Picea abies
A fast-growing conifer with the longest cones of any spruce.
Picea abies, commonly known as Norway spruce or European spruce, is a species of spruce native to Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. It is notable for its long cones (the longest of any spruce), drooping branchlets, and its widespread use as a Christmas tree and for timber. It was the first gymnosperm to have its genome sequenced.
- species
- Picea abies
- common_names
- Norway spruce, European spruce
- native_range
- Northern, Central and Eastern Europe
- cone_length
- 9–17 cm
- first_gymnosperm_genome_sequenced
- True
Lore & Background
Norway spruce is a large, fast-growing evergreen coniferous tree reaching 35–55 m tall, with a trunk diameter of 1 to 1.5 m. It can grow up to 1 m per year for the first 25 years under good conditions. Its shoots are orange-brown and glabrous, and its needle-like leaves are 12–14 mm long, quadrangular in cross-section, and dark green. The seed cones are 9–17 cm long, the longest of any spruce, with bluntly to sharply triangular-pointed scale tips, maturing brown 5–7 months after pollination. The tallest measured specimen is 62.26 m tall, near Ribnica na Pohorju, Slovenia.
Reader's Guide
The Norway spruce is one of the most widely planted spruces, both in and outside its native range, and one of the most economically important coniferous species in Europe. It is used for timber, paper production, and as a Christmas tree. It is also the source of spruce beer, which was once used to prevent scurvy. The tree's resin has been used in Nordic folk medicine for wounds and skin disorders. It hybridises freely with Siberian spruce (Picea obovata) east of the Ural Mountains, and the hybrid is known as Picea × fennica. The species has been introduced in North America, where it is naturalised in some areas and considered invasive in parts of the northern US and Canada. Its genome was the first gymnosperm to be sequenced, and it is used in the production of wood-based vanillin by the Norwegian company Borregaard.
Did You Know?
- The Norway spruce has the longest cones of any spruce, measuring 9–17 cm.
- It was the first gymnosperm to have its genome sequenced.
- The tallest measured Norway spruce is 62.26 m tall, growing near Ribnica na Pohorju, Slovenia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Picea abies's powers/role?
Its signature trait is producing the longest cones of any spruce species, ranging from 9 to 17 centimeters in length. It's also a remarkably fast-growing tree, which makes it a go-to choice for Christmas trees and a major timber source throughout Europe.
Why is Picea abies important?
It holds a landmark place in plant science as the first gymnosperm ever to have its complete genome sequenced. Beyond research, it is one of Europe's most economically and culturally significant trees, supplying both construction timber and the iconic Christmas tree.
Where can you find Picea abies in the wild?
Its natural habitat spans the cooler, temperate forests of Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. Outside that belt it has been widely planted, but its true 'home range' is that European corridor.
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