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Pinus armandii
Franch.
Armand Pine
Pinaceae
Pinus armandii is a coniferous tree in the family Pinaceae. It is native to western and central China, Taiwan, and northern Myanmar.
Description
Pinus armandii is a tree that grows up to 35 m, with a trunk that grows up to 1 m in diameter at breast height. The tree takes up a conical to narrowly pyramidal form with age. Leaves are 8 to 15 cm long and 1 to 1.5 mm thick in bundles of 5, occasionally up to 7. The needles are triangular in cross section. Buds are cylindrical and slightly resinous. The bark is gray, cracked into square plates, and branches are hairless and glaucous. Seed cones are green ripening to yellow-brown, conical to cylindric, hanging from a stalk that is 2 to 3 cm long. Seed scales are between rhombic and obovate, 3 to 4 cm by 2.5 to 3 cm, and not prickly. These cones ripen in early autumn after 2 years, then open to release their seeds. Seeds are about 1 to 1.5 cm by 6 to 10 mm, yellow-brown to black, egg-shaped, usually winged (Wu et al. 1999).
At least two varieties exist in China. The main variety armandii has erect, stout, and ovoid-ellipsoid pollen cones, greenish branchlets, with rhombic seed scales that are yellowish brown when mature. Variety mastersiana has slender, drooping, and cylindric pollen cone, grayish branchlets, and triangular seed scales that are brown to reddish brown when mature. The latter variety is only found in central Taiwan; the main variety, everywhere else (Wu et al. 1999).
At least two varieties exist in China. The main variety armandii has erect, stout, and ovoid-ellipsoid pollen cones, greenish branchlets, with rhombic seed scales that are yellowish brown when mature. Variety mastersiana has slender, drooping, and cylindric pollen cone, grayish branchlets, and triangular seed scales that are brown to reddish brown when mature. The latter variety is only found in central Taiwan; the main variety, everywhere else (Wu et al. 1999).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Pinus armandii is grown as an ornamental, but uncommonly and mainly within China. Its timber is not often used (Farjon 2013), but it is used for construction, railroad ties, furniture, and wood fiber (Wu et al. 1999).
Distribution
Pinus armandii is found in mountains and river basins at an altitude of 1000 to 3000 m. It is native to central and western China, in the provinces of Tibet, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan, as well as Taiwan and northern Myanmar (Wu et al. 1999).
Status
Pinus armandii is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern", as the species has a very wide range and has no significant threats, except for potential over-exploitation. However, two other varieties are local and threatened (Farjon 2013).
References
Farjon, A. 2013. Pinus armandii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42342A2973993.en.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 1999. Flora of China. Vol. 4 (Cycadaceae through Fagaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 1999. Flora of China. Vol. 4 (Cycadaceae through Fagaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Description
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