Caucasian Spruce

Taxobox
name = Caucasian Spruce
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3


image_width = 250px
image_caption = Caucasian Spruce foliage
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo = Pinales
familia = Pinaceae
genus = "Picea"
species = "P. orientalis"
binomial = "Picea orientalis"
binomial_authority = (L.) Link

The Caucasian Spruce or Oriental Spruce ("Picea orientalis") is a spruce native to the Caucasus and adjacent northeast Turkey. It is a large evergreen tree growing to 30-45 m tall (exceptionally to 57 m), and with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 m (exceptionally up to 4 m).

The shoots are buff-brown, and moderately pubescent (hairy). The leaves are needle-like, the shortest of any spruce, 6-8 mm long, rhombic in cross-section, dark green with inconspicuous stomatal lines. The cones are slender cylindric-conic, 5-9 cm long and 1.5 cm broad, red to purple when young, maturing dark brown 5-7 months after pollination, and have stiff, smoothly rounded scales.

Caucasian Spruce is a popular ornamental tree in large gardens, valued in northern Europe and the USA for its attractive foliage and ability to grow on a wide range of soils. It is also grown to a small extent in forestry for Christmas trees, timber and paper production, though its slower growth compared to Norway Spruce reduces its importance outside of its native range.

References

*

External links

* [http://www.conifers.org/pi/pic/orientalis.htm Gymnosperm Database]