Common Name:

General Information

Pinus occidentalis is an evergreen tree with an oval to bowl-shaped crown; it can grow 30 - 45 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 100 - 150cm in diameter.
The tree has been extensively harvested from the wild for its useful timber and also yields a resin for local use.
Being the only species of Pinus on Hispaniola and formerly abundant over much of the island, Pinus occidentalis has been heavily exploited for timber. A population decline of at least 50% over the last 100 years is very plausible, and exploitation of the species still continues at non-sustainable levels. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' 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 - Haiti, Dominican Republic

Habitat

Open or dense woodland, either in pure stands or mixed with various broad-leaved trees and shrubs; at elevations from 200 - 3,200 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	35.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus occidentalis is found on the island of Hispaniola, where it grows in a wide range of elevations, from around 200 - 3,200 metres. The climate is tropical , but at elevations above 1,600 - 1,800 metres there can be frosts in the cool season and rarely snow. The mean annual precipitation is generally within the range 1,200 - 1,600mm, but can reach 2,300mm in parts of its range. There is a 3 - 5 month dry season during the cool season[].
The plant requires a sunny position. It is found mainly in nutrient-poor, often shallow soils and rocky outcrops, which can be derived from limestone or more acid clays[].
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)[].

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[].

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[]. 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 making varnish, medicinal etc[]. Rosin is the substance left after turpentine is removed. This is used by violinists on their bows and also in making sealing wax, varnish etc[]. Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc.

This is an important timber tree in Hispaniola, where despite intensive exploitation it is still relatively common. Its wood has good qualities comparable to those found in the more widespread species Pinus caribaea and is used as round wood for transmission poles, fence posts, construction timber, crates, boxes, and made into wood pulp for particleboard as well as paper. There is limited resin tapping for local use only. It is a tropical pine and even those trees at the highest altitudes in the Dominican Republic are not likely to yield progeny that can be grown successfully in cool temperate climates.

Propagation

It is best to sow the seed in individual pots as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. A short stratification of 6 weeks at 4°c can improve the germination of stored seed[]. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible[]. Plants have a very sparse root system and the sooner they are planted into their permanent positions the better they will grow[]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm[]. We actually plant them out when they are about 5 - 10cm tall. So long as they are given a very good weed-excluding mulch they establish very well[]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[].
Cuttings. This method only works when taken from very young trees less than 10 years old. Use single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot. Disbudding the shoots some weeks before taking the cuttings can help. Cuttings are normally slow to grow away[].

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