Common Name:

General Information

Pinus hartwegii is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 31 metres tall. The bole can be up to 128cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its resin and commercial use of its wood.
Pinus hartwegii has a very large extent of occurrence and is mostly confined to the highest altitude pine forests, where its exploitation is limited. 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

C. America - Honduras, Guatemala, north to central Mexico

Habitat

Open, mixed conifer forests at the lower elevations of its range, increasingly growing in pure stands at higher elevations, where it can form extensive forests; at elevations from 2,200 - 4,300 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

The climate where Pinus hartwegii grows is characterized by a dry winter with a wet summer to early autumn monsoon, with sub-freezing temperatures at higher elevations from late summer through to spring[]. The plant cannot withstand long, cold winters, but can to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -10°c[].
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[, ]. Soils are both from volcanic and granitic rock, of various depths, but often poor in nutrients[].
This tree is commonly scarred for resin collection. Such resin collection is typically performed on a non-industrial scale, marking isolated trees, with the resin used for caulk and other purposes not requiring refinement or distillation[].
It is exploited as a timber tree where stands are extensive and accessible, but due to high altitude and consequent lack of infrastructure (access roads) many forests remain virtually untouched today[].
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 seeds are around 5 - 6mm 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[].

A resin is obtained from cuts made into the trunk[]. Such resin collection is typically performed on a non-industrial scale, marking isolated trees, with the resin used for caulk and other purposes not requiring refinement or distillation[].
The oleo-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[].

A,fairly dense, but resinous wood, it is used as round wood for posts and sawn for construction or railway sleepers, while it is also pulped for the paper industry[].

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[].