Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Picea smithiana (Wallich.) Boiss.

Fully-hardy evergreen conical then columnar tree with spreading branches, pendant branchlets, sparse, 4-sided leaves, to 4cm long, arranged radially, and cylindrical, green then brown female cones, to 20cm long.  To 30m.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’]. 

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Europe in 1818.  [PD].  ‘This tree seems to be allied to Tournefort’s Abies orientalis, and still more so to the specimen from China, figured in Mr. Lambert’s splendid Monograph, plate 29.  It is however a distinct species, and as such I have dedicated it to the late immortal President of the Linnean Society.’  [Wallich pl.246/1832].

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [C.6/1850].  Abies smithiana and Abies morinda were included among desiderata in a letter to John Lindley dated 15th February 1848 [MP A2933-1, p.157] and to Sir William Hooker on 11th February [MP A2933-1, p.165].  It was obtained from Kew Gardens, brought out from England by Captain P. P. King in 1849.  Believed by Macarthur to be a new introduction to the colony.  [ML A1980-3].

Notes

Published Jul 14, 2009 - 04:35 PM | Last updated Jul 29, 2010 - 03:23 PM

Figured are radially arranged leaves and brown female leaves.  Wallich pl.246, 1832.

Picea smithiana (Wallich.) Boiss. | Wallich pl.246/1832 | BHL

Family Pinaceae
Category
Region of origin

Afghanistan to Nepal

Synonyms
  • Pinus smithiana Wall.
  • Abies khutrow Loud.
  • Abies smithiana Lind.
  • Picea morinda Link.
Common Name

Morinda spruce, West Himalayan spruce

Name in the Camden Park Record

Abies Khutrow 

Confidence level high