Common Name:

General Information

Pinus cubensis is an evergreen tree with a conical crown when young, becoming more open with age; it can grow 30 - 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 100cm in diameter.
The tree is an important source of timber in eastern Cuba, where it is commonly harvested from the wild. The tree is also used in revegetation programmes.
Pinus cubensis has a relatively limited extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, indicating that it might qualify as Near Threatened, but there is no evident decline. The species, being a pioneer in secondary forest, may even be on the increase after disturbance of primary forest. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' 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

Range

Caribbean - eastern Cuba

Habitat

Forming mostly pure stands of open forest, and invading disturbed areas, on serpentine and serpentine-based, often ferruginous soils; at elevations from 100 - 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	28.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus cubensis is found in the tropical to subtropical climate of eastern Cuba, where there is an abundant rainfall of 1,800mm or more annually, but with a dry cool season[]. It is not a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -5°c when fully dormant.
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[, ].
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 seed body is 5 - 7mm long.

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

Medicinal

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 is a natural pioneer species in the wild, often invading areas of disturbed soil. It is used in reforestation projects in Cuba[].
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[].

Oleo-resins are present in the tissues of all species of pines, but these are often not present in sufficient quantity to make their extraction economically worthwhile[]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[, ]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[].
Oil of Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[] and is separated by distillation[, ]. Turpentine 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 also obtained by distillation of pine resin. This 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 wood is used in construction etc[].

Propagation

Seed - germinates in 8 - 12 (max. 21) days without pre-treatment[]. However, they are often soaked in cold water overnight, followed by 2 - 3 days of cold storage at 4 - 5°c[]. Mechanical sifting of seed before sowing to eliminate hollow and defective seed can also improve germination considerably and make it possible to sow single seeds directly into containers instead of first sowing them in germination beds[].
Collection of cones can start as soon as they begin to change from green to brown on the tree; collecting cones earlier that this may give seeds with short viability[]. Seeds can be extracted from cones opened in the sun by raking them over as they lie open on the tarpaulin[].
Seed storage behaviour is orthodox; viability is lost within 1 year in hermetic storage with seeds at room temperature with 13 ± 2% mc; no loss in viability during 2 years hermetic storage at room temperature; no loss in viability after 5 years of storage at 0 - 5°c with over 8% mc; hermetic storage at 4.5% mc recommended; about 16% viability lost after 2.7 years of hermetic storage at 8°c[].

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