Picea smithiana aka Morinda Spruce

Picea smithiana, also known as morinda spruce or West Himalayan spruce, is a species of evergreen tree in the Pinaceae family. Native to the western Himalaya and adjacent mountains, it can be found in regions ranging from northeast Afghanistan and northern Pakistan to India and central Nepal. This slow-growing coniferous tree typically reaches heights of 6m, with a conical shape and pendent branch tips. Its bright yellow-green needles add to its distinctive appearance. Growing at altitudes of 2,400-3,600m, Picea smithiana thrives in forests alongside deodar cedar, blue pine, and pindrow fir. It is a large evergreen tree, often reaching 40-55m in height, with a trunk diameter of up to 1-2m. The crown is conical with level branches, and the branchlets usually hang down. The shoots are pale buff-brown and smooth. The needle-like leaves are the longest among all spruces, measuring 3-5cm in length and having a rhombic cross-section. They are mid-green in color with inconspicuous stomatal lines. The tree produces broad cylindric-conic cones, which are green when young and mature to a buff-brown color. These cones are 9-16cm long and 3cm broad, and they open to a width of 5-6cm, about 5-7 months after pollination. The scales of the cones are stiff and smoothly rounded. Picea smithiana is highly valued as an ornamental tree in large gardens across western Europe, thanks to its attractive pendulous branchlets. While it is also cultivated to a small extent for timber and paper production, its slower growth compared to Norway spruce limits its significance outside its native range. The name "morinda" originates from its Nepali name.