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Taxon
Picea abies
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Common name:
European Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce
Family:
Pinaceae (Pine)
Distribution:
Europe
Habitat:
Boreal conifer forests of northern and northeastern Europe; 1-2000 meters
Hardiness:
-50 - 10 F
Life form:
Evergreen tree
Attracts:
Birds
Foliage characteristics:
Needles point down and towards the stem tip. .5-1" long.
Bark characteristics:
Gray brown and peeling with thin scales.
Average height:
40-60'
Structure:
Conical
Cone characteristics:
Cones grow at ends of branches. Start light green and mature to brown. 4-6" long.
Key ID characteristics:
Long narrow cones; needles leave petiole on stem when pulled off.
Medicinal/pharmaceutical:
Herbal tea made from leafy twigs.
Ethnobotanical uses:
Most common tree used for Christmas trees in Europe.
Description:
The Norway spruce is the most commonly used tree for Christmas trees in the UK, despite the fact that it quickly dries out and sheds needles everywhere. This tree is used in many scientific studies, in topics ranging from climate change to Stradivarius violins. It is also a very popular tree to cultivate, with at least 150 difficult to differentiate cultivars currently in existence.
Links:
American Conifer Society
•
Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
•
The Gymnosperm Database
Locations
1:
Garber
(GARBER)
• Accession: 2011-2649*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
2:
Garber
(GARBER)
• Accession: 2011-2650*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
Area
Individual