The canary pine (Pinus canariensis) is a perennial conifer belonging to the Pinaceae family and endemic to the Canary Islands. Commonly known as Canary Island pine or Canary Island pine, it is characterized by its large size and resistance to fire..
It is a tree that reaches up to 40 m in height, with a reddish-brown split bark and a dense pyramidal crown. The light green needle-like leaves are flexible and pendulous, 20-30 cm long and 1.5 mm thick..
It is a monoecious plant, with female and male inflorescences on the same foot. The male ones are small greenish-yellow in color and grouped in terminal clusters, while the female ones are purple, sprout alone or in small groups..
The fruit is a conical pineapple 15-20 cm long, bright brown in color with protruding, non-sharp pyramidal gussets. Its heavy, hard and resinous wood is highly valued for the production of torches, due to its homogeneous structure and very fine grain.
This species is very resistant to fire thanks to the layer of cork that covers the trunk and its ability to re-sprout. At present it is a protected species in the Canary archipelago and its felling is prohibited.
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Large monoecious tree that measures between 15-25 m in height, under certain conditions it can reach more than 60 m in height. The firm and thick trunk with smooth bark when young and cracked when mature can measure between 80 cm and 2.5 m in diameter..
The dark brown or ashy bark has elongated and irregular plates of grayish tones. The horizontal branches present abundant secondary ramifications, being the pyramidal crown in the first years, then it becomes parasolar and irregular.
The thin, flexible, persistent, sharp, greyish-green, needle-like leaves are grouped into three needles per sheath. In general, they are born from the annual branches or directly from the trunk arranged in a helical and blue-gray color..
The species Pinus canariensis it is a monoecious plant with female and male inflorescences on the same trunk. The female whorls, solitary or in groups of two or three, form a purplish strobilus.
The smaller male yellow-greenish catkins are grouped in oblong or ovate catkins in a terminal position on the branches. Blooms in early spring, ripens in the second spring, and spreads during the third summer.
The fruit is an elongated ovoid or conical pineapple 10-20 cm long by 5-10 cm in diameter in the most bulky part. It has abundant reddish-brown scales, shiny, curved and not very sharp..
The black seeds or pine nuts have a membranous wing that favors their dispersion through the wind. Fruiting occurs annually, but occurs more abundantly every 3-4 years.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Pinophyta
- Class: Pinopsida
- Order: Pinales
- Family: Pinaceae
- Gender: Pinus
- Species: Pinus canariensis C. Sm. ex DC.
- Pinus: the genus name derives from the Latin term "pinus" given to pine-shaped plants.
- canariensis: the specific adjective is related to the geographic origin of the species.
The natural habitat of the Canary Island palm is located on the islands of Gran Canaria, El Hierro, La Palma and Tenerife. It is a plant that adapts to various atmospheric conditions and is tolerant to different types of soil, from 700 to 2,400 meters above sea level..
It prefers loamy, fertile, humid and permeable soils, although it adapts to poor soils of limestone origin. It tolerates sunny, dry and low precipitation environments, in the same way it supports large temperature ranges, from -10 ºC to 40 ºC.
It is a very fire resistant plant, due to the layer of cork that covers the trunk, protecting it from flames and heat. In fact, its proliferation level is very high, since it is capable of easily regrowing after being devastated by large forest fires..
It is currently geographically distributed throughout North Africa, California in the United States, the Middle East, Chile, South Africa, and Australia. In the Iberian Peninsula it has been introduced in the Sierra Morena and Levante, despite its low adaptation to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the region.
The best way to reproduce the species Pinus canariensis it is through fresh or stored seeds. The selected seeds of fertile pineapples require, as a pre-germination process, to remain for 24 hours immersed in fresh water to hydrate..
Once hydrated, they are placed on a universal substrate with constant humidity so that the seeds begin to germinate after a week. The temperature and relative humidity must be taken care of to prevent the appearance of fungal diseases.
