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  6. Pinus radiata

Pinus radiata

Common names: Monterey Pine or Radiate Pine 

Irish name: Péine Monterey 

Latin name: Pinus radiata 

Family: Pinaceae 

Origin: Non Native 

Tree type: Evergreen conifer

How it Looks

Bark 

The bark is grey and deeply fissured, becoming darker with age and much rougher than a Scots pine. 

Leaves 

It has needles as leaves. These are long, approximately 15cm with a sharply pointed tip. The individual needle has a diameter of 1mm approx. They appear in bunches of 3.  This is known as a fascicle. The number of needles per fascicle differs for different species. 

Cones 

Its cones are serotinous, meaning they remain sealed shut until triggered by the heat of a forest fire, releasing seeds to regenerate the scorched landscape. Additionally, under intense heat, these cones may also naturally burst open during hot weather conditions. 

The male cones are small and cylindrical in shape (1-1.5 cm long) and clustered at the tips of the branches. The much larger female cones, which are up to 15cm long and 6-8 cm wide, are produced on short stalks and are often in clusters. These female cones often remain unopened for some years. The seeds are blackish in colour, oval in shape and about 6 mm long, with a papery wing up to 2.5 cm long. 

The seeds are mostly spread by wind and water, though they may also be dispersed by birds. 

 

Where to find it

Monterey pine is native to the Monterey area of California and can be found in northwestern Mexico. However, it is now regarded as one of the most widely planted tree species in the world due to its fast growth rate and strong timber. It tolerates exposure well and can often be found growing alongside Monterey Cypress. Huge plantations can be found in the Basque region of Spain. In certain parts of Australia, Pinus radiata is regarded as an environmental weed, where it is actively managed by community groups. 

Cultural Importance

History | Art and Literature

History 

The presence of Indigenous bedrock mortars (holes made from the consistent grinding of nuts and other foods over long periods of time) near native Monterey pine forests indicates that, for centuries, Monterey pine was important to the First Peoples of the Monterey area and northwestern Mexico, such as the Costanoan and Salinan First Nations.  

The pine was valuable to these Indigenous communities for a variety of reasons. Pine nuts were a source of food and could be ground into a type of flour for cooking. Likewise, they ate the young, male catkins and, in times of scarcity, the inner bark of the tree. The roots of the tree were used to make fish traps, seed beaters and baskets, while the inner parts of pine twigs were processed to make sewing materials, and pine resin was processed into a glue. With regard to medicinal properties, the needles of the pine were used to make a tea which was beneficial for headaches. Pine resin and pine nut charcoal were used to treat rheumatic conditions and to heal burns and sores. 

With the arrival of Spanish explorers and settlers in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the native stands of Monterey pine quickly became depleted. The settlers used the timber for shipbuilding, the construction of housing and defensive buildings as well as for fencing and fuel. Vast areas of forest were also cleared for agriculture.  

With increasing pressure during the nineteenth century from a growing population and industrialisation, the pine forests receded further. This continued into the 20th century with the advent of the automobile industry and large-scale tourism. 

The Monterey pine was introduced to Britain in 1830s by the Scottish botanist, David Douglas and from there it gained world renown. It was introduced to New Zealand in the 1850s, where it was extensively planted. It was also planted in Ireland in the 1850s, in Chile in the 1890s and in South Africa in the 1920s. Interestingly, while it was Douglas who made the tree popular, it was actually the Irish botanist, Thomas Coulter, who first encountered it and ultimately gave the Monterey pine its Latin name, Pinus Radiata, describing the radiating lines that are visible on the scales of its cones. 

Monterey pine was widely planted in arboreta and parks throughout Ireland and some beautiful examples can be found in the grounds of University College Cork and Fota House, Arboretum and Gardens. 

Art and Literature 

The Monterey pine has inspired many artists and featured in a number of works by important early twentieth-century American artists, including ‘Old Pines at Monterey’ by Pedro Joseph de Lemos - one of the most celebrated painters of the Monterey Arts and Crafts movement - ‘Monterey Pines’ by William S. Rice, and ‘The Pines of Monterey’ by Mildred Bryant Brooks. The Monterey pine also features in literature. Indeed, it is the tree that provides shelter to the soldiers in John Steinbeck’s novel, ‘Tortilla Flat’. 

Value to Wildlife

Pinus radiata provides critical wildlife habitat, offering seeds and shelter for birds, small mammals, and invertebrates. In its native range, the tree supports unique species like rare orchids and serves as an important ecosystem for diverse flora and fauna.

Threats

Despite the worldwide planting of the Monterey Pine, it is a threatened species in its natural habitat, with 50% of the P.radiata var. radiata forest felled since Europeans arrived in California. The removal of natural fire succession and the introduction of disease are major threats. 

Through analysis of the root microbiome of Monterey pines growing in different parts of the world, the international Tree Root Microbiome project aims to harness the root microbiome to increase the resilience of the species to climate change and other disturbances. The Irish Tree Explorers Network participated in this project, sampling and analysing roots of Monterey pine trees from University College Cork, Fota Arboretum, Marlogue, Bantry House and Gardens and Garninish, Co. Cork, and Derreen Gardens and Muckross House, Co. Kerry. 

Uses

The bark of the pine is used as a substrate for growing orchids. The tree tolerates pollution very well and is valued for its shade. As a result, it is becoming more popular in urban settings. The timber is used for making furniture and house frames. It is also used to make veneers and plywoods. It can be pulped to make newspaper and pineboard. It is the most popular Christmas tree variety in Australia and New Zealand. It is easily established and has a wide spreading root system making it good for soil stabilisation.  

References

 

Irish Tree Explorers Network

Líonra Taiscéalaí Crainn na hÉireann

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