Monterey pine | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Pinophyta |
Class: | Pinopsida |
Order: | Pinales |
Family: | Pinaceae |
Genus: | Pinus |
Subgenus: | P. subg. Pinus |
Section: | P. sect. Trifoliae |
Subsection: | P. subsect. Australes |
Species: | P. radiata
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Binomial name | |
Pinus radiata | |
Natural range of Pinus radiata |
Pinus radiata (syn. Pinus insignis), the Monterey pine,[3] insignis pine[4] or radiata pine, is a species of pine native to the Central Coast of California and Mexico (on Guadalupe Island and Cedros island). It is an evergreen conifer in the family Pinaceae.
P. radiata is a versatile, fast-growing, medium-density softwood, suitable for a wide range of uses and valued for rapid growth, as well as desirable lumber and pulp qualities.[5] Its silviculture reflects a century of research, observation and practice.[5] It is often considered a model for growers of other plantation species.[5]
Although P. radiata is extensively cultivated as a plantation timber in many temperate parts of the world,[6] it faces serious threats in its natural range,[7] due to the introduction of a fungal parasite, the pine pitch canker (Fusarium circinatum).