Picea smithiana is a species of evergreen tree in the family Pinaceae family.[ It is referred to by the common names morinda spruce]
Description
Picea smithiana is a large tree, an evergreen growing to 40–55 meters tall (exceptionally to 60 m), and with a trunk diameter of up to 1–2 m. It has a conical crown with level branches and usually pendulous branchlets.
The shoots are pale buff-brown, and glabrous (hairless). The leaf are needle-like, the longest of any spruce, 3–5 cm long, rhombic in cross-section, mid-green with inconspicuous lines. The conifer cone are broad cylindric-conic, 9–16 cm long and 3 cm broad, green when young, maturing buff-brown and opening to 5–6 cm broad 5–7 months after pollination; the scales are stiff and smoothly rounded.
Morinda spruce is a popular ornamental tree in large gardens in western Europe for its attractive pendulous branchlets. It is also grown to a small extent in forestry for timber and paper production, though its slower growth compared to Norway spruce reduces its importance outside of its native range. The name morinda derives from the tree's name in Nepali language.
Etymology
Picea means 'pitch', and is derived from the ancient Latin word of the same meaning, pix. The name is in reference to the sticky sap produced by members of this genus.[Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). pp. 302,]
Smithiana is named for James Edward Smith, an English botanist and the founder of the Linnaean Society.
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