Pinus canariensis

Taxobox
name = Canary Island Pine
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = Canary Island Pines in Caldera de Taburiente, La Palma
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo = Pinales
familia = Pinaceae
genus = "Pinus"
subgenus = "Pinus"
species = "P. canariensis"
binomial = "Pinus canariensis"
binomial_authority = C.Sm.

The Canary Island Pine ("Pinus canariensis") is a species in the genus "Pinus", family Pinaceae, native and endemic to the outer Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Gomera, Hierro and La Palma) in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a subtropical pine and does not tolerate low temperatures or hard frost, surviving temperatures down to about −6 to −10 °C. Within its natural area, it grows under extremely variable rainfall regimes, from less than 300 mm to several thousands, mostly due to differences in mist-capturing by the foliage. Under warm conditions, this is one of the most drought tolerant pines, living even with less than 200 mm per year.

It is a large evergreen tree, growing to 30-45 m tall and 1.5 m trunk diameter, exceptionally up to 60 m tall and 2.5 m diameter. The green to yellow-green leaves are needle-like, in bundles of three, 15-30 cm long, with finely toothed margins and often drooping. A characteristic of the species is the occurrence of glaucous (bluish-green) epicormic shoots growing from the lower trunk, but in its natural area this only occurs as a consequence of fire or other damage. In fact, this pine is one of the most fire-resistant conifers in the world. The cones are 10-23 cm long, glossy chestnut-brown in colour, frequently remaining closed for several years (serotinous cones). Its closest relatives are the Chir Pine ("Pinus roxburghii") from the Himalaya, the Mediterranean pines "Pinus pinea", "Pinus halepensis", "Pinus pinaster" and the Turkish Pine from the eastern Mediterranean.

The native range has been somewhat reduced due to over-cutting so that only the islands of Tenerife and La Palma still have large forests. It is the tallest tree in the Canary Islands.

Cultivation and uses

The aromatic wood, especially the heartwood, is among the finest of pine woods - hard, strong and durable. It is also popular as an ornamental tree in warm climates. In South Africa and Australia, this has become naturalized from landscape use.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern