- Abies pinsapo
Taxobox
name = Abies pinsapo
status = LR/nt | status_system = IUCN2.3
image_width = 240px
image_caption = Spanish Fir in the Sierra de las Nieves
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo =Pinales
familia =Pinaceae
genus = "Abies"
species = "A. pinsapo"
binomial = "Abies pinsapo"
binomial_authority = Boiss."Abies pinsapo" (Spanish Fir) is a species of
fir native to southernSpain andMorocco . In Spain it is limited to altitudes of 1100-2000 m in theSierra de Grazalema in the province ofCádiz and theSierra de las Nieves nearRonda in the province ofMálaga . In Morocco it is limited to theRif mountains at altitudes of 1400-2100 m onJebel Tissouka andJebel Tazaot It is an
evergreen tree 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 wingedseed s.The Moroccan variety, Moroccan Fir "Abies pinsapo" var. "marocana", differs in the leaves being less strongly glaucous and the cones slightly longer, 11-20 cm long.
Spanish Fir is now a threatened species more than ever. In spite of environmental laws and status of Sierra de las Nieves as Natural Park and UNESCO reserve, a giant real estate development, with golf courses and hundreds of luxury houses and hotels, is going to ruin an extense area inside this reserve, consuming a huge amount of water and creating a big urban nucleus very close to fir forestsFact|date=August 2007.
References
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