Scots Pine

-Botanical

Latin name: Pinus sylvestris

The pine is a tree bringing together most of 111 different species. This is a conifer tree. Depending of the specie, this tree can have different sizes. These needles don't fall in winter, they are persistent.
Pines are anyway trees which like the light, and they can stand easily dryness and poor grounds.
The Scots pine is one specie native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Ireland, Great-Britain and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia. This pine can grow until 25 meters high, and 1 meter trunk diameter when it's mature.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Ailim
Seasons: Winter and Spring
Letter in the Ogham: A
Meaning: Purification, births, incense.

Scots pine has a long and rich history in mythology. Scots pine groves or "Shaman forest" scattered over the dry grasslands of Eastern Siberia were considered sacred by a Mongolian people living around the lake Baikal.
In Celtic culture, druids used to light a big bonfire of Scots pine during the winter solstice, to celebrate the new season and to draw back the sun. Glades of Scots pine were also decorated with lights: the tree began the representation of the Divine Light. Maybe the origin of our Christmas tree?

-Healing

Pine's buds, very resinous, are used as a diuretic medication. They are most of time changed in syrup or pastilles. From pine's wood we can extract by distillation the "Norways' tar", for its antiseptic properties.

-Physical uses

Scots pine is an important tree in forestry. Its wood is used for pulp, and sawn timber products.
In the pre-industrial age, Scots pine was used to make tar.
The wood is pale brown to red brown, and used very often for constructions works.
And of course, today, this tree is best known as the perfect Christmas tree, that's why it's cultivated all year long.