Pinus ayacahuite, also called ayacahuite pine and Mexican white pine, (family Pinaceae) is a species of pine native to the mountains of southern Mexico and western Central America, in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains and the eastern end of the Eje Volcánico Transversal, between 14ð and 21ðN latitude in the Mexican states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz and Chiapas, and in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. It grows on relatively moist areas with summer rainfalls, however specimens from its eastern and southern distribution live under really wet conditions; it needs full sun and well drained soils. Its temperature needs fluctuate between 19 and 10 ðC on average a year. This tree accepts from subtropical to cool climate.
Pinus ayacahuite is a large tree, regularly growing to 30âÂÂ45 m and exceptionally up to 50 m tall. It is a member of the white pine group, Pinus subgenus Strobus, and like all members of that group, the leaves ('needles') are in fascicles (bundles) of five, with a deciduous sheath. The needles are finely serrated, and 9âÂÂ16 cm long. The cones are long and slender, 15âÂÂ40 cm long and 4âÂÂ6 cm broad (closed), opening to 6âÂÂ10 cm broad; the scales are thin and flexible. The seeds are small, 6âÂÂ8 mm long, and have a long slender wing 18âÂÂ25 mm long.
It is moderately susceptible to white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), but in cultivation has proved somewhat less susceptible than most other American white pines (see e.g. western white pine, sugar pine).
It has been planted with ornamental and commercial purposes for paper industry at different latitudes and elevations in different parts of the world: In Equatorial and tropical regions- Commercial production: On the high elevations of Kenya, Tanzania and Angola. In temperate subtropical regions- Commercial production: It is planted on the highlands of South Africa. On the highest elevations of Southern Brazil. Northern India. In temperate regions at middle and low elevations: Argentine provinces of Salta, Tucumán and Córdoba; at 500 to 1500 m above sea level. At low elevations near sea level: Commercial production: Australia (Queensland and New South Wales), New Zealand. As ornamental: It has been successfully planted in the British Isles. The largest tree in Germany (height 2013: 20.5 m) is growing in the arboretum Sequoiafarm Kaldenkirchen.
Despite its tropical origins (the natural range is entirely south of the Tropic of Cancer), it is surprisingly tolerant of cold, having survived temperatures down to nearly -30 ðC in cultivation in Scotland and Pennsylvania, United States. It is grown as an ornamental tree in parks for its attractive foliage and very long cones, among the longest that can be grown in many temperate areas.
The wood is valuable, used for general indoor construction work.