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Picea omorika (Pančić) Purkynĕ

Modern name

Picea omorika (Pancic) Purk.

Synonyms

Pinus omorika Pančić

A narrow, short-branched tree, described as occasionally attaining over 100 ft in height, with a remarkably slender trunk, 3 to 5 ft in girth; juvenile trees assume a very slender, tapering, and elegant form; shoots covered with stiff down, persisting several years. Leaves mostly disposed in or above the horizontal plane, but with a few standing out beneath; those on the upper side appressed, pointing forwards and hiding the branch; they are 12 to 1 in. long, 116 to 112 in. wide; abruptly and sharply pointed on young trees, rounded on old ones; dark glossy green, and without stomata on the uppermost side; greyish beneath, with stomatic lines. Cones egg-shaped, tapered at the top, 114 to 2 in. long; scales broad and rounded, with jagged margins. Bot. Mag., t. 9163.

P. omorika, or a species closely allied to it, was widely distributed in Europe before the Ice Age, but is now confined to a few stands in the limestone mountains on either side of the upper Drina in Yugoslavia, most of them located from north-west to north-east of Višegrad. A distribution map by Prof. Fukarek will be found in Int. Dendr. Soc. Ybk. (1968), p. 32. It was described in 1876 by Dr Pančić, who had received specimens in the previous year, and visited the stands in 1877. It was introduced to cultivation in 1881, by Froebel of Zurich, who received seeds from Dr Pančić. Kew received seeds direct from Belgrade in 1889.

P. omorika is of considerable scientific interest as the only flat-needled spruce in Europe and an undoubted relict from the tertiary epoch. It is, besides, one of the finest spruces introduced to this country. Near London it thrives better than any other, remaining well furnished with its dark green leaves, growing rapidly, and retaining a slender, very elegant form. As it starts into growth late, it is not damaged by spring frosts, and will grow well on acid as well as calcareous soils.

The largest tree at Kew from the introduction of 1889 measures 62 × 234 ft (1970). Two trees at Murthly Castle, Perths., a few years younger, measure 90 × 614 ft and 85 × 614 ft (1970). Others are: Wakehurst Place, Sussex, Bloomer’s Valley, 80 × 434 ft (1973); Leonardslee, Sussex, 79 × 414 ft (1968); Sheffield Park, Sussex, pl. 1910 (?), 78 × 5 ft (1968). The following were measured in Eire in 1966: Headfort, Co. Meath, pl. 1913, 54 × 6 ft; Ashbourne House, Co. Cork, 62 × 534 ft.

cv. ‘Nana’. – A slow-growing variety of dense, irregular habit, eventually 10 ft or so high. Leaves closely set, about 38 in. long, more or less radially arranged. One of the best small conifers, raised in Holland around 1930.



From the Supplement (Vol. V)

specimens: Kew, original introduction of 1889, 67 × 234 ft (1980); Wakehurst Place, Sussex, Bloomer’s Valley, 89 × 434 ft (1979); Leonardslee, Sussex, 82 × 414 ft (1979);. Sheffield Park, Sussex, pl. 1910, 95 × 534 ft (1982); Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, 82 × 5 ft (1984); Endsleigh, Devon, 83 × 714 ft (1977); Bulkeley Mill, Gwyn., 79 × 4 ft (1984); Murthly Castle, Perths., pl. soon after 1889, 108 × 634 ft and 100 × 7 ft (1983); Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, Eire, 80 × 414 ft (1985).

The epithet pendula has been attached to several more or less pendulously branched seedlings, some of which have been propagated.

Genus

Picea

Other species in the genus