Identifying Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)

Take great care when identifying wild plants and fungi, this blog is not a resource to be taken by itself and further resources will be linked. Consult other sources and double check. While foraging is an extremely rewarding and useful skill, numerous common plants and fungi can make you sick or kill you. Be absolutely sure of what you’re eating and, when gathering, ensure you leave enough not only to ensure the survival and growth of the species but also enough for others to enjoy, from the human and more-than-human communities. Also cultivate an awareness of contamination and pollution – wastewater runoff, spraying, exhaust fumes – as this should affect your decision to harvest.

The Plant

Pinus radiata is a large, coniferous, evergreen tree belonging to the pine family (Pinaceae). It is native to California and Mexico but has been introduced in New Zealand as a popular timber wood tree and has now become the the most common pine in the Southern hemisphere (where no pines are native). Monterey pines thrive in coastal and lowland habitats and do well in sandy and dry soils though you will often just come across these pines along the hillsides of New Zealand in the massive timber plantations. The modern English word “pine” comes from the Latin word “Pinus” which some have traced back to the Indo-European word meaning “resin” whilst “radiata” refers to the cracks which radiate from the umbo on the cone scales. It’s common name, Monterey pine, was coined by Thomas Coulter as it was identified in Monterey, California.

Description

Monterey pine is a large evergreen tree and will grow up to 30 to 50 metres tall in cultivation and 30 to 90 cm in diameter. Healthy Monterey pines in ideal conditions will grow tall and straight with upward pointed branches. The 8 to 15 cm needles are bright green and are found in clusters of three which are sheathed and connect straight onto the smaller tree branchlets. The pine cones are brown, ovoid, and will typically grow asymmetrically on a branch. The bark on the trunk is brown and fissured whilst the bark on the smaller branches have many studded bumps. Monterey pine’s are monoecious and have pollen filled yellow-brown male cones on the ends of the branches (at the base of new growth) and more compact reddish mini female pine cones further along the branches which form the larger pinecones. The seeds are protected inside the cone and are dark brown with a small wing.

Ecology

Pinus radiata male cones and new growth will grow from very early spring, producing a lot of pollen. The large female pine cones can be found on the trees for years before falling and the leaves will fall and regenerate every 2 to 3 years. Monterey pine requires good sun and does not tolerate hard frosts and too much cold, though the plantations are found all over New Zealand in generally poor soil conditions. Pines are wind pollinated and the cones are serotinous, meaning they require heat from a fire to release their seeds. Monterey pines have become an invasive species in New Zealand as they are fast growing, invade shrubland, native bush, and lowlands, and are also highly flammable which can cause rapid destruction of wildlife if/when a fire occurs.

Nutritional/Medicinal Information

Pine needle oil, pine resin, and fresh young pine needles have been used for treating coughs, bronchitis, and other respiratory tract issues via steams and teas as it decongests your lungs from phlegm and is antimicrobial. It is also used externally to relieve sore muscles and arthritis.

Pine needle tea is incredibly high in vitamin C and antioxidants and, if made into a salve, the resin works as an antiseptic for cuts and bites.

Possible Lookalikes

Pinus muricata or the Bishop pine looks similar to the Monterey pine but has much sharper, spiky cones. Bishop pine is also edible and medicinal, however.

Interesting Facts

Monterey pines are critically endangered in it’s native home on the Californian coast.

They grow up to ten times faster than eucalyptus trees.

The native mushrooms Armillaria limonea and Armillaria novae-zelandiae caused massive disease loss in Pinus radiata plantations in the 70’s and 80’s. In some areas these pathogenic fungi destroyed 50 to 60 percent of the pines growing there, causing substantial damage to the forestry industry at the time. This only occurred in places where native forests were clear cut and planted on. Decolonise Aotearoa!

Storage & Cooking

Harvest the young pine tips in springtime and use them for teas, syrups, biscuits, icecreams, pestos, and vinegars. They have a strong citrussy flavour and festive scent. You can eat these fresh, dry them, or pickle them.

You will find resin on the branches and trunk of pine trees. Scrape up the resin, melt it, and add to salves or use for starting fires.

Enjoy my fellow foragers!

Further Reading

Conifers

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Weeds of Australia

Pinus Radiata

American Botanical Council

Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine