Common Name: Durango Pine

General Information

Pinus durangensis is an evergreen tree with a dense, globose crown; it can grow up to 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for half to threequarters of its height and 80 - 100cm in diameter[].
The tree has a tall, straight bole and is commonly exploited from the wild for its good quality timber[]. Timber exploitation has severely reduced populations of this tree and cultivation in plantations is being trialled[].
Exploitation of Pinus durangensis for timber has reduced formerly extensive pure forests to only scattered, open stands over much of its range. 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

Range

Southern N. America - northern and western Mexico, south to Michoacán

Habitat

Pine forests, sometimes in pure stands; mixed oak-pine forest; mainly in soils derived from volcanic rock, growing in both shallow rocky soils and in deeper soils; at elevations from 1,400 - 2,800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus durangensis is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -10°c when fully dormant[]. Climatically, its Sierra Madre habitat is warm-temperate, but with cold spells during the short winter at the higher elevations. Annual precipitation varies between 700 - 1,200mm, most of which occurs in the summer[].
Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating light shade[]. Succeeds in poor rocky soils, but grows better in deeper soils[].
The seed cones are 5 - 11cm x 4 - 7cm, taking two growing seasons to ripen then opening on the tree to release the seed[].
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 grey seeds are 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 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 yellowish wood is soft, light in weight. It is used for construction such as roof beams, general carpentry, furniture, floors, plywood etc[, ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

It is best to sow the seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise in late winter. 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 and protect them for their first winter or two[]. 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[].