 | Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon 1840Common NamesThông ba lá (Vietnamese) (2).Taxonomic notesSyn: P. insularis Endl. 1847; P. khasya Hook. f.; P. khasyanus; P. langbianensis; P. szemaoensis (1, 2). P. yunnanensis has been treated as a variety.DescriptionTree 30-35m tall with straight, cylindrical bole. Bark thick, dark brown, with deep longitudinal fissures. Branches robust, red brown from the second year, branches pointing downwards. . Leaves dark green, soft, at tip of a short twig, usually 3 per fascicle, 15-20 cm long, fascicle 1.2 cm long and persistent. Cones ovoid, 5-9 cm long, often curved downwards, sometimes slightly distorted; scales of second-year cones dense, umbo a little convex, sometimes acutely spinous. Two relief-lines (transverse and longitudinal) across the middle of the scale surface. Seed winged, 1.5-2.5 cm long. Flowers in Apnl-May; fruits 2 years after (2).RangeE Himal to Philippines (1); China; Vietnam: Lai Chau, Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Quang Ninh. Usually grows pure stands or mixed with broad-leaved trees, but does not form open pine forests. Shade intolerant. Climate wet, subtropical, with a distinct dry and rainy season, humidity not less than 70%. Frost-tolerant and can grow on poor soils if well-drained. Natural regeneration strongest on mineral soils (2).P. kesiya var. yunnanensis is confined to China (1). Big TreeOldestDendrochronologyEthnobotany"Timber soft and light. ... Can be used for housing implements, boxes, matches, paper pulp and temporary electric poles. Resin good but not abundant, therefore not yet much exploited" (2).ObservationsRemarksListed as threatened in Vietnam by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre.Citations(1) Silba 1986.(2) Forest Inventory and Planning Institute 1996. |
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