Pinus armandii (华山松, Chinese white pine) description

(var. armandii)

(var. dabeshanensis)

(var. mastersiana)

Pinus armandii

Franch. (1884)

Common names

华山松 hua shan song [Chinese]; Chinese white pine. Var. mastersiana is commonly called 台湾果松 Taiwan guosong or 台灣華山松 Taiwan huashansong (lit. Taiwan high mountain pine) [Chinese]; or タカネゴヨウ Takane goyou [Japanese].

Taxonomic notes

Three varieties:

Pinus armandii var. armandii. Type not designated.
Pinus armandii var. dabeshanensis (W.C.Cheng & Y.W.Law) Silba (1990).
Pinus armandii var. mastersiana Hayata (1908).

Synonymy: See POWO. Also, var. dabeshanensis is often treated at species rank in current literature, and P. amamiana was formerly described as a variety of P. armandii.

Molecular studies have shown that var. armandii consists of three distinct but sister lineages, centered in the East Himalaya, South Hengduan Shan, and Qinling-Daba Shan. These are sister to var. dabeshanensis, and these in turn are sister to var. mastersiana. P. armandii is then sister to P. fenzeliana (Duan et al. 2016; Zhang et al. 2016; Liu et al. 2019, 2022; Jia et al. 2020). For further discussion of systematics relative to other species in subsection Strobus, see Phylogeny of East Asian white pines. Zhang et al. (2016) provide a recent molecular analysis of the four extant populations of var. dabeshanensis, finding evidence that "support the hypothesis that P. dabeshanensis once had a large continuous distribution". Jia et al. (2020) used chloroplast evidence to conclude that "natural populations of P. armandii comprised three lineages that diverged around the late Miocene, during a period of massive uplifts of the Hengduan Mountains, and intensification of Asian Summer Monsoon. Only limited gene flow was detected between lineages, indicating that each largely maintained is genetic integrity." Overall this pattern of fragmentation into discrete mountain habitats is a common one among conifers found around the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, seen also in Cupressus, Juniperus, Abies, and Picea, and represents a profusion of new, disjunct habitats created by the Miocene uplift of the plateau and its consequent effects upon regional climates.

Description

Trees to 35m tall and 100 cm dbh. Conical in young trees with whorled branching, with age becoming rounded and irregularly branched. Bark smooth, brownish-gray, with age becoming platy and fissured, blackish brown to grayish red brown, covered by thin, loosely appressed small scales; outer bark about 8 mm thick, inner bark 8-l5 mm thick, pale reddish white, finely fibrous. Needles in fascicles of 5, the sheath soon deciduous; slender, 8-15 cm long, 1-1.5 mm thick, serrulate, bright green, triangular in cross section, with 1 vascular bundle and 3 resin ducts, one medial, two marginal. Pollen cones in spiral clusters at the base of new shoots, 1.5-2.5 cm long, greenish white with a reddish tip. Seed cones in 1's and 2's, erect becoming pendulous from stout 2-3 cm long peduncles, 8-14 cm long, conical-cylindric, often resinous, green maturing golden brown, falling after seeds have dispersed. Cone scales rigid, 3-4 x 2.5-3 cm, apophysis triangular or rhombic, thickened; umbo obtuse, darker than scale, without a prickle. Seed obovoid, 10-15 mm long, wingless (Liu 1970, Farjon 2010). See García Esteban et al. (2004) for a detailed characterization of the wood anatomy.

Var. dabeshanensis has leaves 5-14 cm long; the apophysis of the cone scales is thick and woody, and the seeds are light brown with a rudimentary wing (Farjon 2010).

Var. mastersiana are trees to 20 m tall and 100 cm dbh; branches spreading wide, horizontal. Twigs glabrous. Leaves bright green. Seed cones borne on peduncles, 10-20 cm long, up to 8 cm diameter, ovoid, tapering to an acute point, axis nearly straight or slightly recurved. Seed scales rhombic, 3 cm long. Seeds ovoid, compressed, wingless, 8-12 mm long (Li 1975).

Distribution and Ecology

China, N Myanmar, and Taiwan, usually in mixed conifer forests with species of Abies, Picea, Pseudotsuga and (in SW China) Larix; often on thin, rocky soils (Liu 1970, Wu and Raven 1999, Farjon 2010). Hardy to Zone 7 (cold hardiness limit between -17.7°C and -12.2°C) (Bannister and Neuner 2001).

Var. armandii is found in China: Chongqing, S Gansu, C and NW Guizhou, Hainan, SW Henan, W Hubei, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, SE Xizang, Yunnan; and N Myanmar. Occurs 900-3,500 m elevation (Farjon 2010). Ecological niche modeling of the different populations of this variety indicates substantial differences in cold tolerance between the East Himalayn, South Henguan Shan, and Qinling-Daba Shan populations. Currently var. armandii is a widespread taxon with many populations, not of conservation concern. However, climate change models indicate substantial changes in the distribution of suitable habitat during the coming century. Suitable habitat in the Wushan and Hengduan Shan is likely to disappear, fragmenting the existing habitat, while habitat is likely to become more extensive in the Tsinling Shan and Daba Shan (Ning et al. 2021). The work by Jia et al. (2020) provides background on how assisted migration might assist these range transitions in var. armandii.

