Common Name: Oocarpa Pine

General Information

Pinus oocarpa is an evergreen, coniferous tree with a wide and open crown, and long, flexible branches, curved upwards[]. It grows from 20 - 35 metres tall with a usually straight and cylindrical bole that can be unbranched for 15 metres or more[, , ].
An important timber tree in its native areas, where it is arvested from the wild for its timber, the tree is also often cultivated as a plantation crop in the tropics[]. The tree is also commonly tapped for its resin, but usually only in the last few years before being cut for timber[]. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Despite the inferred decline due to levels of exploitation, the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy of this species are huge. 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

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Range

Central America - Nicaragua to northwestern Mexico (Sonora)

Habitat

Widely distributed on mountain slopes and plains, sometimes forming almost pure stands, but often associated with oaks and sometimes with other pines, occurring at elevations of 1,000 - 2,700 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus oocarpa is a plant of the semi-arid to moist tropics and subtropics, where it occurs at elevations from 350 - 2,500 metres, reaching its best development at elevations between 1,200 - 1,800 metres[]. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall can be as low as 600 - 800 mm, in other parts of its native range annual rainfall can exceed 2,500 mm[]. It can tolerate a dry season of up to 5 months[]. The plant is not tolerant of frost according to one report, though others say that is able to withstand short periods with temperatures falling to around -5°c[, ].
Mature plants require a sunny position, though young plants can tolerate some shade[]. Plants sometimes tolerate shallow soil[]. Most often found in the wild on shallow, sandy clay soils of moderate soil acidity (pH 4.0 - 6.5) that are well drained[]. Plants grow best on deep, well-drained soils and with good rainfall regimes[].
Young seedling plants tend to become bushy shortly after field establishment and remain that way for several years before a dominant terminal leader develops[].
Seedlings will resprout after heavy browsing by deer, and saplings will resprout from the base after either freezes or
fires of low intensity[].
Continued interest in Pinus oocarpa as a plantation species declined in the early to mid-1980's because provenances of Pinus tecunumanii and Pinus caribaea var hondurensis were found that yielded larger volumes of wood[]. The disadvantages of this species as a plantation crop include its slow initial growth on some sites, poor wind firmness,
susceptibility to nutrient deficiencies and needle diseases, and a relatively light crown that permits a continuous
weedy understory to develop, increasing the fire danger[]. However, recent problems of stem breakage in Pinus tecunumanii have once again stimulated interest in planting more of this plant[]. Growers like its good wood quality, its ability to sprout from cut stumps, and the ease with which it vegetatively propagates[].
An extremely variable species in its native environment because it has evolved under diverse climatic and edaphic patterns over its 3000-km geographic distribution[].
In South-East Asia, plantation-grown trees often do not produce viable seed, due to unsynchronized production of male and female cones[].
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[].
Tablets made from the resin of this plant are used in the treatment of pneumonia[]. The resin is boiled in a water bath with the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus - the steam arising from this is breathed in as a remedy for cough[].
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[].

An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of dysentery[].
A decoction of the leaves is applied as a fomentation, two or three times a day, in order to reduce inflammation of wounds[].

A decoction of the bark is used in the treatment of bronchial asthma[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A pioneer species, it rapidly colonizes exposed sites left bare by fire or erosion[]. The tree is planted to shade out alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica) grass[].
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[].

Slivers of the wood are burned in order to fumigate and freshen the air in rooms with sick people[].

A resin is obtained from the bark[, ].
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.

The heartwood is light reddish brown; distinct from the pale yellowish-brown sapwood[]. The lustre is medium; the grain straight; texture somewhat fine and uniform[]. The wood is easy to work with hand and machine tools[]. The wood is less prone to splitting and warping than that of most other pines and therefore highly valued for the production of sawn timber[]. The heartwood is classified as very durable in resistance to attack by white-rot fungus, and moderately durable when exposed to a brown rot[]. The wood does not weather well without the protection of paint or other coatings[]. It is used as a general-purpose timber and for pulp[]. The handsome, very pale, yellowish wood is much used for all kinds of construction, and also for furniture[].
The wood is used for fuel and kindling[]. (It is probably the bark that is used for kindling[].)

Propagation

Seeds do not usually require pre-treatment but soaking them for 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing can improve the rate and percentage of germination[, ]. Seeds from the northernmost part of the plants range may require a period of cold stratification[]. The seeds begin to germinate in 7 - 10 days when sown in moist sand[]. The seedlings usually reach a field planting height of 20 - 25 cm in 5 - 7 months[].
The cones will open quickly when placed in a kiln or tobacco drying barn at 40 to 44°c for 24 hours[]. The seed can withstand kiln temperatures of 50°c for 12 - 18 hours without loss of viability[]. Higher temperatures are not recommended. Because the seeds have thin coats that can be easily split or cracked, great care is needed if dewinging the seed by hand[].
Successful natural regeneration is only possible where a relatively large amount of sunlight reaches the ground[]. Experiments in Indonesia showed that scions of P. Oocarpa grafted onto P. Merkusii grow faster in height than controls of the stock species[].

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