SHEDDING,
FLOWERING & FRUITING
• Growth and persistence of needle
• Male flowers : Inflorescence is 5-10 cm long.
• Female flowers : near apex of new shoots
(solitary or in pair) from early February
• Pollination: February to April
• Fertilization: During second year
 Seed and seedlings
• No. of seeds/cone- 30–100, Avg:- 40-50

Seeds winged

• Seedlings:- Light demander, Frost

hardy, Drought resistant ,Fire hardy

than any other Himalayan conifers.

Severe fire harmful.

 Silvicultural characters

• Light: Strong light demander

• Soil: Growing on bare rock , but
intolerant in badly drained soil.
• Frost: Very frost hardy.
• Fire:- More fire hardy
• Chir needles shed during hot season &
`are very inflammable.
• Crown fires are likely to takes place.
•
 Diseases

Fungi:
Cronartium himalyanse – Rust disease
on saplings.

Coleosporium campanulas –Needle rust.

 NATURAL REGENARATION

• Seed fall:-April- July.

Germination- Few days of

monsoon. Epigious type, 80-90%

 Factors affecting NR
• Seed bearers.
• Light.
• Drought
• Topography
• Soil covering
• Fire
• Grazing and grass cutting
 Artificial regeneration
• Cone collection : December-
March
• Planting – ball of earth on roots
• Direct sowing – in
patches/contour lines at break
of monsoons
 Silvicultural systems
• Uniform system of management
• Rotation :120-150 years
• Thinning:-15 years old
• Tending operations : Cleaning when
young regeneration 3-4 feet high
• Tannin, resin tapping operations
facilitated when concentrated in
definite areas
 Uses
• Buildings, furniture, boxes and general
carpentry
• Resin tapping industry – concentrated
in U.P., Punjab, H.P. and Jammu
• Turpentine oil: Oleoresin.
→ Light tapping
→ Heavy tapping (tapping to death)