PINACEAE

PINE FAMILY

James R. Griffin

Tree or shrub, monoecious, evergreen
Stem: young crown conic; twig not grooved, resinous, generally persistent
Leaves simple, generally alternate, sometimes in bundles or appearing ± 2-ranked, linear or awl-like; bases decurrent, sometimes woody, persistent several years
Pollen cone generally < 6 cm, not woody, deciduous
Seed cone generally woody; bracts, scales generally persistent; scale not peltate, fused to or free from subtending bract
Seeds 2, on upper side of scale base
Genera in family: 10 genera, 193 species: mostly n hemisphere; many of great commercial value, supplying > half of world's timber
Reference: [Price 1989 J Arnold Arbor 70:247–305]

PICEA

SPRUCE

Stem: crown conic; young branches appearing whorled, sometimes drooping; bark thin, scaly; twig glabrous or hairy; leaf bases spreading, peg-like, < 2 mm, persistent; bud conic to ovoid, resinous
Leaves often crowded toward upper side of twigs, generally < 3 cm, sessile, ± 4-angled or flat, stiff, often strong-smelling when crushed
Seed cone sometimes conspicuously terminal, pendent, 5–12 cm, maturing 1st season; stalk 0–1 cm; bract included, free from scale
Seed: wing terminal
Chromosomes: 2n=24 for all reports
Species in genus: 34 species: n hemisphere
Etymology: (Latin: pitch)
Trunks, especially of P. sitchensis , more flared or buttressed at base than other CA conifers.

Native

P. sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière

SITKA SPRUCE

Stem: trunk < 66 m, < 5.1 m wide; branches not drooping; twig glabrous
Leaf 1–3 cm, rigid; upper surface ± flat, with 2 faint, whitish bands, lower rounded, darker green, sometimes with 2 faint, whitish bands; tip acute, sharp to touch
Seed cone < 10 cm, oblong; scale ± papery, margin ± jagged; bract > 1/2 scale
Ecology: Moist soils near mouths of coastal rivers
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast
Distribution outside California: to Alaska
Horticultural information: IRR: 2, 3, 4, 6, 15, 16, 17 &SHD: 7, 14; CVS.