Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis - Conifer - Caribbean Pine, Honduras Pine Page

The Caribbean Pine, also known as Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis or Honduras Pine, is a hard pine native to Central America. It has an irregular crown and can grow up to 45 meters tall with a 1-meter diameter. This pine tree is adapted to tropical climates and grows best in frost-free areas up to 700 meters in altitude on more fertile sites with good drainage and annual rainfall of 1000-3000 mm. The Caribbean Pine is widely planted throughout the American, Asian, and African tropics and subtropics and is used for fuel, pulpwood, timber, resin, and land reclamation. Its cones mature at the onset of the rainy season, and the seed is orthodox and can be stored for at least 5 years at temperatures below 0°C. The seeds are not dormant and can be sown directly or soaked in clean water for 12 hours followed by cold stratification to obtain more uniform germination. Overall, the Caribbean Pine is an important species in Central America and is known for its quick and aggressive regeneration after wildfires.