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- 1. Description Spruce occurs fairly well distributed all over the western Himalaya , up to Nepal between an altitude of about 2300 mts to 3800 mts . It is more or less a gregarious tree. Picea smithiana is a large evergreen tree growing to 40–55 m tall (exceptionally to 60 m), and with a trunk diameter of up to 1–2 m. It has a conical crown with level branches and usually pendulous branchlets. The shoots are pale buff-brown, and glabrous (hairless). The leaves are needle-like, the longest of any spruce, 3–5 cm long, rhombic in cross- section, mid-green with inconspicuous stomatal lines. Morinda spruce is a popular ornamental tree in large gardens in western Europe for its attractive pendulous branchlets. It is also grown to a small extent in forestry for timber and paper production, though its slower growth compared to Norway spruce reduces its importance outside of its native range. The name morinda derives from the tree's name in Nepali.
- 2. Phenology A very tall , evergreen tree with a conical crown . Needle shedding occurs in the months of May and June . New needles appear at the end of the spring season. Male flowers appear in solitary axis on the previous years shoots. Female flowers are solitary , erect and appear on the shoots . A good seed year appears once in 4 or 5 years. Germination is epigenous ; the rate of growth is slow in the first year but picks up gradually. The cones are broad cylindric -conic, 9–16 cm long and 3 cm broad, green when young, maturing buff-brown and opening to 5–6 cm broad 5–7 months after pollination; the scales are stiff and smoothly rounded.
- 3. Silviculture characters 1) Spruce is a moderate light demander. 2) A superficial root system occurs ; the tree is not wind firm. 3) Not much injury is caused by snow break . 4) Fire does not occur in the spruce zone . 5) The seedlings as well as saplings are frost hardy. 6) Cattle generally avoid spruce if alternate food is available. 7) Barclayella deformans , a fungus , causes considerable injury. 8) Not much injury is caused by insects.
- 4. regeneration Natural regeneration :- Under normal conditions , this begins at the end of May and continues upto June or even July . Regeneration comes up well in a bed composed of rich soil and good seed production in the preceding season. Artificial regeneration :- This is brought about either by direct sowings or by transplanting 3 or 4 years old seedlings raised in the nursery . Weedings are to be carried out till the plants become established . Planting is carried out during the rains.
- 5. Picea smithiana tree Bark of picea smithiana Leaf of picea smithiana
- 6. Premature and mature fruits of Picea smithiana Seeds of Picea smithiana
- 7. Utilization Edible Uses Young male catkins - raw or cooked. Used as a flavoring . Immature female cones - cooked. The central portion, when roasted, is sweet and syrupy . Inner bark - dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread. Seed - raw. Too small and fiddly to be worthwhile unless you are desperate. A refreshing tea, rich in vitamin C, can be made from the young shoot tips .
- 8. Contd…. Other Uses The bark is very water resistant and is used for roofing and making water troughs. Small quantities of resin are obtained from between the bark and the wood. Wood - soft to moderately hard. Used in construction, shingles, crates, household purposes etc. It is also valued for its use in the pulp industry to make paper. wood is used in interior house construction for roofs and floors. Its relatively light weight combined with strength made it suitable for aircraft, in particular gliders, but wood is no longer the main material for these. Smaller sizes are now being pulped for paper, especially newsprint. An indifferent fuel but it yields a fairly good charcoal etc.