ArborNote’s Tree of the Week is the Longleaf Indian Pine (Pinus roxburghii). It is a large tree reaching 98–164 feet with a trunk diameter of up to 6+1⁄2 ft. The native range extends from Tibet in China and Afghanistan through Pakistan, across northern India, Nepal and Bhutan, to Myanmar. It generally occurs at lower altitudes than other pines in the Himalayas, from 1,600–6,600 ft. Chir pine is widely planted for timber in its native area, being one of the most important trees in forestry in northern Pakistan, India and Nepal. For local building purposes, the wood of this tree is the least preferred, as it is the weakest and most prone to decay when compared with other conifers. However, in most low altitude regions, there is no other choice, except for the fact that these being tropical latitudes there are other trees at lower altitudes. It is also tapped commercially for resin. On distillation, the resin yields an essential oil, commonly known as turpentine, and non-volatile rosin. The turpentine is chiefly used as a solvent in pharmaceutical preparations, perfume industry, in manufacture of synthetic pine oil, disinfectants, insecticides and denaturants.