Picea
(from pix, pitch; the trees produce abundance of resin). Silver Fir. SYN. Abies (of Don). Including Veitchia. ORD. Coniferae. A genus comprising about a dozen species of mostly hardy, evergreen trees, inhabiting the extra-tropical regions of the Northern hemisphere. Flowers monaecious. Leaves acicular, spirally scattered, with the midrib prominently quadrigonal or sub-terete, contracted into a very short, articulated, persistent petiole. Cones ovoid or oblong-cylindrical, erect or horizontally spreading; the bracts not falling away from the axis at maturity, as in Abies. Owing to a succession of blunders in works treating on Conifers, the generic names Abies and Picea are generally transposed. For culture, see Abies.
P. ajanensis (Ajona). shoots glabrous when young, yellowish-brown, marked with oblong, smooth, prominent cushions. l., those on the side shoots in many rows, but twisted at the base so as to be all in the same horizontal plane; on the upper surface of the branch appressed, parallel in direction to the branch; all flattish, linear-oblong, rather obtuse, not spinetipped; upper surface three-ribbed; underneath, one-ribbed. cones erect, 1in. to 2in. long, 3/4in. broad, oblong, tapering to each end; scales shining-brown, oblong-ovate. h. 70ft. to 80ft. Japan, 1861. A beautiful Fir, resembling P. excelsa, but more elegant. SYN. Abies Alcoquiana, of gardens. (B. M. 6743; G. C. n. s., xviii. 183.)
P. alba (white).* White Spruce. young shoots very glaucous. l. less numerous, longer, and more pointed than in other species, somewhat glaucous, scattered around the branches, erect, quadrangular. cones oblong-cylindrical, light brown, small when ripe; scales loose and thin, round or bluntly pointed, with entire edges. h. 30ft. to 40ft. Canada, &c., 1700. (F. d. S. 2251.)
P. Alcoquiana (Alcock's).* young shoots covered with long, weak hairs. l., those on the leader shoots appressed; on the lateral, given off on all sides; all rigid, more or less curved, linear-oblong, four-sided, flattened at the top. cones deflexed, 2in. to 3in. in length, oblong, tapering to both ends; scales shining oblong-ovate. h. 90ft. to 120ft. Japan, 1861. A fine pyramidal tree. (G. C. n. s., xiii. 212.)
P. communis (common). A synonym of P. excelsa.
P. Engelmanni (Engelmann's).* l., in young plants, numerous, stout, rigid, acute, slightly recurved, deep green, more distinctly quadrangular than those of any other American species. cones 2in. to 2 1/2in. long. h. 80ft. to 100ft. Rocky Mountains, 1864. A stately tree.
P. E. glauca (glaucous). A beautiful glaucous, silvery variety, very handsome and attractive.
P. excelsa (tall).* Burgundy Pitch-tree; Norway Spruce Fir. l. scattered, quadrangular. cones cylindrical, terminal, pendent, 5in. to 7in. long, 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad; scales naked, truncate at the summit, flat, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long, and about 1/2in. broad. North of Europe, particularly Norway, 1548. A well-known, lofty tree. SYN. P. communis. The varieties are very numerous, the most important being the following:
P. e. attenuata (thin-leaved). A slender-growing form, with small and thinly-set leaves, which lie close to the branches. SYN. P. e. tenuifoll
P. e. aurea (golden). A striking form, with long, curved, glaucous green leaves, which are tipped with gold.
P. e. Clanbrasiliana (Lord Clanbrasil's).* A very dwarf, dense, slow-growing shrub, rarely exceeding 4ft. high. A more erectgrowing form of this variety is known as stricta.
P. e. elegans (elegant). l. more erect than in the type. h. 5ft. to 6ft. A compact, dwarf, and slow-growing bush, with short branches.
P. e. eremita (solitary). Very like P. e. monstrosa, but having shorter and thicker branches. Bark reddish. SYN. P. miniata.
P. e. Finedonensis (Finedon). l., young ones on the upper side of the shoots, and the wood also, at first of a pale yellow, changing to a bronzy-brown, and, when fully matured, to a light green; those on the under side, and where shaded, more or less green from the first.
P. e. Gregoryi (Gregory's). A densely-branched, conical, slow-growing bush, of a bright green hue.
P. e. horizontalis (horizontal). A variety with a horizontal habit, and more curious than beautiful.
P. e. inverta (pendulous-branched). A very elegant weeping form, of free growth. h. 50ft. to 80ft.
P. e. monstrosa (monstrous). A curious variety, with elongated, straggling branches, very sparsely furnished with lateral growths.
