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Pines, or Pine Trees, are trees seen frequently in the background in the DreamWorks Dragons Franchise.
Description[]
The Pine Family (Pinaceae) are typically single-trunk evergreen trees that are native to many cool locations in the Northern Hemisphere, though they have been introduced to temperate and even tropical and subtropical climates as well. They are known for their strong 'pine' scent, leaves in the shape of needles that stay on the tree all year round, and their reproductive organs - the pine cone. The Pine Family includes groups such as spruces, firs, junipers, larches, and pines (Genus Pinus).
The reproductive structure of pines and other conifers is actually the 'cone'. There are male cones and female cones, but the latter is the one people are most familiar with. They vary in shape based on species, but all generally have a rounded 'cone' shape. Cones are composed of woody 'scales' that may be held together tightly or spread out with spaces in between. Seeds develop at the base of certain scales, once fertilized with pollen from a male cone.
Function[]
The primary use of pines seen in the Franchise is medicinal, specifically pine sap. In actuality, there have been many uses for pine in herbal medicine, most notably due to the needles' high Vitamin C content. The needles are edible and often used to flavor drinks. The inner bark and the seeds of some species - pine nuts - are also edible. The human character Elbone is seen eating a pine cone, presumably for the seeds.
Historically, pine tar and pitch has been manufactured from pine resin, which is used to water-proof ships and as a flammable agent for fires. Branches of needles and pine cones can be used as decoration. The wood is used extensively as it is cheap and the trees relatively easy to grow.
“ | Many sailors use pine tar to help waterproof our ships. Layers of pine tar can waterproof our ropes and masts, and thickened pine tar (called pitch) makes the outside of sailing vessels watertight. | ” |
— Eret in School of Dragons |
Though no longer directly an organic product, amber is fossilized resin from evergreen trees, including pine trees. Baltic Amber from the resin of Pinus or Sciadopitys conifers some 44 million years ago produced a valuable commodity for the Vikings. 'Raw' and 'Polished' amber is seen in the game, Dragons: Rise of Berk
Appearances[]
Dragons: Riders of Berk[]
In the episode "The Terrible Twos", Hookfang crashes into trees during a training mission, reemerging with pine cones stuck to Snotlout's helmet. Pine branches have also been shoved up his nose. Astrid teases that it's a good look for him.
Dragons: Race to the Edge[]
Season 2[]
In the episode, "Bad Moon Rising", Tuffnut stumbles into a training session of Stormfly's, and almost gets hit with her spines. He is covered with bites and scratches and bits of plants caught in his hair, including pine cones.
Season 5[]
Pine sap is specifically named in "No Dragon Left Behind" as an ingredient for a cure to poisoning from Slitherwing venom. The other ingredients include Angel Fern and Slitherwing venom.
Dragons: Rescue Riders[]
Season 1[]
In the episode, "Heavy Metal", Elbone is seen briefly walking in the forest of Huttsgalor where he finds a pine cone. He then takes a bite out of it.
Elbone again has a pine cone, possibly for eating, in "Iced Out". He carries it in his pack on a trek to the Icy Northern Tip of Huttsgalor.
Games[]
School of Dragons[]
In the player Quest, "Pine Cone Weather Station", the player collects pine cones and uses them to predict the weather. Humidity in the air causes the scales on a pine cone to close, indicating rain or a storm may be on the way.
In the quest, "A Slick Solution", Eret reveals that sailors use pine tar to waterproof their ships.
Pine cones are used to make a simple sun dial in the Quest, "Rumbling Docks and Sun Dial Clocks".
Dragons: Rise of Berk[]
Polished and Raw amber was introduced to the game in December 2017, as a new player activity. The player collects 'raw' amber from releasing dragons, searching with legendary dragons, or other special activities, then uses it to produce 'polished' amber. The 'polished' amber can then be used to purchase decorations for Berk.
A seasonal decoration called Vernal Spring, which contains several pine trees, was introduced during a spring update. The decoration can be bought for 350 Beltane Butterflies and takes 3 hours to be built.
Another seasonal decoration called Harald's Hammock, which consists of a hammock being tied between two pine trees, was introduced during the summer update of 2020. The decoration can be bought for 250 Festive Fireflies and takes 1 hour to be built.
Yet another decoration, called Jack Frost Pine, was introduced in the game with the 1.53 update. It costs 250 Yaknogs and requires 20 minutes to be built.
The Singetail Grovelout is said to enjoy perching in pine forests.
A decoration called "Cedar Bough Cottage" appears during the Snoggletog season, which is a Viking home with boughs of holly and evergreen. The cedar may be referring to true Cedars of the Genus Cedrus. These only occur in the Mediterranean and Himalayan regions, which Vikings were unlikely to have encountered. Alternatively, 'cedar' may be referring to the Red Cedar which is actually a Juniper species. Likewise, Red Cedars are native to Eastern North America and unlikely to have been encountered by Vikings.
Dragons: Titan Uprising[]
Pine cones are seen adorning the Snoggletog finery on Snoggletog Toothless, especially on his head and neck decorations.
References[]
Pinaceae on Wikipedia
Pine on Wikipedia
Conifer cone on Wikipedia
Pine (Franchise) uses Creative Commons Licensed content from the DreamWorks School of Dragons Wiki page Pine Cone Weather Station. The list of authors can be found on the page revision history (view authors). |
Pine (Franchise) uses Creative Commons Licensed content from the DreamWorks School of Dragons Wiki page A Slick Solution. The list of authors can be found on the page revision history (view authors). |