Luchu Pine
Pinus luchuensis Mayr
Pinus luchuensis, known as Luchu pine, is a conifer in the Pinaceae family. It is endemic to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan and is locally abundant. The species is found in small stands near coastal areas and was historically harvested for commercial use, though remaining wild populations are no longer economically viable. It is now primarily cultivated for ornamental purposes.
Description
Pinus luchuensis is native to the Ryukyu Islands and is also found in parts of Taiwan and the Ogasawara Islands. It was first described in 1894 by Mayr. The species was once at risk due to habitat loss and extensive harvesting after the Second World War. Today, it is no longer widely used commercially in the wild, but it remains a valued ornamental tree in cultivation. Its distribution includes the Nansei-shoto and Ogasawara-shoto archipelagos.
Other common names
Luchu PineOkinawa pine
Distribution
TW · Global · JP · Nansei-shoto · Ogasawara-shoto