Picea omorika, the Serbian spruce 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 altitude. It was originally discovered near the Serbian village of Zaovine, on Mount Tara, in 1875, and named by the Serbian botanist Josif Pančić; the specific epithet is simply the Serbian word for the tree (other spruces are in Serbian).
Description
It is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to tall, exceptionally , with a trunk diameter of up to , and a conic crown; the crown is very narrow on high altitude trees, broader at lower altitudes. older claims of trees up to 50 m tall are now unverifiable. with another not far behind at 31.5 m at Murthly Castle in Scotland.
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. and also with Sitka spruce.
- Picea omorika 'Nana' – a dwarf form
- Picea omorika 'Pendula' – a weeping form
References
External links
- Picea omorika – information, genetic conservation units, and related resources. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)