We are following the treatment in Farjon, A. 2010. A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden, which treats this taxon as a variety of Pinus strobus. Some other treatments prefer to treat it as a distinct species as
Pinus chiapensis (Martínez) Andresen.

Common Name:

General Information

Pinus strobus chiapensis is an evergreen tree with a conical crown that becomes open and irregular with long horizontal branches in mature trees; it can grow up to 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 100 - 150cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is a valuable timber tree and has been extensively harvested from the wild in the past and also now from plantations in several countries. An attractive tree, it is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].
Pinus strobus chiapensis has a relatively large extent of occurrence. Within this area, subpopulations tend to small and isolated, with the largest subpopulations occurring in southern Mexico. Subpopulations are severely fragmented and there is a continuing decline in area of occupancy, quality of habitat and probably number of mature individuals. Logging for its timber has been widespread, and although large trees are becoming rare in many locations, is still ongoing. The forest area originally occupied by this species is being cut for growing corn, coffee plantations, or for establishing pastures for cattle, further reducing the subpopulations. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' 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

Central America - Guatemala, north to central Mexico

Habitat

Mixed broadleaved-coniferous forest, or mixed with other pines in pine forests (less commonly); these are often cloud forests, with frequent fog; at elevations from 500 - 2,200 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus strobus chiapensis is native to the mountains in tropical areas of southern Mexico and Guatemala, where annual precipitation may exceed 3,000mm. The regions in which it grows do not experience frost, though trees from seeds gathered in southern Mexico are succeeding outdoors in southern England (hardiness zone 8)[, ].
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[, ]. This species prefers a well-drained, sandy-clay soil[].
The usually cylindrical seed cones are usually 8 - 15cm long, though can be as short as 6cm or as long as 25cm, they take around 15 - 18 months to mature[].
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 dark grey-brown seeds are 7 - 9mm long and 4 - 5mm wide[].

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[].
A resin extract is said to be helpful as an analgesic for rheumatic pain[].

An infusion of the inner bark can be helpful against coughing[].

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[].

The resin is a fuel source[].
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 soft and creamy, with heartwood only slightly darker. It is locally prized for furniture making and finished carpentry[]. Logs are used as beams in roofs of rural houses and buildings, and for furniture manufacturing[]. The wood was a source of pulp for industrial papermaking in Oaxaca, before commercial exploitation was restricted[].
The wood is used as firewood for cooking, and may be preferred over that of other coexisting pine species[].

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[].