Pinaceae FAMILY Endangered

Picea omorika

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Picea omorika is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 25 metres tall. The plant was formerly valued for its wood, but its increasing rarity have led to its harvest being banned in most areas. It also has a range of traditional food uses, thoughis little, if at all, harvested for this at present. Picea omorika is restricted to fewer than ten locations, one representing the main part of the species natural range with less than 30 fragmented populations of various size, and a small number of disjunct locations. The natural range of this species has been in contraction since the end of the Last Glacial Maximum, as expected for a cold-adapted species. Recent fieldwork indicates that there is a continuing (albeit slow) decline in the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, quality of habitat and number of mature individuals in some locations. This is primarily due to poor regeneration, inability to compete with associated tree species and climate changes..The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurope - Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

HabitatSteep north to northwest facing limestone slopes (sometimes precipitous) which overlay igneous material; at elevations from 800 - 1,500 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Plants are confined to a few stands on limestone mountains[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ].