Native to Central America and the Caribbean, widely planted throughout the American, Asian and African tropics and subtropics. It grows best in frost-free areas up to 700 m altitude on more fertile sites with good drainage and annual rainfall of 1000 - 3000 mm.
P. caribaea grows up to 45 m tall and 1 m in diameter, with conical and irregular crown. Bark is grey on young trees, later dark and with fissures. Needles in fascicles of 3-5 at the ends of twigs, mostly 15-25 cm long, up to 1.5 mm broad, slightly toothed, with whitish lines. The needles remain attached for 2 years.
Source: Rodolfo Salazar, CATIE. Dorthe Jøker, DFSC. Seed leaflet No. 40. September 2000
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