Picea jezoensis subsp. komarovii, as described in 1950 by V.N. Vassilev in Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae by W.C. Cheng & L.K. Fu, is commonly known as Komarov's spruce.
Description. This subspecies differs from the typical species in the following ways.
Second year branchlets are yellowish brown in color, lighter than the type.
Leaves (needles) measure 0.04 to 0.08 inch (1 - 2 cm) long, somewhat shorter than the type.
Stomatal banding on the needles is greenish white in color, darker than the type.
Seed cones are 1.2 to 1.6 inches (3 - 4 cm) long, much smaller than the type.
Seed scales are rhombic in outline, measuring 0.28 0.32 inch (7 - 8 mm) wide, slightly wider than the type.
Distribution. This subspecies is native to northeastern China — Jilin province and North Korea.
Hardy to at least USDA Zone 4 — cold hardiness limit between -10° and -0°F (-23.3° and -17.8°C).
Comments