Pinus oocarpa

Pinus oocarpa is a species of pine tree native to Mexico and Central America. It is the national tree of Honduras, where it is known as ocote. Common names include ocote chino, pino amarillo, pino avellano, Mexican yellow pine, egg-cone pine and hazelnut pine. It appears that it was the progenitor (original) species that served as the ancestor for some of the other pines of Mexico.

Habitat and range
This species ranges from latitudes of 14° to 29° north, including western Mexico, Guatemala and the higher elevations of Honduras, El Salvador and northwestern Nicaragua. An average temperature of 15 to 24 C and annual rainfall of 1000 - 1900 mm are needed for best development. Preferred elevations are 900 - 2400 m above sea level. In El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua it grows above 800 m. Pinus oocarpa var. trifoliata grows between 2000 and 2400 m above sea level.

Uses
It is an important source of commercial timber in Honduras and Central America. Pinus oocarpa was introduced for commercial production of wood for the paper industry: in Ecuador, Kenya, Zambia, Colombia, Bolivia, Queensland (Australia), Brazil and South Africa. Due to the amount of resin within the tree, many Central Americans will use small shavings to start cooking fires.