Pinus caribaea Morelet, Pinaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: jia le bi song

English: Bahamas pitch pine, Caribbean pine

French: pins des Caraibes

Maori (Cook Islands): paina, paina papa‘ā

Samoan: paina

Tongan: paini

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Tree up to 30 m tall, often free from branches to a considerable height; bark grey to reddish brown, fissured and eventually shed in large flat wide plates.  Leaves usually in 3's, rarely 4's or 5's or 2's, crowded at ends of branches, usually falling in second year, light or yellowish green, linear, rigid, apex a horny point, margin serrulate, 15-25 cm long, basal sheath persistent, light brown becoming dark brown or blackish, 1-2 cm long.  Male stroboli numerous in sessile clusters, 1-3 cm long.  Cones subterminal, reflexed, conical, 5-10 (-12) cm X 2.5-3.5 cm when closed, deciduous, scales tan or reddish brown, spreading or reflexed, swollen, ending in a minute prickle less than 1 mm long; seeds usually mottled grey or light brown, narrowly ovoid, ca 6 mm long, with a well developed usually persistent wing ca 2.5 cm long"  (Stanley & Ross, 1989; vol. 3, p. 459).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "extensively cultivated in lowland and upland dry areas and also in grassland, at elevations from near sea level to 800 m"  (Smith, 1979; pp. 115-116). In New Caledonia, "Cette espèce est devenue la seule utilisée en plantation à partir de 1975 (actuellement 6000 ha sur 8000 en reboisements territoriaux; Crémière & Ehrhart, 1990). Ils se resèment, parfois copieusement, à l'intérieur et à proximité des plantations mais ne semblent pas jusqu'à présent se répandre ailleurs" (Gagaominy et al., 1996; p. 382).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  West Indies and Central America. Commonly used in forestry projects in tropical areas.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (p. 40) "Nous avons observé l’unique pin des Caraïbes Pinus caribaea dans l’arboretum de Vaitea" (Meyer, 2008; p. 40).
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 15)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 15)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 15)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 70)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Lakemba Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 115-116) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 971
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Mbalavu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 115-116) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 1094
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 115-116) Vouchers cited: DA T.2, DF 744 (T.1), DF 746 (T.3), T.4, DA 13534, DA 16950, DA 16423
French Polynesia French Polynesia Islands	French Polynesia Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 93) Dry/mesic habitats.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 39710) Taxon name on voucher: Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 39630) Taxon name on voucher: Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) var. hondurensis Barrett & Golfari. Voucher cited: D.H. Lorence, W.L. Wagner, S.L. Montgomery, J. Florence & S. Bishop 6266 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 13097) Taxon name on voucher: Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 41011) Taxon name on voucher: Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 93)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 93)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 93)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 93)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) var. hondurensis Barrett & Golfari. Voucher cited: J. Florence 7770 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) var. hondurensis Barrett & Golfari. Voucher cited: J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11419 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1982) (p. 82)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawaiian Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 97)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 19) West Maui. Var. hondurensis; vouchers cited: Oppenheimer et al. H40008 (BISH), H. & M. Oppenheimer & F. & R. Duvall H70127 (BISH)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 100) "Potential invader".
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 382)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 65) Voucher cited: MacKee 16303. Var. hondurensis (Sénéclauze) Barret & Golferi; voucher cited: Casé in MacKee 43326
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 36) Voucher cited: CHR 168884
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 25)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 46)
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) var. hondurensis Barrett & Golfari. Voucher cited: J. Florence 10759 (PAP) Naturalisée
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 70)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 67)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 99)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘ano Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 74) Cultivated or in plantations.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 74) Cultivated or in plantations.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 62) Cultivated or in plantations.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 55) Cultivated or in plantations.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 68) Cultivated or in plantations.
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 39)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Jourdan, Hervé/Malau, Atoloto (2008) (p. 9)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 70) Cultivated only

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Comments:  Reported as moderately invasive in French Polynesia (Meyer, 2000; pp. 93). Naturalized in Queensland, Australia.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Pinus caribaea, please let us know.