PIN US WALL I CHI AN A A.B. JACKSON IN PAKISTAN 



Javaid Ahsan and M.I.R. Khan 

 Pakistan Forest Institute _, Peshawar, West Pakistan 



ABSTRACT 



Pinus wallichiana is one of the most important multi-purpose 

 timber species of West Pakistan. It is extensively 

 distributed in Southern Asia. In West Pakistan it occurs in 

 three geographically separated areas, i.e., in the northwestern 

 part; along the western boundary and near the southwestern 

 extremity. Altitudinally , too, the species has a wide range 

 of distribution. Climatically, the range of blue pine can be 

 divided into four zones, on the basis of amount and pattern 

 of rainfall distribution. 



Considering the various ecological factors governing the 

 distribution of blue pine, three habitats can be distinguished, 

 viz., highly xeric habitat, xeric habitat and a mesic habitat. 

 This indicates the plasticity and adaptability of this 

 species . 



Regarding the growth statistics of blue pine, it can be 

 observed that it is one of the fastest growing coniferous 

 species. 



Because of the extensive range of blue pine over a variety of 

 habitats and its discontinuous distribution, genetic variation, 

 possibly also discontinuous, may be suspected. This contention 

 is based upon the preliminary observations investigating the 

 genetical variation in the natural populations of blue pine of 

 West Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. 



Blue pine is quite resistant to diseases and pests. 



INTRODUCTION 



Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jackson is one of the most important coniferous 

 trees of West Pakistan. A moderately hard, pink heartwood of good quality 

 and easy workability render it a multipurpose species. In West Pakistan 

 it is mainly used in building construction, furniture manufacture, general 

 carpentry, and railroad ties. It also yields an oleoresin of a better 

 quality than that of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. , the other important pine of 

 this region, but is not tapped for this -purpose due to the short season 

 of resin exudation at high elevations where it occurs. 



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