Family: Pinaceae
Author: Parry ex Engelm.
Bibliography: Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis 2: 212 (1863)
Year: 1863
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Picea
Vegetable: False
Observations: W. Canada to W. & WC. U.S.A., NE. Mexico
Description
Mountain spruce, scientifically named Picea engelmannii, is a remarkable coniferous tree native to the mountainous regions of western North America. This majestic evergreen is noted for its impressive vertical stature and its ability to thrive in harsh, high-altitude climates, making it a vital component of the subalpine and montane forest ecosystems.
First described in 1863 by Charles Christopher Parry and later classified by George Engelmann, its nomenclature acknowledges the collaborative efforts in its botanical identification. Mountain spruce belongs to the Pinaceae family, which encompasses many of the world’s essential conifer species.
Picea engelmannii typically reaches heights of 25 to 40 meters, though some individuals can grow even taller under optimal conditions. Its bark is thin and scaly, displaying a grayish-brown color. The tree’s foliage consists of needle-like leaves that are typically bluish-green, giving the tree its characteristic silvery appearance. Each needle is sharply pointed and measures about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters in length, arranged in a spiral around the twig.
The reproductive strategy of mountain spruce involves the production of both male and female cones. The male cones are small and reddish, essentially pollen producers, while the female cones are cylindrical and larger, maturing to a brown or purplish hue. These cones serve as the seed dispersers, ensuring the continuity of the species across its vast natural range.
Geographically, Picea engelmannii spans a broad territory from western Canada, extending through the western and west-central United States, reaching as far south as northeastern Mexico. This extensive distribution underscores the tree’s adaptability and resilience in varying mountainous terrains, where it often forms dense forests either in pure stands or mixed with other conifers like firs and pines.
Mountain spruce plays a crucial ecological role in its habitat. It provides essential shelter and food for various wildlife, including birds and mammals. Its dense canopy offers protection against the elements for understorey vegetation, thereby maintaining the biodiversity of the forest floor.
In terms of human utility, the wood of Picea engelmannii is valued for its lightness and strength, commonly used in construction and specialized applications such as musical instruments, particularly sought after for its excellent acoustic properties.
Understanding the ecological and economic significance of mountain spruce is essential for its conservation. As climate change and deforestation threaten its habitat, coordinated efforts between conservationists and local governments are necessary to ensure the preservation of this iconic species for future generations.
Common Names
Ita: abete di engelman, picea di engelmann
Eng: columbian spruce, engelmann spruce, engelmann’s spruce, mountain spruce, silver spruce, white spruce
Nld: engelmann’s spar
Hun: engelmann-luc
Deu: engelmanns-fichte
Dan: engelmanns-gran
Nor: engelmannsgran
Spa: pícea de engelmann
Ces: smrk engelmannuv
Fra: épicéa d’engelmann, épinette d’engelmann
Rus: ель энгельмана (el’ engel’mana)
Zho: 恩氏云杉 (en shi yun shan)
Swe: engelmannsgran
Cym: sbriwsen engelmann, spriswen arizona, spriwsen engelmann
En: Mountain spruce, Engelmann spruce, Engelmann’s spruce, Columbian spruce, Silver spruce, White spruce
Az: Engelman küknarı
Be: Елка Энгельмана
Ca: Pícea d’Engelmann
Zh: 英格曼云杉, 恩氏云杉 (en shi yun shan)
Cs: Smrk Engelmannův, Smrk Engelmannuv
Da: Engelmanns-gran
Nl: Engelmann’s spar
Et: Engelmanni kuusk
Fi: Engelmanninkuusi
Fr: Épinette d’Engelmann, Épicéa d’Engelmann
De: Engelmann-Fichte, Engelmanns-Fichte
He: אשוחית אנגלמן
Hu: Sziklás-hegységi szürke luc, Engelmann-luc
Is: Blágreni
It: Picea di Engelmann, Peccio di Engelmann, Abete di Engelman
Ja: Engeruman-supurūsu
Kv: Энгельманн кӧз
Lt: Engelmano eglė
No: Engelmannsgran
Pl: Świerk Engelmanna
Ru: Ель Энгельмана, Ель Энгельмана (el’ Engel’mana)
Sr: Енгелманова смрча
Es: Pícea de Engelmann
Sv: Engelmannsgran
Zh-hant: 英格曼雲杉
Uk: Ялина Енгельмана
Cy: Sbriwsen Engelmann, Spriswen Arizona, Spriwsen Engelmann
Synonyms
- Picea engelmannii var. typica (Goodman)
- Picea glauca subsp. engelmannii ((Parry ex Engelm.) T.M.C.Taylor)
- Picea glauca var. engelmannii ((Parry ex Engelm.) B.Boivin)
Distribution
- Alberta (native)
- Arizona (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- California (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Idaho (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Montana (native)
- Nevada (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Utah (native)
- Washington (native)
- Wyoming (native)
- Austria (introduced)
- Finland (introduced)
- Føroyar (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Iceland (introduced)
- Norway (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
Additional Images
Fruit
Taken Jun 11, 2010 by EOL − Gerald and Buff Corsi (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Jul 7, 2007 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Feb 15, 2021 by laurent Puybaret (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Mark Iverson from Seattle (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 9, 1992 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-nc)
Leaf
Taken May 30, 2020 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2020 by Gaston plourde (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 19, 2021 by Lu lu (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 8, 2020 by Tonelli Alexander Roger (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Zach Beauvais from Ludlow, Shropshire, United Kingdom (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 9, 2014 by EOL − podiceps (cc-by-nc)
Taken May 14, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken May 9, 2014 by EOL − podiceps (cc-by-nc)
Taken Aug 17, 2020 by Raavi Patel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 7, 2000 by EOL − Gerald and Buff Corsi (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Niehaus, T.F. (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Dec 25, 2021 by Beate Liebold (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 16, 2020 by Günter Granitzer (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Wagner, W.L. (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2005 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2005 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2005 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2005 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5284917)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:262646-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.)
Specifications
Growth form>: Single Stem
Growth habit>: Tree
Growth rate>: Slow
Growth
Ph maximum: 8.0
Ph minimum: 6.0