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Picea sitchensis
The Sitka spruce is an evergreen conifer found in a limited range in the Pacific Northwest. It is the tallest of the spruce species, with mature trees measuring up to 180 feet (55 m) in height with a maximum 5 foot (1.5 m) diameter at the base of the trunk. The needles are arranged spirally along the branchlets and measure approximately one inch (2.5 cm) in length with a sharp tip. They are a bright yellow-green on top and a lighter color below. The trees have a straight trunk which swells at the base. The bark is gray in young trees but becomes much darker as they mature. The crown is conical shaped with horizontal limbs and long branches with thick, feathery foliage that droop so low they almost touch the ground. The tree’s cones are oblong and measure up to 4 inches (10 cm) in length. The cone’s scales are thin, paper-like and green to purple in color.
The trees are both fast-growing and long-lived, with some estimates assigning them a lifespan of up to 800 years. Because of these dual qualities, Sitka spruce were probably some of the first trees to sprout up along the Oregon coast at the end of the last great Ice Age, as glaciers retreated and opened up fertile land.
The long, highly-durable wood fibers of the tree were used by local Indians for creating everything from baskets to rope. During World War I, the wood was preferred for building early warplanes. Today, Sitka spruce is still used for economic items that require strong but light-weight wood, in particular musical instruments like guitars and pianos.
Native Americans used parts of the tree to treat different ailments, and the young shoots and inner bark can be eaten. Animals may also use the trees as a food source, but more likely as cover. In the upper reaches of the tree, bald eagles and peregrine falcons may survey the land and sky for prey. The trunk will provide refuge for a variety of smaller mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. At its base, Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer may hide among the thick, fog-shrouded trunks.
Distribution
Sitka spruce can be found only on the west coast of North America. Its northern boundary is Kodiak Island, Alaska, and its southern is Fort Bragg, California. The trees grow best in the coastal fog belt, where the air is heavy with moisture and rain is plentiful.
Conservation Status
Common.
Picea sitchensis
The Sitka spruce is an evergreen conifer found in a limited range in the Pacific Northwest. It is the tallest of the spruce species, with mature trees measuring up to 180 feet (55 m) in height with a maximum 5 foot (1.5 m) diameter at the base of the trunk. The needles are arranged spirally along the branchlets and measure approximately one inch (2.5 cm) in length with a sharp tip. They are a bright yellow-green on top and a lighter color below. The trees have a straight trunk which swells at the base. The bark is gray in young trees but becomes much darker as they mature. The crown is conical shaped with horizontal limbs and long branches with thick, feathery foliage that droop so low they almost touch the ground. The tree’s cones are oblong and measure up to 4 inches (10 cm) in length. The cone’s scales are thin, paper-like and green to purple in color.
The trees are both fast-growing and long-lived, with some estimates assigning them a lifespan of up to 800 years. Because of these dual qualities, Sitka spruce were probably some of the first trees to sprout up along the Oregon coast at the end of the last great Ice Age, as glaciers retreated and opened up fertile land.
The long, highly-durable wood fibers of the tree were used by local Indians for creating everything from baskets to rope. During World War I, the wood was preferred for building early warplanes. Today, Sitka spruce is still used for economic items that require strong but light-weight wood, in particular musical instruments like guitars and pianos.
Native Americans used parts of the tree to treat different ailments, and the young shoots and inner bark can be eaten. Animals may also use the trees as a food source, but more likely as cover. In the upper reaches of the tree, bald eagles and peregrine falcons may survey the land and sky for prey. The trunk will provide refuge for a variety of smaller mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. At its base, Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer may hide among the thick, fog-shrouded trunks.
Distribution
Sitka spruce can be found only on the west coast of North America. Its northern boundary is Kodiak Island, Alaska, and its southern is Fort Bragg, California. The trees grow best in the coastal fog belt, where the air is heavy with moisture and rain is plentiful.
Conservation Status
Common.