Pinus massoniana Lamb.

Tree to 30(–45) m, trunk straight or crooked, 1.5 m dbh. Bark scaly, flaking irregularly, greyish brown, developing large longitudinal fissures, occasionally with transverse fissures. Crown irregular, broad and domed. Branchlets slender, smooth, yellowish brown or glaucous; vegetative buds slightly resinous. Leaves in fascicles of two (to three), slender, pliant, slightly twisted, pale green, semicircular in cross-section, 12–20 × 0.05–0.1 cm, apex acute. Fascicle sheaths 2 cm long, persistent. Cataphylls to 0.5 cm long. Male strobili reddish yellow, ovoid. Female cones subterminal, with a short peduncle, to 0.4 cm long. Cones 4–7 × 2.5–4 cm, green to chestnut brown, ovoid to conical or cylindrical, mature in about 18 months, falling early when ripe. Scales flat, oblong-obovoid or rhombic; apophysis flat or slightly swollen; umbo dorsal, slightly sunken, spiny (var. shaxianensis) or obtuse. Seeds blackish brown; wings 1.1–1.5 cm long. Fu et al. 1999c, Farjon 2005a. Distribution CHINA: Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, western Henan, Hubei, Hunan, southern Jiangsu, Jiangxi, southeast Shaanxi, Sichuan, eastern Yunnan, Zhejiang; TAIWAN. Widely planted in Vietnam. Habitat Grows in a great variety of habitats between 200 and 2000 m asl. Cannot tolerate shade, and forms pure stands or mixes with other light-demanding trees. An important forestry species in China. USDA Hardiness Zone 8. Conservation status Lower Risk. Illustration Fu et al. 1999c, Farjon 2005a; NT580, NT608. Cross-reference K222. Taxonomic note Farjon (2001) also recognises P. massoniana var. hainanensis W.C. Cheng & L.K. Fu, which is endangered and restricted to the hills of Hainan Island; it is not recorded in cultivation.