Picea species - Christmas tree plantation (+ Phragmites australis) (4803' N 1634' E)

Description:

2011-03-14 Lower Austria, district Wien-Umgebung (Fischa wet meadow, 167 m AMSL).Amidst dense growth of reed in a very wet habitat (soaking wet throughout the year both due to floods of nearby Fischa and high ground water levels).Fir and spruce trees don't ever grow in such habitats in natural conditions, and even those planted ones here obviously struggle (I've seen a couple of dead ones too, none are in this shot though).However, they needn't survive longer than a good ten years, as this is a Christmas tree plantation. The tree in front is some non-native Picea species (I couldn't determine species); in the background there might also be some Abies nordmanniana which are popular for Christmas trees (I didn't check on them more closely).German names: Fichte - Christbaumkultur (+ Europa-Schilf)