Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis, Traité Gén. Conif.: 260 (1855))

Family: Pinaceae

Author: (Bong.) Carrière

Bibliography: Traité Gén. Conif.: 260 (1855)

Year: 1855

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Picea

Vegetable: False

Observations: Alaska to W. U.S.A.

Description

The Sitka spruce, scientifically known as Picea sitchensis, is a notable species revered for its towering presence and extensive range. It is a grand and vital component of the forests extending from Alaska down to the western regions of the United States, flourishing particularly in the coastal rainforests.

Appearance and Identification:
The Sitka spruce stands out due to its remarkable height, often reaching up to 100 meters (328 feet), making it one of the tallest species within the genus Picea. Its bark is thin and scaly, breaking off in small circular plates. The needles are stiff, sharp, and blue-green, measuring about 15-25 millimeters in length, and they attach to the branches in a spiral arrangement. One of the defining features of the Sitka spruce is its cones, which are cylindrical, reddish-purple when young, maturing to a pale brown color, typically 5-11 centimeters long.

Ecological Role:
This species plays a crucial ecological role in its native habitat. It thrives in moist, well-drained soils, often forming dense forests that support a diverse array of wildlife. These forests provide critical habitat for various bird species, mammals, and numerous other organisms that have adapted to this unique environment.

Historical and Utilitarian Significance:
The Sitka spruce has also been historically significant for human use. It was first systematically described in 1855 (Traité Gén. Conif.: 260), by the botanist Élie-Abel Carrière, who recognized the detailed prior observations made by Rouellé Bongard. The indigenous peoples of the region have utilized the strong, straight, and lightweight wood of the Sitka spruce for centuries, employing it in the construction of sea vessels, traditional shelters, and tools.

In the modern era, its wood is highly valued for its unique properties; it is used extensively in the lumber industry, particularly for making musical instruments such as pianos and guitars, as well as in the aviation sector for building aircraft frames during the early 20th century.

Conservation Status:
The extensive harvesting and exploitation of Sitka spruce, primarily during the 19th and 20th centuries, brought significant attention to conservation efforts. Presently, sustainable management practices involve careful monitoring of logging activities, reforestation projects, and the establishment of protected areas to preserve this majestic tree species and its surrounding ecosystems.

In summary, Picea sitchensis is a species that commands respect not only for its physical grandeur but also for its ecological, historical, and economic importance. The Sitka spruce undeniably represents a pivotal element of the natural heritage and cultural history across its range from Alaska to the western United States.

Common Names

Ita: abete di menzies, abete di sitka, picea di sitka
Swe: backlök, piplök, rysslök, sitkagran, snödroppslök
Eng: menzies spruce, silver spruce, sitka spruce, tideland spruce, western spruce, coast spruce, yellow spruce
Nld: sitka spar, sitkaspar
Deu: sitka-fichte, sitkafichte
Dan: sitka-gran
Nor: sitkagran
Hun: szitka-luc
Spa: pícea de sitka
Fra: sapin de sitka, épicéa de sitka, épinette de sitka
Est: sitka kuusk
Nob: sitkagran
Nno: sitkagran
Ces: smrk sitka
Pol: świerk sitkajski
Rus: ель ситкинская (el’ sitkinskaya)
Zho: 西特喀云衫 (xi te ka yun shan)
Cym: pyrwydden sitca, sbriws sitca, sbriwsen sitca, sbriwsen sitka, spriwsen sitka
En: Sitka spruce, Menzies spruce, Silver spruce, Tideland spruce, Western spruce, Coast spruce, Yellow spruce
Ar: تنوب سيتكي
Az: Sitxin küknarı
Ca: Pícea de Sitka
Zh: 北美雲杉, 西加云杉, 西特喀云衫 (xi te ka yun shan)
Hr: Sitkanska smreka
Cs: Smrk sitka
Da: Sitka-Gran
Nl: Sitkaspar, Sitka spar
Eo: Sitka-piceo
Et: Sitka kuusk
Fi: Sitkankuusi
Fr: Épinette de Sitka, Sapin de Sitka, Épicéa de Sitka, Épicéa de Menzies
De: Sitka-Fichte, Sitkafichte
He: אשוחית סיטקה
Hu: Szitka luc, Szitka-luc
Is: Sitkagreni
Ga: Sprús Sitceach
It: Abete di Menzies, Abete di Sitka, Picea di Sitka, Peccio di Sitka
Kv: Ситкаись кӧз
Lt: Sitkinė eglė
Lb: Sitkafiicht
Mk: Ситканска смрча
No: Sitkagran
Nb: Sitkagran
Nn: Sitkagran
Fa: نوئل سیتکایی
Pl: Świerk sitkajski
Ru: Ель ситхинская, Ель ситкинская (el’ sitkinskaya)
Sr: Ситканска смрча
Sk: Smrek sitkanský
Es: Pícea de Sitka, Picea de Sitka
Sv: Sitkagran, Backlök, Piplök, Rysslök, Snödroppslök
Zh-hant: 西加雲杉
Tr: Sitka ladini
Cy: Sbriwsen Sitca, Pyrwydden Sitca, Sbriws Sitca, Sbriwsen Sitka, Spriwsen Sitka

Synonyms

• Abies menziesii ((Douglas ex D.Don) Lindl.)
• Picea menziesii ((Douglas ex D.Don) Carrière)
• Abies merkiana (Fisch. ex Parl.)
• Sequoia rafinesquei (Carrière)
• Picea menziesii var. crispa ((Antoine) Carrière)
• Pinus menziesii (Douglas ex D.Don)
• Abies sitchensis ((Bong.) Lindl. & Gordon)
• Tsuga sitchensis ((Bong.) Regel)
• Picea falcata ((Raf.) Valck.Sur.)
• Abies trigona (Raf.)
• Pinus sitchensis (Bong.)
• Pinus menziesii var. crispa (Antoine)
• Picea sitchensis f. speciosa (Beissn.)
• Abies falcata (Raf.)

Distribution

• Alaska (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• California (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Washington (native)
• Austria (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Føroyar (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Iceland (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Netherlands (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Mar 4, 2021 by sananab (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 4, 2021 by sananab (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 13, 2022 by Joshua Friesen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 11, 2022 by marisa_10 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 11, 2022 by Richard Comaish (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jul 1, 1994 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 1, 1994 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 1, 1994 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 23, 2022 by Herman Van Boxem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Alain BIGOU (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 3, 2021 by Julia Y (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 26, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Michel GAUBERT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2022 by Gaël Remy (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jun 1, 2020 by Tys Boelema (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2020 by Miguel Ángel Miguel Ángel Calvo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 8, 2020 by Karen Pease (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 12, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 15, 2021 by Renée Baron (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Mar 4, 2021 by sananab (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 11, 2022 by marisa_10 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 11, 2022 by marisa_10 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 4, 2021 by sananab (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 26, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Michel GAUBERT (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Apr 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Apr 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Nov 15, 2004 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Nov 15, 2004 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Feb 26, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Michel GAUBERT (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5284827)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:676986-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Stem

Growth habit: Tree

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Description: “”

Sowing: “”

Ph maximum: 5.7

Ph minimum: 3.9

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 6

Bloom months: [‘may’]

Soil nutriments: 5