''Abies pinsapo'', the Spanish fir, is a species of tree in the family
Pinaceae,
[ native to southern ]Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
and northern Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria ...
. Related to other species of Mediterranean firs, it appears at altitudes of in the Sierra de Grazalema in the Province of Cádiz and the Sierra de las Nieves and Sierra Bermeja, both near Ronda in the province of Málaga. In Morocco, it is limited to the Rif Mountains at altitudes of on Jebel Tissouka
Jabal, Jabel, Jebel or Jibal may refer to:
People
* Jabal (name), a male Arabic given name
* Jabal (Bible), mentioned in the Hebrew Bible
Places
In Arabic, ''jabal'' or ''jebel'' (spelling variants of the same word) means 'mountain'.
* Dzhebe ...
and Jebel Tazaot
Jabal, Jabel, Jebel or Jibal may refer to:
People
* Jabal (name), a male Arabic given name
* Jabal (Bible), mentioned in the Hebrew Bible
Places
In Arabic, ''jabal'' or ''jebel'' (spelling variants of the same word) means 'mountain'.
* Dzhebe ...
.
Description
''Abies pinsapo'' is an evergreen conifer
Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All ex ...
growing to 20–30 m tall, with a conic crown, sometimes becoming irregular with age. The leaves are 1.5–2 cm long, arranged radially all round the shoots, and are strongly glaucous pale blue-green, with broad bands of whitish wax on both sides. The cones are cylindrical, 9–18 cm long, greenish-pink to purple before maturity, and smooth with the bract scales short and not exserted. When mature, they disintegrate to release the winged seed
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiosper ...
s.
The Moroccan variety, ''Abies pinsapo'' var. ''marocana'' or the Moroccan fir, differs in the leaves being less strongly glaucous and the cones slightly longer, 11–20 cm long.
The cultivar
A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...
s ''A. pinsapo'' ‘Aurea’ (to 8m, with golden new growth)
and ''A. pinsapo'' 'Glauca'
Conservation
Spanish fir, despite the best conservation and reforestation efforts that have greatly increased its abundance, still has several threats such as fires, urban projects, erosion, excessive visitors and tourists, etc.
Gallery
File:SpanishFir.JPG, A Spanish fir in Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
n botanical gardens
File:Abies pinsapo Glauca foliage PAN.jpg, Foliage of a Spanish fir 'Glauca'
File:Abies pinsapo JPG1a.jpg, Foliage and trunk of a Spanish fir
File:Tūpare MRD 02.jpg, Spanish fir in Tūpare Gardens, New Zealand
References
External links
Tourist information for the Sierra de Grazalema
and surrounding areas
''Abies pinsapo''
- distribution map and related resources at European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)
''Abies marocana''
- distribution map and related resources at EUFORGEN
{{Authority control
pinsapo
Near threatened plants
Trees of Mediterranean climate
Trees of Morocco
Trees of Europe
Taxa named by Pierre Edmond Boissier