Pinaceae Abies pinsapo var. marocana (Trab.) Ceballos & Bolaño
Etymology
Abies refers to ‘to rise’; indicating large trees.
pinsapo refers to the common name for this tree in Andalusia.
marocana refers to Morocco.
Colloquial Name
Moroccan fir
Description
These trees can reach up to 30 meters in height, though most remain smaller in their natural habitat. The trunk is usually straight, column-like, and unbranched in sheltered areas, but in exposed conditions, it may become twisted or forked. Young trees have a narrow, conical crown, while older trees develop a more irregular shape, which can be either open or dense. The bark is smooth and dark grey when young, turning rough and scaly with age.
The main branches are long and curve downward, except near the top, where they ascend. The smaller branches are dense, spreading horizontally and slightly upward. The twigs are stout, very firm, and reddish-brown or greenish-brown, eventually becoming grey. They have faint ridges between the leaves and are completely smooth. The spots where leaves were once attached are large, circular, or angular, and purplish-grey in color.
The buds that produce new growth are small, rounded, and measure 5 to 6 mm long. They can be either dry or very sticky with resin. Their outer scales are triangular, slightly keeled, and free at the tips, with a reddish-brown or purplish-brown color. The leaves are arranged in a spiral around the branches, often forming comb-like rows, especially on the lower branches. They range from 0.6 to 2 cm in length and 2 to 3 mm in width, with little to no twisting at the base. The leaves are long and narrow, somewhat flattened or slightly ridged, stiff in texture, and grey-green or bluish-green in color. Their tips vary from sharply pointed to more elongated and tapering. The resin canals, which transport the tree’s resin, are positioned along the outer edges of the leaves. Stomata, the tiny pores used for gas exchange, are arranged in several rows on the upper side and form two distinct bands on the underside, separated by a midrib and bordered by broad margins.
The pollen cones, which produce pollen, grow on the sides of the branches in crowded clusters. They are small, measuring 0.5 to 0.7 cm long, and are yellowish with red or violet pollen-producing structures. The seed cones, which develop into woody cones, also grow on the sides of the branches but stand upright on short stalks. They are cylindrical, with a rounded tip that often has a small bump. When young, the cones are greenish-purple, gradually turning light or dark brown as they mature. They typically measure 10 to 18 cm long and 3.5 to 5 cm wide. After the seeds are released, the central cone axis remains, forming a narrow, purplish-brown, cone-shaped structure.
The seed scales, which hold the seeds within the cone, are shaped like a shallow cup or a broad fan. In the middle of the cone, they measure 2.5 to 2.8 cm long and 2.2 to 2.5 cm wide. Their surface is smooth with slight ridges and has fine yellowish hairs on the exposed parts. The upper edge is slightly wavy and curves inward. The base is attached to a long stalk. The small bracts, which sit behind the seed scales, are oblong with a tiny notch at the tip and a small cusp. They are about 1 to 1.3 cm long and remain completely hidden within the cone.
The seeds are wedge-shaped and oblong, measuring 8 to 10 mm long and light brown in color. Each seed has a papery wing, which helps it travel in the wind, measuring 13 to 20 mm long and also light brown.
Subordinate Taxa
There exist 2 subordinate taxa for Abies pinsapo:
Distribution
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Habitat
The natural habitats for Abies pinsapo var. marocana are temperate forests. It is naturally found at an elevation of at least 1800 up to 1800 metres. Other conifers associated with Abies pinsapo var. marocana are:
USDA Hardiness zone – 6
Abies pinsapo var. marocana is hardy to USDA Zone 6 (Bannister & Neuner, 2001), meaning its frost tolerance lies somewhere in the range of -23.3C (-10F) to -17.8C (0F).
Species Continuity
The population trend for Abies pinsapo var. marocana is decreasing. There are ongoing threats for Abies pinsapo var. marocana and they are listed as follows:
- 1 Habitat Loss & Degradation
- 2 Overexploitation & Resource Use
- 3 Climate Change & Natural Disasters
- 5 Natural System Modifications
IUCN Category – EN
According to the IUCN Red List, Abies pinsapo var. marocana has been assigned the status of EN(Endangered). This means that according to the Red List criteria, this species qualifies as Endangered and is very much at risk.
Superordinate Taxa
The nearest superordinate taxon for Abies pinsapo is Sect. Piceaster. The coordinate taxa for Abies pinsapo are therefore:
Abies pinsapo var. marocana is further placed under Abietoideae. Abies pinsapo var. marocana is also placed under Pinaceae.
This map shows botanical records (points) for this taxon. By opening the map’s sidebar (collapsed by default) you can toggle visibility or change the basemap. By clicking on records, you reveal more information.
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