Classification
Class
Pinopsida
Order
Pinales Gorozh.
Family
Pinaceae Spreng. ex Rudolphi
Genus
Picea A.Dietr.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière, Traité Gén. Conif. 260 (1855)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Pinus sitchensis Bong., Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg, Sér. 6, Sci. Math. 2: 164 (1832) – as Sitchensis
Vernacular Name(s):
sitka spruce
 Description

Large tree, pyramidal when young; bark dark reddish brown, exfoliating in thin scales. Shoots light brown or yellowish brown when young, glabrous, grooved; lf pegs very prominent after lvs fall. Buds ovoid, glabrous, very thinly resinous. Lvs 1–2.3 cm long, strongly flattened, pungent-pointed, sweetly scented, ± sloping forwards on upper side of shoot; lower surface with c. 10 glaucous stomatal bands; upper surface shining, sometimes with 1–2 often broken rows of stomata. ♂ strobili yellow. Mature ♀ cones mostly 3.5–5.5 cm long, broadly cylindric-oblong; ovuliferous scales ovate-oblong, thin, flexible, becoming erose towards apex; bracts small, scarcely 1/2 as long. Seed with wing at least 3× length of seed body.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Bibliography
Bongard, A.H. von 1833: Observations sur la végétation de l'ile de Sitcha. Mémoires de l'Academie Imperiale des Sciences de St.-Petersbourg. Sixieme Serie. Sciences Mathematiques, Physiques et Naturelles 2: 119–177.
Carrière, E.A. 1855: Traité Général des Conifères. Paris.
Edwards, R. 2008: Lincoln University campus – a guide to some of the trees currently growing there. Lincoln University, Lincoln.
Farjon, A 2001: World Checklist and Bibliography of Conifers. Edition 2. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond.