Caribbean pitch pine, Cuban pine
Pinus caribaea
Family: Pinaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 20-45 m tall. The trunk is round and slender and 50-100 cm across. The bark is rough, red brown and scaly. It cracks into irregular square plates. The leaves are needle-like and 15-26 cm long by 14-18 mm wide. They are slightly twisted and saw-toothed. The male cones are 5-6 cm cm across. The female are oval and 5-12 cm long by 4-6 cm wide when open. The seeds are light brown and 5-7 mm long by 3-4 cm wide. They are winged.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland between sea level and 800 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Caribbean, Central America (country/location of origin), China, Colombia, Cuba, East Africa, Fiji, Guatemala, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mozambique, New Zealand, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Rotuma, SE Asia, South Africa, South America, St Lucia, Sudan, Turks & Caicos, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Seeds, nuts
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Pinus karibia