Picea Maximowiczii – Wikipedia

Picea Maximowiczii Rule ex mast., 1879 , it is a kind of peccio, belonging to the Pinaceae family, endemic of the Fuji and the Yatsugatake mountains, on the island of Honshū, in Japan. ^[first]

The generic name Picea , already used by the Latins, could, according to an etymological interpretation, derive from Pitch pitch = PEC, in reference to the abundant production of resin. ^[2] The specific name Maximowiczii He was assigned in honor of the Russian botanist and explorer Karl Maksimovič who, during his shipments in Japan, collected numerous plants and seeds, sending them to Europe. ^[3]

Bearing [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Tree 20-25 meters high (sometimes bushy) with monopodial trunk right or fork, which can reach 50–60 cm in diameter; The first order branches are long and slender, developed horizontally or ascendants. The branches of the second order are short, numerous and pending in the elderly specimens. The hair is dense, largely conical. The virgults are slender, flexible, brown-yellowish or orange-brown, grooved and wrinkled, glabrous or puboholent; The pulvini are numerous, small and darker. ^[3]

Leaves [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

The leaves are needle, linear, dried or slightly curved, shiny dark green with whitish stomatic bands, 1-1.3 cm long, transversely rombic section and with acute or obtuse tips; They have stomis on both pages arranged on 2-4 lines. The vegetative gems are ovoid-conical or ovoid-globose, 2.5-4.5 mm long, slightly resinous; They have ovate or rounded, obtuse, red-brown or purple-brown, persistent for years. ^[3]

Flowers [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

They are yellowish male stables, axillaries, often numerous, 1-1.5 cm long, erected by immature and pending maturation. ^[3]

Fruits [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

The female cones have an oblique short peduncle and are oval-cylindrical or ovoid-oblunghi, initially erected, then ripening, 4-6.5 cm long and 2.5-3.5 cm wide, initially green, then brown Rossi, with obtuse peak. The macrosporophils are obnovati-cucneati, 1.3-1.8 cm long, with a striated surface or longitudinally furrow, glabrous and often resinous. The bracts are rudimentary, ligulated, obtuse, 2–3 mm long, totally included. The seeds, dark brown or brown-gray color, are ovoid-oblunghi and 3-4.5 mm long, with ovate-oblunga winged part, 7–10 mm long, brown-yellow or orange-brown. ^[3]

Bark [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

The bark is wrinkled, grooved, brown or brown-gray color. ^[3]

Vegeta from 1100 to 2000 m of altitude, on soils of volcanic origin, usually podzolics; The habitat climate is humid, with annual rainfall between 1000 and 2000 mm, characterized by fresh summers and cold winters. Finds itself in small scattered formations, usually in association with Juniperus rigida , Pinus densiflora , and species fell. The variety Senanensis also with Picea alcoquiana It is Picea Ayamae . ^[first]

A variety is accepted: ^[4]

Its wood is not of great value and despite this in the past it has been over-cutded. In Japan this species is highly appreciated as an ornamental tree for its dense crown and slow growth, frequently finding itself in gardens, especially those of the Buddhist temples; There is also a form of bonsai on the market. In Europe and North America it is not very common, finding itself only in specialized botanical gardens and gardens, in particular with the variety Senanensis . ^[first]

Species subjected to over-transfrutation in the past with intense deforestation and replacement with other faster and more economically exploitable forestry species. The populations of the primary area, vast only 100 km², are scattered in unprocessed groups, with lack of mature individuals, and difficult regeneration (it is estimated that the population has halved). For these reasons it is classified as dangerous species by the IUCN red list. ^[first]