Common Name:

General Information

Pinus lawsonii is an evergreen tree with a domed, open, often irregular crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 75cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use and trade of its wood and resin.
The population of Pinus lawsonii is believed to be stable. 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

Southern N. America - central and southwestern Mexico

Habitat

Mixed pine-oak forest and woodland; at elevations from 1,300 - 2,600 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus lawsonii is found at moderate to higher elevations in the tropical zone of southern Mexico with a mean annual precipitation in the range 600 - 1,500mm and a six month dry season. It is not very cold-hardy, being damaged by temperatures falling to around freezing[].
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[, ].
Mature seed cones are ovoid when open, with a flattened base, 5 --9mm long and 4 - 7cm wide. The cones take two growing seasons to ripen[].
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 dark-brown, obovoid seeds are 4 - 5mm 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 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[].

In places with abundant trees of this species, the resin may be tapped[]. 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[].

Along with other pines, which are often more abundant in the mixed pine or pine-oak forests, this species is cut commercially for lumber, although most trees are of medium size and the boles sometimes tortuous[].

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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