Var. dabeshanensis has only been reported from China: Anhui (Jingzhai and Yuexi), Henan (Shangcheng), and Hubei (Luotian and Yingshan) (Farjon 2010). As noted above, there is genetic evidence that this variety was formerly much more widespread; however "Wild populations of P. dabeshanensis have experienced a drastic and extended decline in numbers due to devastation and deforestation over the past century" (Zhang et al. 2016). The IUCN assesses the conservation status as "Vulnerable" due to an estimated population reduction of more than 30% population in the past 90 years, an extent of occurrence of less than 20,000 km² with five separate locations, severe population fragmentation, and continuing decline due to logging. This is a dated assessment (2011) and recent publications indicate the taxon is currently regarded as endangered in China; however its genetics have been closely studied and there are now both in situ and ex situ conservation efforts attempting to maintain this pine (Xiang et al. 2019, Zhang et al. 2016).

Var. mastersiana grows in N and C Taiwan at altitudes of 2,300-3,000 m (Farjon 2010). The IUCN assessed it as "Endangered" in 2011 because it is known from only three locations, has a small extent of occurrence (737 km²) and area of occupancy (75 km²), and there is presumably a continuing decline where exploitation has not ended (Farjon 2013).

Remarkable Specimens

The oldest known specimen, 634 years, was documented in a tree-ring chronology covering the period 1359-2005 (crossdated after 1432), collected east of Xian, China by Shao X. M. (doi.org/10.25921/8scg-rq35). I suspect this tree was alive when sampled in 1992. This site was used in a dendroclimatic temperature reconstruction (PAGES 2k Consortium 2013).

Ethnobotany

Pinus armandii var. armandii is the most common source of commercial "pine nuts", commonly much less costly than the traditional P. pinea. Commercially, it is construction and furniture, and its pulp is used in papermaking (Zhang 1976). Historically, var. mastersiana was similarly used in Taiwan, but it is now commercially extinct (Farjon 2013).

Observations

I have seen var. armandii at Jiuzhaigou, which is easy to get to, but it is generally common within its range. Var. dabeshanensis is quite rare but Zhang et al. (2016) provide sufficiently detailed information to enable locating it in habitat. Var. mastersiana in Taiwan has many recent observations reported from Shei-Pa, Taroko and Yushan National Parks (see iNaturalist).

Remarks

The epithet honors French missionary and naturalist Armand David (1826-1900); many other Chinese species are also named for him, usually bearing the epithet davidiana, e.g. Keteleeria davidiana. The epithet dabeshanensis refers to the Daba Shan, a mountain range that includes the type locality. The epithet mastersiana honors British botanist Maxwell T. Masters (1833-1907), who described Abies squamata, Keteleeria evelyniana, Picea asperata, Picea neoveitchii, and Pinus henryi; and who edited the Gardener's Chronicle for over 40 years.

Citations

Duan, Ren-Yan, Li-Min Yang, Tong Lv, Gan-Lin Wu, and Min-Yi Huang. 2016. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Pinus dabeshanensis. Conservation Genetics Resources 8:395-397.

Farjon, Aljos. 2013. Pinus armandii var. mastersiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T34181A2849535. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T34181A2849535.en, accessed 2025.01.26.

Franchet, A. R. 1884. Plantae davidianae ex sinarum imperio. Part I. Plantes de Mongolie du nord et du centre de la Chine. Coniferae. T. VII, pp. 285-293, pl. 12-14. Paris.

Hayata, B. 1908. New Conifers from Formosa. Gardeners' Chronicle ser. 3, 43:194. Available: Google Books, accessed 2012.10.29. Published here as P. mastersiana, reduced to a variety in the following publication later the same year.

Hayata, B. 1908. Flora Montana Formosae - Gymnospermae. J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 25, Art. 19:207-224, figs. (p. 217).

Jia, Yun, Richard I. Milne, Juan Zhu, Lian-Ming Gao, Guang-Fu Zhu, Gui-Fang Zhao, Jie Liu, and Zhong-Hu Li. 2020. “Evolutionary legacy of a forest plantation tree species (Pinus armandii): implications for widespread afforestation. Evolutionary Applications 13(10):2646–62. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13064.

Liu, Yan-Yan, Wei-Tao Jin, Xiao-Xin Wei, and Xiao-Quan Wang. 2019. Cryptic speciation in the Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii): implications for the high species diversity of conifers in the Hengduan Mountains, a global biodiversity hotspot. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 138:114-125.

Liu, Yan-Yan, Wei-Tao Jin, Xiao-Xin Wei, and Xiao-Quan Wang. 2022. Phylotranscriptomics reveals the evolutionary history of subtropical East Asian white pines: further insights into gymnosperm diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 168:107403.

Ning, Hang, Lei Ling, Xiangcheng Sun, Xiaotong Kang, and Hui Chen. 2021. Predicting the future redistribution of Chinese white pine Pinus armandii Franch. under climate change scenarios in China using species distribution models. Global Ecology and Conservation 25:e01420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01420.

PAGES 2k Consortium. 2013. Continental-scale temperature variability during the past two millennia. Nature Geoscience 6:339-346. doi: 10.1038/NGEO1797

Silba, J. 1990. Phytologia 68:47.

Xiang, Xiaoyan, Zhongxin Zhang and Ganlin Wu. 2019. Effects of seed storage conditions on seed water uptake, germination and vigour in Pinus dabeshanensis, an endangered pine endemic to China. Seed Science and Technology 47(2):229-235. https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2019.47.2.09.

Zhang, Z. 1976. Unique and excellent timber species in China: Pinus armandii (Chinese white pine) Shaanxi Forest Sci. 2:41-43.

Zhang, Z. Y., H. Wang, W. Chen, X. M. Pang, and Y. Y. Li. 2016. Genetic diversity and structure of native and non-native populations of the endangered plant Pinus dabeshanensis. Genet. Mol. Res 15:15027937.