Monterey Pine
Pinus radiata D. Don

Order - Coniferales

Family - Pinaceae

Names:

Pinus

Radiata

Monterey Pine

Other Names

Radiata Pine

Summary:

An evergreen, resinous tree to 40 metres tall, with spirally arranged branches and needle like leaves in groups of 2, 3 or 5. Male cones are on the side and female cones on the ends of shoots.

Description:

Cotyledons:

Several.

Leaves:

Long shoots with scale like leaves and short shoots, spirally arranged, arising from the axils of the scales and bearing sets of 3, green, needle like leaves, 80-150 mm long by 2 mm diameter, crowded, pointed tip. Complete shoots fall at maturity. Winter buds 12-18 mm long, cylindrical, resinous with closely appressed scales. Young shoots greenish.

Blade - Needle like, surrounded by sheathing scales at the base.

Stems:

Dark brown, up to 40 metres tall, resinous. Bark rough and deeply ridged and thick on old trees.

Sapwood is non porous.

Flower head:

Male and female cones with spirally arranged scales. Male cones on the side, scales each with 2 spore bodies(sporangia) on the lower surface. Female cones, sometimes shortly stalked, grey brown, asymmetrically egg shaped to conical, 70-170 mm long by 50-80 mm diameter, single or in clusters on the ends, persistent and becoming woody with age and eventually opening to release the seed. Cone scales have a rounded conical projection and a tiny prickle on the back. Male cones replace short shoots at the base of the new years growth. Female cones replace long shoots and take 1-2 years to mature. Cone scale produce 2 seeds on the upper surface

Flowers:

Male and female flowers separate on the same plant.

Pollen wind borne

Fruit:

Seeds:

7 mm long with a 20 mm wing.

Roots:

Key Characters:

Leaves in threes, 80-150 mm long, grass green.

Young shoots green.

Cones asymmetrical, ovoid

From E.M. Bennett and J.M. Black.

Biology:

Life cycle:

Evergreen perennial tree. It produces it first seeds when 5-7 years old.

Physiology:

Reproduction:

By seed.

Flowering times:

Pollen shed in September to October in WA

Seed Biology and Germination:

Vegetative Propagules:

None. Occasionally coppices.

Hybrids:

Population Dynamics and Dispersal:

Spread mainly by intentional planting of seedlings. Seed is retained in the canopy and is dispersed by wind. The seed has a medium longevity.

Origin and History:

California. North America.

Distribution:

ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA.

Habitats:

Climate:

Temperate. Mediterranean.

Soil:

Plant Associations:

Significance:

Beneficial:

Used for resins, timber production, shelter and wind breaks. Traditional Christmas tree. Pollen source. Ornamental.

Detrimental:

Weed of plantations, roadsides and disturbed areas.

Toxicity:

Not recorded as toxic.

Legislation:

None.

Management and Control:

Monterey pine is included in the 5 most invasive Pinus species and volunteers around plantations may require control.

Thresholds:

Eradication strategies:

Herbicide resistance:

Biological Control:

Related plants:

Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis)

Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis)

Caribbean Pine (Pinus caribaea)

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)

Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster)

Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)

Patula Pine (Pinus patula)

Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)

Stone Pine (Pinus pinea)

Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)

Plants of similar appearance:

References:

Black, J.M. (1965). Flora of South Australia. (Government Printer, Adelaide, South Australia). P68.

Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Cousens, R.D., Dodd, J. and Lloyd, S.G. (1997). Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. (Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia). P14.

Lazarides, M. and Hince, B. (1993). CSIRO handbook of economic plants of Australia. (CSIRO, Melbourne). #979.7.

Marchant et al (1987). Flora of the Perth Region. (Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia).

Acknowledgments:

Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.