abies – refers to its similarity to Abies

Native range: S. Scandinavia to C. and S. Europe

Leaves:

• needles (linear leaves)
• spirally arranged
• peg-like stalks on branchlets
• usually 4 angled or square looking
• some leaves point towards apex, 2–3 stomata lines on both sides
• needles straight or curved
• ~1” long
• dark green
• tip not as sharp as some spruces

Cones:

• pendulous female cones
• purplish-green before mature
• brown mature
• thin “papery” scales

Other characteristics:

• trees to 150 ft.
• evergreen
• droopy branches
• reddish-brown bark
• “Picea abies, makes big babies” – referring to cones

Relevant info:

• Stradivarius constructed violins from this dense wood, among others (smaller growth rings in cold climates creastes dense, resonant wood)
• one of the most common and economically important species in Europe and Scandinavia
• Most widely used horticultural spruce in North America
• due to its commercial value, most intensively studied spruce in the world

Ecology & Adaptations:

• native to N, C & E Europe outside permafrost areas, south to N Greece and W to the Massif Central, France
• at southern edge of range, only in mountains above 400–500 m.
• occurs in pure and mixed stands (both mixed conifer and mixed conifer-deciduous)
• mature Norway spruce forests typically have very little ground layer vegetation
• in Europe, red deer strip the bark of Norway spruce
  • increasing deer populations in Scandinavia are affecting commercial stands of this tree species
• pollination by wind
• herbivore and microbial defense:
  • terpenoids are chemical compounds that give N. spruce its distinctive aroma and that also function as defense against herbivory and microbial pathogens
  • concentrations are increased in response to disturbance or tissue damage
  • terpenoids interfere with growth of insect larva by mimicking hormones or disrupting cell division
  • aroma released after damage may attract enemies of the herbivore
  • despite these defenses, the species is vulnerable to western spruce budworm and mountain pine beetle in North America, where it has been introduced in Eastern U.S
• shade tolerance:
  • shade needles are retained longer, maximizing return on investment
  • sun needles are thicker than shade leaves
  • high nitrogen content of shade leaves indicates cost of light interception and is thought to improve light absorption per needle mass of shaded needles
  • it appears that adaptation of needle morphology to irradiance during the primary growth period largely determines the fate of needles during subsequent tree growth and development
• seedlings & drought – during dry summers, spruce litter buildup can create manganese concentrations that prevent regeneration of Norway spruce, a possible means of controlling establishment of seedlings during unfavorable conditions
• frost tolerance – in northern Scandinavia, frost hardening (secretion of substances that harden to form a protective cuticle) occurs in Sept and is lost quickly in early May