Picea abies (L.) Karst.
Fully-hardy evergreen conical tree, ageing to columnar, with blunt, 4-sided leaves, to 2.5cm long, pointing forwards and upwards on the shoots, and cylindrical female cones, to 20cm long, green turning brown. To 40m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Horticultural & Botanical History
Old garden plant. Probably introduced to Britain before 1500. [Hilliers’]. The resin has been long used in medicine. ‘Upon an incision being made into the bark of this tree, a clear tenacious fluid issues, which concretes into a resinous substance, known by the name of refina abietis. This, after being boiled in water, and strained through a linen cloth, is called in the Pharmacopoeias Pix burgundica, or Burgundy pitch. But if the boiling of the native resin is continued till the water is wholly evaporated, and wine vinegar is at this time added, a substance named Colophonium is formed.’ [Medical Botany v.3 p.573]. Saint-Hilaire Arb. pl.73/1824.
History at Camden Park
Listed in the 1845, 1850 and 1857 catalogues under the name Abies communis [C.4/1845]. See also Picea abies (L.) Karst. var. exelsa.
Notes
Published Jul 14, 2009 - 04:24 PM | Last updated Jul 29, 2010 - 03:24 PM
Family | Pinaceae |
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Category | |
Region of origin | Scandinavia to central Europe |
Synonyms |
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Common Name | Christmas tree, Norway spruce, Common spruce |
Name in the Camden Park Record | Abies communis - Common Spruce Fir |
Confidence level | high |