Common Name: Montezuma Pine

General Information

Pinus montezumae is a large evergreen tree with a dense, pyramidal crown becoming thick and rounded with age; it grows from 20 - 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 60 - 100cm in diameter[, ].
An important timber tree harvested on a large scale both from wild stands and cultivated plantations. The tree is also used locally in traditional medicine.
Pinus montezumae is a very widespread and common species does not meet any of the criteria for listing as threatened, despite its exploitation for timber in much of its range. 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

Southern N. America - Mexico to Guatemala

Habitat

Pine-oak forests; at elevations from 2,000 - 2,700 metres in Mexico[]. Found at elevations from 600 - 3,000 metres in the wild[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus montezumae is a tree of higher elevations in the tropics, it is also grown in the subtropics and warm temperate areas. It is found in the tropics at elevations from 2,000 (rarely less) to 3,200 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 16 - 24°c, but can tolerate 8 - 28°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive for short periods with temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[, , ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 1,400mm, but tolerates 900 - 1,600mm[]. Snow, sleet and frosts occur during the cold season at the higher elevations, especially in the north of its range in its range[].
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[, ]. Young plants are quite shade tolerant, but become more light-demanding as they grow older[]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8[]. Established plants tolerate drought[].
A very variable tree[].
A very vigorous tree, especially in girth, for its first 60 years but then rapidly declining in vigour and not usually living much longer[].
The cones open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
This is one of several Pinus species that have a juvenile life stage. After germinating, the seedlings produce secondary foliage but the central shoot does not elongate - at this stage the plant looks more like a bunchgrass than a pine. Especially when growing in shade, the plant can remain in this juvenile stage for several years, developing a large taproot but not increasing in height. If the light levels increase (due to removal of tree cover by fire, deforestation or some other reason) then the plant commences rapid height growth[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[].

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 seeds are 6 - 7mm long[].

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[].

The plant (part not specified) is commonly used in respiratory diseases. In Puebla it is used to relieve colds and hoarseness, and in Tlaxcala against cough and acute bronchitis. It is also used as a wound healing[].
The Tzotzil of Zinacantán consider it a very hot plant and use it against cold (air) in body baths, vaporizations and by ingesting its infusion, which is accompanied by prayers by the healer[].

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 heartwood is light brown; the sapwood yellowish white. The wood is hard, heavy and resinous[]. An important timber tree, it is widely used for lumber and general construction[, ].

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[].