Common Name:

General Information

Pinus pinceana is an evergreen shrub or a tree with a broad, open, irregular crown; it usually grows 5 - 6 metres tall, though can reach 12 metres. The bole is short and contorted, often forked, and around 20 - 30cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of fuel. It is an attractive plant with horticultural potential[].
Pinus pinceana has a disjunct and scattered distribution of stands that extends over a distance of more than 750 km from north to south. It is known from at least 17 localities, and subpopulations could be considered to be severely fragmented. Despite a reported lack of regeneration throughout its range and a potential threat from fuelwood collection, there is currently no indication of significant recent or current decline. 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

Southern N. America - northern and eastern Mexico (Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas)

Habitat

Slopes and ravines, usually found as scattered individuals in open, coniferous forest or scrub with an understorey of deciduous desert shrubs; at elevations from 1,100 - 2,700 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus pinceana is a plant of arid and sub-arid regions in the mainly subtropical zone of eastern Mexico, where it can be found at elevations up to 2,700 metres. The mean annual precipitation can vary from 350 - 600mm, with the higher rainfall towards the south of its range. It is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -5°c when fully dormant[].
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[, ].
The ovoid-oblong or cylindrical seed cones can be 5 - 10cm long and 3 - 7cm wide. They take two growing seasons to ripen and remain on the plant until the seeds are eaten by birds, the emptied cones falling soon after[, ].
This is one of several species of pine that have a mutualistic relationship with species of birds in the family Corvidae (in this case Jays and Nutcrackers) to disperse its seed. The birds have powerfull beaks which enable them to extricate the seeds and crack the shells. They store many of the seeds at some distance from the parent plant - some of these seeds never get eaten and can germinate and grow into new trees[].
The plant does not bear seed regularly[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[]. A reasonable size, around 11 - 13mm 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 wood is often collected locally 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[].