Picea schrenkiana

Picea schrenkiana, Schrenk's spruce,[1] or Asian spruce,[1] is a spruce native to the Tian Shan mountains of Central Asia (in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan) and also to western China (Xinjiang).[1] It grows at elevations of 1,200–3,500 m (3,900–11,500 ft),[3] usually in pure forests, sometimes mixed with the Tien Shan variety of Siberian fir (Abies sibirica var. semenovii). Its name was given in honour of Alexander von Schrenk (1816–1876).

Picea schrenkiana
Forest at Kaindy Lake, southeast Kazakhstan
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnosperms
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Picea
Species:
P. schrenkiana
Binomial name
Picea schrenkiana
Synonyms[2]
  • Abies schrenkiana (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) Lindl. & Gordon
  • Pinus schrenkiana (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) Antoine

Description
In Rogów Arboretum, Poland

Picea schrenkiana is a large evergreen tree growing to 40–50 metres (130–160 ft) tall (rarely to 60 m (200 ft)), with a trunk diameter of up to 1–2 m (3–7 ft). It has a narrow conical crown with level branches and sometimes pendulous branchlets. The shoots are pale buff-brown, and glabrous (hairless). The leaves are needle-like, 1.5–3.5 cm (0.6–1.4 in) long, rhombic in cross-section, dark green with inconspicuous stomatal lines.

The cones are cylindrical–conic, 6–12 cm (2.4–4.7 in)long and 2 cm (0.8 in) broad, purple when young, maturing dark brown and opening to 2.5–3.5 cm (1.0–1.4 in) broad 5–7 months after pollination; the scales are moderately stiff and smoothly rounded.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies:[2]

  • Picea schrenkiana subsp. schrenkiana. Eastern Tian Shan, in Kazakhstan and Xinjiang. Leaves longer, 2–3.5 cm (0.8–1.4 in) long.
  • Picea schrenkiana subsp. tianshanica (Rupr.) Bykov. Western Tian Shan, in Kyrgyzstan. Leaves shorter, 1.5–2.5 cm (0.6–1.0 in) long.

It is closely related to, and in many respects intermediate between the Morinda spruce (Picea smithiana) from further south in the Himalaya, and the Siberian spruce (Picea obovata) further north in Siberia.

Uses

Schrenk's spruce is an important tree in central Asia for timber and paper production, where few other large trees exist. Its slower growth compared to the Norway spruce (Picea abies) reduces its importance outside of its native range.

Cultivation

Picea schrenkiana is grown as an ornamental tree in large gardens and public parks in Europe.

References
  1. Farjon, A. (2013). "Picea schrenkiana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42336A2973645. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42336A2973645.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. "Picea schrenkiana". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  3. "Picea schrenkiana". Flora of China. efloras.org. Retrieved 16 March 2013.

Further reading
  • Farjon, A. (1990). Pinaceae. Drawings and Descriptions of the Genera. Koelz Scientific, ISBN 3-87429-298-3.
  • Zsolt Debreczy; Istvan Racz (2012). Kathy Musial (ed.). Conifers Around the World (1st ed.). DendroPress. p. 1089. ISBN 978-9632190617.
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