Pinus patula Schiede & Deppe in Schlectendal & Chamisso is the most intensively utilized conifer in the tropics and sub-tropics, where it is widely planted as an exotic. The species is indigenous to Mexico at altitudes 1500 to 3100 m and at latitudes 16°N to 24°N (Dvorak and Donahue, 1992) with mean annual precipitation of 600 to 2500 mm (Eguiluz, 1988). Within the native range it attains a height of 30 to 35 m with diameters of 50 to 90 cm (Perry, 1991). The botanic exploration of P. patula in Mexico has been reviewed by Standley (1926) and Loock (1977). Common names for the species in Mexico are pino colorado, ocote colorado, ocote macho and pino xalocote (Paz and Olvera, 1981)...