PINUS PSEUDOSTROBUS: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, USES, CULTIVATION - BIOLOGY - 2025

The Pinus pseudostrobus is a large tree that reaches up to 40 m in height and belongs to the Pinaceae family. Native to Central America, it is distributed from northern Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala to southern Mexico.

It is colloquially known as smooth pine, royal pine, white pine, straight pine, ocote pine, white ocote or chalmaite pine. It can also be known by the indigenous names chamite, pacingo and pinabete.

Pinus pseudostrobus. Source: Fernando Garffias

It is an evergreen tree free of ramifications, the first two thirds with a straight stem and a wide, dense and pyramidal crown. It has abundant branches with groups of terminal acicular leaves and resin canals along the trunk.

Pinus pseudostrobus is a source of resin; and its excellent quality wood is used in construction, windows, furniture and carpentry in general. It is a species cultivated in forestry operations, traditionally used for its medicinal properties and as an ornamental in open fields.

General characteristics

Morphology

- Subgenus: Pinus

- Species: Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl.

Habitat and distribution

The pine Pinus pseudostrobus grows in temperate forests, oak forests and conifers in an altitude range of 1,000 - 3,000 meters above sea level. In fact, it develops on moist and deep soils in tropical ecosystems with average annual rainfall of 800 - 2,000 mm.

The ecological zone of this species is located in high mountain forests with a dry and humid climate with average annual temperatures between 18 - 21º C. It requires deep soils preferably of volcanic origin, slightly acidic - pH between 5.5 and 6.5 -, loose and well drained.

Pinus pseudostrobus in its natural habitat. Source: hspauldi

In forest ecosystems it is associated with various species: oaks, cassia or gaultheria, forming scattered groves or individually. Likewise, in dry climates it is associated with quercus, Pinus cembroides and Juniperus flaccida, in secondary forests and undergrowth with sage, agave, opuntia and buddleja.

It is distributed in the Mesoamerican region from Mexico to Honduras, including Guatemala and El Salvador. In Mexico it is common in Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Federal District, Durango, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Nuevo León, Michoacán, Puebla, Sinaloa, Tlaxcala, Veracruz and Zacatecas.

It is common in the north and central region of Honduras, and in Guatemala in Sololá, Quezaltenango and Tonoticapán. In Nicaragua it is common in the tropical forests of the northern departments.

Applications

Wood

The wood of Pinus pseudostrobus, light, strong and with yellowish tones, is widely used in carpentry and cabinetmaking. In fact, it is used for the manufacture of beams, columns, panels, sheets, planks, tables, boxes, drawers, containers, and wood pulp - sawdust -.

Industrial

In some productive regions of Mexico and Honduras the species is used as a source of resin. Thus, its resin is appreciated for its chemical properties, being commonly used for the production of adhesives, varnishes or food additives.

Timber Pinus pseudostrobus. Source: Thelmadatter

Medicinal

Due to its medicinal properties, Pinus pseudostrobus leaf tea is useful for treating respiratory illnesses such as colds, bronchitis, and hoarseness. The nectar obtained from the maceration of the leaves is used to disinfect and clean the sight applied as eye drops.

Ornamental

The Pinus pseudostrobus is used as an ornamental plant in parks and sports fields, since its hanging foliage provides shade and freshness in the open environments.

Culture

The propagation of Pinus pseudostrobus is done through seeds collected from healthy and vigorous plants free of pests and diseases. Preferably from trees with a straight stem without low ramifications and abundant fruiting, in order to transmit these specific characteristics to the new generation.

The sowing is done in individual containers, growth beds or seedlings, trying to place 2-3 seeds per point. It is recommended to hydrate the seed for 12 hours before sowing to achieve 80-95% germination at 12 - 16 days.

Pinus pseudostrobus cones. Source: Forest & Kim Starr

When the seedlings reach 3 - 4 cm in height, depending on the degree of germination, a peal should be made. This practice consists of eliminating certain seedlings in order to select the best ones and avoid deformation of the root system in the nursery.

In the initial stages in the nursery the seedlings require a third of shade, frequent watering, without becoming excessive. Initially, nitrogen fertilization is carried out, later with foliar applications of N, P, K (20 - 20 - 20) every 15 days and inoculations of mycorrhizae.

Weeding and weed control is essential to avoid competition problems for water, nutrients and radiation. In addition, the incidence of pests and diseases in the nursery is reduced.

The ideal height of the seedling to be transferred to the final planting site is when it reaches 25 - 30 cm. A month before the transfer to the plantation, the conditioning or hardening of the plant begins.

At this point, fertilizer application is suspended and irrigation is reduced, subjecting the plants to full sunlight. This process will favor the development of a woody stem and the formation of branches, as well as the growth of the root system.

The sowing is done in the rainy season; and in the first years, fertilization, weeding and thinning processes must be carried out.

References

1. Cambrón-Sandoval, VH, Suzán-Azpiri, H., Sáenz-Romero, C., & Sánchez-Vargas, NM (2014). Development of Pinus pseudostrobus under different growth environments in common gardens. Wood and Forests, 20 (1), 47-57.
2. Gernandt, DS, López, GG, García, SO, & Liston, A. (2005). Phylogeny and classification of Pinus. Taxon, 54 (1), 29-42.
3. Pinus pseudostrobus (2019) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
4. Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl. var pseudostrobus (2016) Technological Package Information System for Reforestation. National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO).
5. Polanco Zambra, DA (2017) Pines (pinus): characteristics, reproduction, type of leaf and species. Recovered in: Naturaleza.paradais-sphynx.com
6. Reyes-Reyes, J., Aldrete, A., Cetina-Alcalá, VM, & López-Upton, J. (2005). Production of seedlings of Pinus pseudostrobus var. apulcensis on sawdust-based substrates. Chapingo Magazine. Forest and Environmental Sciences Series, 11 (2), 105-110.