Abies pinsapo, Spanish fir, is a species of tree in the family Pinaceae, native to southern Spain and northern Morocco. Related to other species of Mediterranean firs, it appears at elevations of in the Sierra de Grazalema in the Province of Cádiz and the Sierra de las Nieves and , both near Ronda in the province of Málaga. In Morocco, it is limited to the Rif Mountains at elevations of on and Jebel Tasaot. The scientific name pinsapo is from the Spanish vernacular name for the species.
Description Abies pinsapo is an evergreen conifer growing to m tall, with a conic crown, often becoming irregular with age. The leaves are long, arranged radially all round the shoots, and are strongly glaucous pale blue-green, with broad bands of whitish wax on both sides. The cones are cylindrical, measuring long. They are green to pinkish-purple before maturity, and have a smooth surface, with short bract scales that do not protrude. When mature, they disintegrate to release the winged seeds.
There are two subspecies: Abies pinsapo subsp. pinsapo Boiss. – southern Spain. Abies pinsapo subsp. marocana (Trab.) Emb. & Maire – northern Morocco.
The Moroccan subspecies, Moroccan fir, differs in the leaves being less strongly glaucous and the cones slightly longer, long. It is sometimes treated as a separate species, Abies marocana.
Conservation Despite the best conservation and reforestation efforts that have greatly increased the abundance of Spanish fir, it still has several threats such as fires, urban projects, erosion, excessive visitors and tourists, etc.
Cultivation The cultivars A. pinsapo 'Aurea' (to 8m, with golden new growth) and A. pinsapo 'Glauca' (to 12m plus, with grey-green leaves) have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
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References
External links Tourist information for the Sierra de Grazalema (in Spanish)