Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), fam. Pinaceae.
   The most widespread tree in Kyiv, forming a "backbone" of our forest. It seems that in most cases the pines are planted by man (because they grow in straight rows), and this practice is still continuing – on clearings they obviously do not plant anything except pines. Not all of them take roots successfully, but there are some pleasant exceptions.
   The yellowish male spikes (microstrobiles) give out abundant pollen in May, which forms the sulfur-colored patterns on drying waterholes. The springing buds and young shoots are used as medicinal, but they are located too high in mature trees, and in young ones even several shoots broken off will lead to ugly shape of the tree in the future. In summer, the resin coming from cracks of the bark could be found (this process seems to be most active in hot weather). Pine is a source of antiinflammatory, restorative, sedative, vasodilatory, detoxifying, diuretic, choleretic, and radioprotective remedies.

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