Pinus culminicola

Andresen & Beaman

Cerro potosi pinyon

Pinaceae Edible: Seeds Potential hazards — see below 180 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Pinus culminicola, commonly known as Potosí pinyon or Potosí Piñón, is a pine in the pinyon pine group, native and endemic to northeast Mexico. The range is highly localised, confined to a small area of high summits in the northern Sierra Madre Oriental in Coahuila and Nuevo León, and only abundant on the highest peak, Cerro Potosí (3713 m). It occurs at very high altitudes, from 3000–3700 m, in cool, moist subalpine climate conditions.

Description

Small evergreen tree reaching 5m tall. Hardy to UK zone 7. Seeds mature in October. Monoecious and wind-pollinated. Grows in light sandy or medium loamy soils, preferring well-drained conditions and tolerating poor nutrition. Requires full sun. Suitable for dry or moist soils with drought tolerance. Mildly acid to neutral pH preferred.

Edible Uses

The seed is eaten raw or cooked and has an oil-rich, resinous flavour. The pulpwood also yields a vanillin flavouring as a by-product of resin processing.

Medicinal Uses

Turpentine drawn from pine resin is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient, and vermifuge. Internally it is a valuable remedy for kidney and bladder complaints; used both internally and as a rub or steam bath it treats rheumatic conditions. It is also beneficial to the respiratory system, helping with mucous membrane diseases, coughs, colds, influenza, and TB. Externally it is applied via liniment plasters, poultices, steam baths, and inhalers for skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, and boils.

Known Hazards

The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Central America, Mexico, North America,

Cultivation

Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils. Established plants tolerate drought, succeeding in hot dry positions. A slow growing plant, but when mature it is fully hardy in Britain. Young trees are less hardy than mature specimens, only tolerating temperatures down to about -3°c. Plants are often sub-dioecious. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus. The cones open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby inhibiting the growth of other plants below the tree. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Sow seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe, or in late winter. Cold stratification at 4°c for 6 weeks can improve germination of stored seed. Transplant seedlings to permanent positions as early as possible and protect them through the first winter or two. The root system is very sparse, making prompt planting important. Set trees out when small — between 30 and 90cm, ideally around 5–10cm tall — under a thorough weed-excluding mulch. Larger trees check badly and may make little growth for several years, with lasting harm to root development and wind resistance. Cuttings are only viable from trees under 10 years old, using single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot. Disbudding some weeks before taking cuttings can help, but cuttings are generally slow to establish.

Other Uses

The needles yield a tan or green dye and contain terpene, which rain washes out and which negatively affects germination in some plants, including wheat. Oleo-resins are present in the tissues of all pines but are often insufficient for commercial extraction; they are obtained by tapping the trunk or through destructive distillation of the wood. Warmer-climate trees generally yield more. Turpentine constitutes roughly 20% of the oleo-resin and is separated by distillation; it is used as a solvent for waxes, in varnish-making, and medicinally. Residual rosin is used on violin bows and in sealing wax and varnish. Pitch from the resin is used for waterproofing and wood preservation.

Notes

There are over 100 species of Pinus.

Also Known As

Pinonero de potosi

References (5)

Ciesla, W.M., 1998, Non-wood forest products from conifers. Non-wood forest products 12, FAO, Rome, p 73
Mapes, C. & Basurto, F., 2016, Biodiversity and Edible Plants of Mexico. Chapter 5 in R. Lira, et al. (eds.), Ethnobotany of Mexico, Ethnobiology, Springer. p 91
Marinelli, J. (Ed), 2004, Plant. DK. p 148
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Segura, S., et al, 2018, The edible fruit species in Mexico. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2018) 65:1767–1793