P. e. nana (dwarf). A synonym of P. e. pygmaea.
P. e. pumila glauca (low-growing, glaucous). l. nearly erect on the branches. A very dwarf, spreading, slow-growing variety; very distinct and pretty.
P. e. pygmaea (pigmy). A diminutive variety, of a pyramidal shape. h. 1ft. SYN. P. e. nana.
P. e. pyramidalis (pyramidal). A dwarf, conical, slow-growing variety, suitable for rockwork.
P. e. tenuifolia (narrow-leaved). A synonym of P. e. attenuata.
P. e. variegata (variegated). A form with yellow, but somewhat inconstant, variegation.
P. Glehnii (Glehn's). l. crowded, in many rows, curved, linear, four-sided, sharply pointed. cones linear-oblong, 1in. to 2in. long, 1/2in. to nearly 1in. wide; scales leathery, slightly straited, wedgeshaped, upper free portion rounded, denticulate, longer than the broadly lanceolate, denticulate bracts. Japan, 1880. A dwarf, dense-growing tree. (J. L. S. xviii. 513.)
P. jezoensis (Yesso). l. linear, close set, and arranged spirally around the stem, sharp-pointed, with a prominent midrib on both sides. cones cylindrical, 2in. to 2 1/2in. long, 1in. in diameter, obtuse both at base and apex, pendulous, terminal; scales undulated, irregularly toothed at the free edge. h. 100ft. to 120ft. Japan, 1879. A tall, fast-growing tree. (G. C. 1850, 311.) P. Maximowiczii (Maximowicz's). l. rigid, acute, erect, 1/2in. long, dark green. A species that does not thrive in this climate, presenting, according to Messrs. Veitch, very miserable-looking specimens, and, therefore, not recommended. (G. C. n. s., xiii. 363.)
P. Menziesii (Menzies').* l. linear, mucronate, incurved, turned in every direction, resupinate from being twisted at the base, silvery beneath, 2in. long, rigid, acute. cones pendulous, cylindrical, generally 3in. long, and about 1in. broad; scales with a dry, shrivelled appearance, gnawed on the margin, about 3/4in. long, 3/8in. broad. h. 50ft. to 70ft. North California, 1831. A tall tree, with regularly whorled, somewhat stiff branches.
P. miniata (red-branched). A synonym of P. excelsa eremita.
P. Morinda (Morinda). A synonym of P. Smithiana.
P. nigra (black). Black Spruce. l. solitary, regularly disposed all round the branches, erect, 1/2in. long, somewhat quadrangular. cones cylindrical, 1 1/2in. to nearly 2in. long, and nearly 1in. broad, blackish-purple; scales rounded, somewhat undulated, with crenulated or divided apices. h. 50ft. to 80ft. North America, 1700. The branches of the Black Spruce are drooping, and the tree is more useful for economic than ornamental purposes.
P. obovata (reversed-egg-coned). This species is said to resemble P. excelsa, but, owing to its very early growth, is unsuitable for cultivating in England. Siberia.
P. Omorika (Omorika). l. flattish, straight or curved, linear-oblong, obtuse, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, shining green beneath; the upper side with a prominent midrib. cones Larch-like, 1 3/4in. long, 3/4in. thick. Buds ovoid, clothed with ovate-lanceolate scales. Servia, 1884. A tall and distinct Fir. (G. C. n. s., xxi. 308-9.) P. orientalis (Eastern).* l. solitary, acute, sub-quadrangular. cones sub-cylindrical, pointed at the apex, 3in. long; scales broader than long, slightly angular-ovate, rounded at the apex, sub-entire. Taurus and Caucasus, 1825. A somewhat dense-growing, lofty tree
P. Schrenkiana (Schrenk's). A tall tree, considered to be a variety of P. obovata, found on the Altai Mountains, but not become acclimatised in Britain.
P. Smithiana (Smith's).* l. compressed, tetragonal, straight, awl-shaped, acutely pointed, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long, scattered in insertion. cones ovate-oblong, 6in. long, 2 1/2in. broad; scales obovate, roundish, coriaceous, rigid, smooth on the margin. h. 80ft. to 120ft. Himalayan Mountains, 1818. A well-known, very noble, and beautiful Spruce Fir, succeeding best when planted at great elevations, or on cold, late soils. SYN. P. Morinda.
P. Tsuga (Tsuga). See Tsuga Sieboldii.