Picea omorika

Picea omorika
In native range. Note extremely slender crown.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Picea
Species:
P. omorika
Binomial name
Picea omorika
Natural range

Picea omorika, commonly known as the Pančić spruce[2][3] or Serbian spruce (Serbian: Панчићева оморика, Pančićeva omorika, pronounced [pâːnt͡ʃit͡ɕɛv̞a ɔmɔ̌rika]), is a species of coniferous tree endemic to the Drina River valley in western Serbia, and eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a total range of only about 60 ha, at 800–1,600 m (2,600–5,200 ft) altitude. It was originally discovered near the Serbian village of Zaovine, on Mount Tara, in 1875, and named by the Serbian botanist Josif Pančić;[4][5][6] the specific epithet omorika is simply the Serbian word for the tree. (All other spruces are smrča.)

Description

It is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 20 m (66 ft) tall, exceptionally 40 m (130 ft), with a trunk diameter of up to 1 m (3 ft). The shoots are buff-brown, and densely pubescent (hairy). The leaves are needle-like, 10–20 mm long, flattened in cross-section, dark blue-green above, and blue-white below. The cones are 4–7 cm (2–3 in) long, fusiform (spindle-shaped, broadest in the middle), dark purple (almost black) when young, maturing dark brown 5–7 months after pollination, with stiff scales.[4][5][6]

  • Immature female cone
    Immature female cone
  • Mature female cone
    Mature female cone
  • Foliage, showing the blue-green undersides of needles
    Foliage, showing the blue-green undersides of needles

Cultivation

Outside its native range, Serbian spruce is of major importance as an ornamental tree in large gardens, valued in northern Europe and North America for its very attractive crown form and ability to grow on a wide range of soils, including alkaline, clay, acid and sandy soil, although it prefers moist, drained loam.

It is also grown to a small extent in forestry for Christmas trees, timber and paper production, particularly in northern Europe, though its slow growth makes it less important than Sitka spruce or Norway spruce. In cultivation, it has produced hybrids with the closely related black spruce P. × Machala and also with Sitka spruce.[4][5]

AGM cultivars

'Pendula' cultivar

The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:[7]

  • Picea omorika 'Nana'[8] – a dwarf form
  • Picea omorika 'Pendula'[9] – a weeping form

Ecology

Because of its limited range, it is not a major source of nutrition to wildlife, but does provide cover for birds and small mammals. Prior to the Pleistocene ice ages, it had a much larger range throughout most of Europe.[4]

References

  1. ^ Aleksić, J.M.; Ballian, D.; Isajev, D.; Mataruga, M.; Christian, T.; Gardner, M. (2017). "Picea omorika". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T30313A84039544. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T30313A84039544.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Cabi, Wallingford; Cabi Invasive Species Compendium, Oxon (Oxford), UK (2019). "Picea omorika (Pancic spruce)". Retrieved 2021-03-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Gligić, Vojin; Šilić, Čedomil & Vukičević, Emilija (2021). "Pančićeva omorika". Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  4. ^ a b c d Farjon, A. (1990). Pinaceae. Drawings and Descriptions of the Genera. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3-87429-298-3.
  5. ^ a b c Rushforth, K. (1987). Conifers. Helm ISBN 0-7470-2801-X.
  6. ^ a b Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
  7. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 78. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  8. ^ "RHS Plant Selector Picea omorika 'Nana' AGM / RHS Gardening". Apps.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  9. ^ "RHS Plant Selector Picea omorika 'Pendula' AGM / RHS Gardening". Apps.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2021.