Pinaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Picea sitchensis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Picea sitchensis is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 50 metres tall. This species is a highly valuable timber tree, harvested from the wild and cultivated plantations in large quantities for commercial use. The plant also has a wide range of traditional uses as a food, medicine and source of materials and is sometimes grown as an ornamental. Picea sitchensis still covers vast tracts of coastal mainland and islands along the Pacific Coast of North America; it is also a pioneer after disturbance, either natural or from logging, and will return unless deliberately prevented. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeWestern N. America - Alaska, British Colombia, Washington, Oregon, N. California.

HabitatMoist, sandy, often swampy soils, occasionally on wet rocky slopes in the far north of its range[ 82 Title Manual of the Trees of N. America. Publication Author Sargent. C. S. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Dover Publications Inc. New York. Year 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X Description Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet. ]. Alluvial soils from sea level to 300 metres, usually close to the coast[ 118 Title Ethnobotany of Western Washington. Publication Author Gunther. E. Publisher University of Washington Press Year 1981 ISBN 0-295-95258-X Description A small book, it is a good guide to useful plants in Western N. America. ].