Common Name: Tenasserim Pine

General Information

Pinus latteri is an evergreen tree with an open, globose to umbrella-like crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 200cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for local and commercial use of its timber and resin. It is sometimes cultivated for its resin[], and has been used for afforestation in several countries in Africa, but the results there have on the whole been unsatisfactory because of difficulties with raising it beyond the seedling stage in all situations where competition from other plants ('weeds') is a factor[].
Pinus latteri faces a range of threats within its range countries. The forests have been heavily exploited for timber and resin, conversion of forests for agriculture have greatly reduced its population, whilst other anthropogenic activity such as building hydroelectic dams have further degraded its habitat. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - southern China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan), Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

Habitat

Hills and terraces; at elevations up to 1,200 metres[]. Usually found in open, savannah-like areas that are frequently burned by native peoples[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Pollinators	Wind

Cultivation Details

Pinus latteri is native from low to moderate elevations in the tropics of southeast Asia. It is not very cold-hardy and can be damaged by temperatures falling to around freezing[]. Its range is within the influence of SE monsoons, with a mean annual precipitation around 1,500mm in Myanmar and Thailand[].
Pine species in general require a sunny position if they are to grow well and, whilst the different species have their own soil preferences, most will thrive in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[, ]. This species is found in the wild mainly on sandy and gravelly soils[].
The conical or ovoid-cylindric seed cones are 5 - 10cm long, ripening in their second growing season[].
Pinus latteri is a fire-adapted species. It has a fairly thick bark that can protect it from non-intensive fires and also has seedlings with a juvenile life stage (see paragraph below) that are capable of surviving grass fires[, ].
This is one of several Pinus species that have a juvenile life stage. After germinating, the seedlings produce secondary foliage but the central shoot does not elongate - at this stage the plant looks more like a bunchgrass than a pine. Especially when growing in shade, the plant can remain in this juvenile stage for several years, developing a large taproot but not increasing in height. If the light levels increase (due to removal of tree cover by fire, deforestation or some other reason) then the plant commences rapid height growth[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

The seeds of all Pinus species are more or less edible, and some are of good size and make very tasty and nutritious foods, often eaten in quantitiy. Others can be less desireable, either having a strongly resinous flavour, being bitter or, more commonly, rather too small and fiddly to make it very worthwhle even trying to eat them,
We have no specific information of the desireability of this species, though they are rather small (the size given includes the shell)[].
The gray-brown, ellipsoid-ovoid seeds are 5 - 8mm long and around 4mm wide[].

A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[].

Medicinal

The resin obtained from this plant is used in making ointments[].

Oil of turpentine, obtained from the oleo-resin of all pine trees, is antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, rubefacient, stimulant and vermifuge[, ]. It is a valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections[]. It is also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza and TB[].
Applied externally in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers, it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree can invade open terrain especially in nutrient-poor soils.It can be used as a pioneer species for restoring native woodland[].
The needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of some plants, including wheat[].

Other Uses

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[].

The bark is a source of tannins[].

The needles are a source of turpentine[].
The trunk can be used as a source of resin[]. The resin is obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[, ]. The oleoresin is distilled to give turpentine and rosin[].
Oil of Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[, ]. It has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for thinning and dissolving varnish and paints, a shoe polish, medicinal etc[, ].
Rosin is used in paper glue and soap manufacturing, as a constituent of varnishes and paints, and for coating the bows of stringed musical instruments such as violins[, ].
Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc[].

The timber is used for light construction, bridge building, and making poles and instruments[, ]. The wood is moderately hard and very resinous and only suitable for indoor applications when processed as sawn timber. Doors, window frames and flooring are common uses; some provenances can be put to veneers. Large quantities are nowadays used in the wood pulp industry[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - some highland provenances have a slight temperature dormancy, and it is recommended to cool down imbibed seed for 2 - 3 weeks in a refrigerator before sowing[]. Pre-soaking the seed in warm water at 40 - 50°c, then cooling it down for a night enhances germination[]. Sowing in sand in a seedbed and transplanting into polythene tubes is most common[]. Germination is quite fast for pre-treated seed - usually 5 - 20 days[]. Time in the nursery is 6 months to 1 year, planting out when the plants are 14 - 20 cm tall[]. Seedlings may already be suitable for transplanting after 4 - 6 months[].
Successful natural regeneration is only possible where a relatively large amount of sunlight reaches the ground[].
The seeds can be stored for several years, provided they are kept dry, cold and in an airtight container[].
Air-layering[].
Top cleft grafting[].
Mass propagation by rooting cuttings from hedged orchards is technically possible but not yet operational on a large scale[].

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