Pinus oocarpa - Conifer - Egg-cone Pine, Mexican Yellow Pine, Ocote Chino, Oocarpa Pine Page

Discover the captivating beauty and versatility of Pinus oocarpa, commonly known as Egg-cone Pine. Renowned for its striking egg-shaped cones, this handsome species forms a broad, rounded crown with branchlets showcasing large clusters of vibrant needles. Native to southern Mexico and extending into Central America, P. oocarpa thrives as a robust timber tree, essential for carpentry, beams, poles, and railway ties. Widely tapped for resin, its usage spans various agroforestry projects across tropical and subtropical regions, notably in West Africa, South Africa, and Latin America.

Reaching heights up to 110 ft, this straight-trunked pine boasts a distinctive bark that evolves from a thin, scaly reddish-brown in youth to a thick, dark greyish-brown with age, featuring intriguing fissures and plates. Its crown's graceful openness is offset by rough, scaly branchlets in reddish-brown tones. Admire the pine's resilient leaves, persisting for two to three years in fascicles of three to five, exuding a lustrous yellow-green hue. Its unique cones, varying from 3–10 cm, transition from purple to light brown, reaching maturity in 12–18 months. Experience the Egg-cone Pine's remarkable blend of elegant form and functional utility.