| Picea omorika | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In native range. Note extremely slender crown. | |
Scientific 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 thePančić spruce[2][3] orSerbian spruce (Serbian:Панчићева оморика, Pančićeva omorika,pronounced[pâːnt͡ʃit͡ɕɛv̞aɔmɔ̌rika]), is aspecies ofconiferous treeendemic to theDrina River valley in westernSerbia, and easternBosnia and Herzegovina, with a total range of only about 60ha, at 800–1,600 m (2,600–5,200 ft) altitude. It was originally discovered near the Serbian village ofZaovine, on MountTara, in 1875, and named by the Serbian botanistJosif Pančić;[4][5][6] thespecific epithetomorika is simply the Serbian word for the tree. (All other spruces aresmrča.)
It is a medium-sizedevergreentree 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). Theleaves are needle-like, 10–20 mm long, flattened in cross-section, dark blue-green above, and blue-white below. Thecones 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]
Outside its native range, Serbian spruce is of major importance as anornamental 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 inforestry forChristmas trees,timber andpaper production, particularly in northern Europe, though its slow growth makes it less important thanSitka spruce orNorway spruce. In cultivation, it has producedhybrids with the closely relatedblack spruceP. × Machala and also with Sitka spruce.[4][5]
The followingcultivars have gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit:[7]
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 thePleistoceneice ages, it had a much larger range throughout most ofEurope.[4]
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Media related toPicea omorika at Wikimedia Commons