{{Short description|Species of plant in the family Pinaceae}} {{Speciesbox | name = Spanish fir | image = Abies pinsapo, joven, en la Sierra de las Nieves.jpg | image_caption = Spanish fir in the Sierra de las Nieves, Spain | status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Arista, A. |author2=Alaoui, M.L. |author3=Knees, S. |author4=Gardner, M. |date=2011 |title=''Abies pinsapo'' |volume=2011 |article-number=e.T42295A10679577 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T42295A10679577.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Abies | species = pinsapo | authority = Boiss. | range_map = Abies pinsapo range.svg | range_map_caption = {{Color box|#70A800}} Native range <span style="color:#70A800"><big>'''✖'''</big></span> Isolated population (var. ''pinsapo'') {{Color box|#A87000}} Native range <span style="color:#A87000"><big>▲</big></span> Isolated population (var. ''marocana'') | synonyms = ''Picea pinsapo'' <small>(Boiss.) Loudon</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name=KewPOWO>{{cite web|url= https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:676606-1|title= Abies pinsapo Boiss.|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=n.d.|website=Plants of the World Online|publisher=The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|access-date= September 6, 2020}}</ref> }}

'''''Abies pinsapo''''', '''Spanish fir''', is a species of tree in the family Pinaceae,<ref name=KewPOWO/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000511356|title= Abies pinsapo Boiss.|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=n.d.|website=World Flora Online|publisher=The World Flora Online Consortium|access-date= September 6, 2020}}</ref> native to southern Spain and northern Morocco.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Alizoti|first1=P.G.|last2=Fady|first2=B.|last3=Prada|first3=M.A.|last4=Vendramin|first4=G.G|title=Mediterranean firs - Abies spp.|journal=EUFORGEN Technical Guidelines for Genetic Conservation and Use|date=2009|url=http://www.euforgen.org/fileadmin//templates/euforgen.org/upload/Publications/Technical_guidelines/1507_Mediterranen_firs_Abies_spp.pdf|access-date=2016-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020035525/http://www.euforgen.org/fileadmin//templates/euforgen.org/upload/Publications/Technical_guidelines/1507_Mediterranen_firs_Abies_spp.pdf|archive-date=2016-10-20}}</ref> Related to other species of Mediterranean firs, it appears at elevations of {{convert|900|-|1800|m|ft}} in the Sierra de Grazalema in the Province of Cádiz and the Sierra de las Nieves and {{ill|Sierra Bermeja (Spain)|lt=Sierra Bermeja|es|Sierra Bermeja}}, both near Ronda in the province of Málaga.<ref>{{cite web | title=Abies pinsapo - EUFORGEN European forest genetic resources programme | website=EUFORGEN European forest genetic resources programme | url=https://www.euforgen.org/species/abies-pinsapo/ | access-date=2025-04-06}}</ref> In Morocco, it is limited to the Rif Mountains at elevations of {{convert|1400|-|2100|m|ft}} on {{ill|Jebel Tisouka|ar}} 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 20–30 m tall, with a conic crown, often becoming irregular with age. The leaves are 1.5–2&nbsp;cm 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 9–18&nbsp; cm 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:<ref name=KewPOWO/> *''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, 11–20&nbsp;cm long. It is sometimes treated as a separate species, ''Abies marocana''.<ref>{{cite web | title=Abies marocana - EUFORGEN European forest genetic resources programme | website=EUFORGEN European forest genetic resources programme | url=https://www.euforgen.org/species/abies-marocana/ | access-date=2025-04-06}}</ref>

==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'<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/96162/i-Abies-pinsapo-i-Aurea/Details |title=''Abies pinsapo'' 'Aurea' |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=20 December 2017}}</ref> (to 8m, with golden new growth) and ''A. pinsapo'' 'Glauca'<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/60/Abies-pinsapo-Glauca/Details | title = ''Abies pinsapo'' 'Glauca' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 27 February 2020}}</ref> (to 12m plus, with grey-green leaves) have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

==Gallery==

<gallery mode=nolines widths=170 heights-170> File:Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja (Málaga, España) 10.JPG|Foliage and cones in the Sierra Bermeja File:Pinsapo en el sendero del Río Majaceite 1.jpg|Foliage, Sierra de Grazalema File:Pinsapo de las Escaleretas 1.jpg|"Pinsapo de las Escaleretas", the largest known specimen, in the Sierra de las Nieves File:Pinsapo de las Escaleretas 3.jpg|Trunk of "Pinsapo de las Escaleretas" File:Piñas de pinsapo (8783339221).jpg|Pollen cones, in the Sierra de las Nieves File:Abies pinsapo subsp. marocana, Talassemtane, Morocco 2.jpg|subsp. ''marocana'', Talassemtane, Morocco File:Abies pinsapo var. marocana cone.jpg|subsp. ''marocana'' cone, with resin </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://turismo.grazalema.es/index.php/rutas/pinsapar Tourist information for the Sierra de Grazalema] (in Spanish)

{{Taxonbar|from=Q849381}} {{Authority control}}

pinsapo Category:Flora of Spain Category:Trees of Morocco Category:Trees of Europe Category:Trees of Mediterranean climate Category:Endangered flora of Europe Category:Plants described in 1838 Category:Taxa named by Pierre Edmond Boissier