When the plants reach 2-3 true leaves, they are transplanted to forest seedlings or flowerpots with well-drained substrate. Preferably it is recommended to use a mixture of equal parts of black peat and perlite.
The stored seeds maintain their viability for a longer time if they are preserved in a dry container at less than 0 ºC of temperature. However, stored seeds require a cold stratification process for 1-3 months to activate the germination process..
A particular property of the Canary Island pine is its ability to re-sprout after pruning or to be destroyed by forest fires. However, Canary Island pine cuttings are difficult to root, so it is not a feasible option to apply..
Its usefulness as a timber species is limited, since in some areas it is protected due to indiscriminate logging in the past. Only young specimens grown for this purpose are used in carpentry and cabinetmaking..
The so-called "tea pines" or dark wood and excellent wood quality are in high demand and are becoming scarcer every day. The low quality white wood is used to make utensils, the hard and excellent finished teosa wood, is used in civil works, roofs of houses and churches.
The Canary Island pine is a very particular forest species, as it is adapted to resist forest fires due to the thick bark of the trunk. In addition, it has the ability to regenerate quickly by sprouting the buds of the trunk, at which point its cones open and disperse the seeds due to the effect of heat..
On the other hand, it is a species used in reforestation given its ease of growth and subjection to various types of soils, especially eroded soils. Similarly, it adapts to poorly evolved soils, with a low content of organic matter, coupled with its resistance to fire and rapid growth..
In herbal medicine, infusions and vapors from pine leaves and buds have been used to treat asthma, bronchitis and the common cold. The resin obtained from the bark contains terpenes and tannins with an expectorant, mucolytic and astringent effect..
The turpentine obtained from this species is used topically for the treatment of inflammation and bone or muscle pain. Likewise, the tar obtained by distillation of the trunk and roots is indicated to cure skin diseases, such as eczema, psoriasis or cutaneous mycosis.
As an ornamental plant, it is planted as an isolated plant in gardens, parks and squares, being highly appreciated for its rusticity and lush foliage. It is a pine resistant to drought and poor soils, but sensitive to cold under certain conditions..
The Canary Island pine is a forest species that is planted in open spaces with full sun exposure. Provided it receives sufficient solar radiation, the Canary Island palm can withstand temperatures below -12 ºC.
Grown as an ornamental plant, it requires direct solar radiation and a minimum separation of ten meters from buildings, asphalt roads and pipes. Its roots are generally invasive and it tends to cause problems in nearby buildings..
The best time to establish the field crop is during spring, when the minimum and maximum temperatures have decreased, and there are no risks of frost. The rooting of the new plant requires a wide, fertile, humid and permeable space, it is required to plant in a 1 x 1 m hole.
It grows on sandy, fertile, loose soils, with a slightly acidic pH and well drained. It is not very tolerant of limestone soils, in this case it requires iron sulfate contributions to prevent chlorosis and general weakening of the plant..
In its natural habitat it is highly tolerant to drought, cultivated as an ornamental plant requires continuous supplies of humidity. During the summer it is necessary to water 2-3 times a week, the rest of the year every 4-5 days to prevent damage caused by water deficit.
Despite being a rustic species, it is advisable to apply organic fertilizers or chemical fertilizers, especially if the soils are slightly alkaline. The most appropriate during spring and summer is to make a monthly application of some type of organic fertilizer, such as worm castings, manure or chicken manure..
The main pest that affects the species Pinus canariensis it's the lepidoptera Thaumetopoea pityocampa. The caterpillars of this insect are known as "pine processionary", which make their nests in palm trees and feed on their pine needles and shoots..
Fungal pathogens attack the needles, branches and roots, being the ascomycota fungus Thyriopsis halepensis It is the main disease of the Canary Island pine. This pine defoliator fungus starts its attack from the base of the crown towards the ends, causing the desiccation and fall of the needles..
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