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Plants & Fungi
Picea abies (L.) Karst.
EOL Text
Die Gemeine Fichte ist ein aufrecht wachsender immergrüner Baum, der Wuchshöhen von bis zu etwa 40 Meter erreichen kann; unter besonderen Bedingungen wurden schon 50 bis maximal 62 Meter gemessen. Damit ist sie neben der Weißtanne (Abies alba) der größte in Europa heimische Baum. Die Gemeine Fichte kann Stammdurchmesser bis 1,5 Meter erreichen. Fichten bilden Senkerwurzeln aus. Auf vernässten Standorten sterben diese jedoch ab und die verbleibenden Horizontalwurzeln bilden flache Tellerwurzeln, wodurch die Bäume stark windwurfgefährdet sind.
Die Krone der Gemeinen Fichte bildet sich um den gerade wachsenden Stamm kegelförmig aus. Die Zweige sind quirlig angeordnet. Während sie in der oberen Stammhälfte gewöhnlich aufrecht oder gerade ausgerichtet sind, hängen sie in der unteren Stammhälfte meist gebogen nach unten. Letzteres ist besonders gut bei älteren Bäumen zu beobachten. Bäume im Freistand behalten ihre grünen Zweige lange Zeit bis zum Boden und wachsen so als Mantelfichten.
Bei der Gemeinen Fichte haben sich auf Grund des großen Verbreitungsgebietes mit unterschiedlichen Standort- und Klimabedingungen sogenannte Ökotypen entwickelt, die sich in Bezug auf Verzweigung und auch Nadeln unterscheiden. Dabei unterscheidet sich die Kronenausformung insbesondere bei den zuerst angelegten Ästen, den Ästen 1. Ordnung sowie den davon abgehenden weiteren Verzweigungen, den Ästen 2. und höherer Ordnung. Bei den sogenannten Plattenfichten gehen die Äste 2. Ordnung horizontal ab. Bei den Kammfichten hängen die Äste 2. und höherer Ordnung dagegen durch. Bis in ein Alter von etwa 20 Jahren weist die Gemeine Fichte durchgängig eine plattenartige Verzweigung auf. Erst dann beginnt die Herausbildung dieser beiden Haupttypen der Kronenausformung.[3] Die jeweilige Kronenausformung scheint vor allem von Belichtungsverhältnissen, Standortgüte und Wasserversorgung beeinflusst. Kammfichten finden sich vor allem auf gut versorgten Standorten, während Plattenfichten auf nährelementarmen Moorstandorten und extremen Höhenlagen dominieren. Plattenfichten können Streulicht und senkrecht einfallendes Licht besser nutzen und stehen deshalb vor allem im Unterstand sowie an Südhängen. Kammfichten, die schräg einfallendes Licht effektiver nutzen, finden sich eher auf Nordhängen sowie im borealen Nadelwald.[4] Die Auflagefläche der Kammfichten ist gering, wovon sie in schneereichen Regionen profitieren. In stark windexponierten Lagen wie in Irland und Schottland findet man dagegen vor allem Plattenfichten, da ihre verkürzten Äste eine bessere Steifigkeit und ihre plattige Anordnung mehr Windschlüpfigkeit bietet. Die durchhängenden Äste der Kammfichte können in solchen Regionen dagegen leichter von starkem Wind abgerissen werden.[5]
| License | http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Michael Wunderli, Michael Wunderli |
| Source | http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemeine_Fichte |
Norway spruce, native to Europe, has become locally naturalized, at least in north central United States (and adjacent Canada). The species is the most widely cultivated spruce in North America; many cultivars exist, including dwarf shrubs.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
| Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200005295 |
More info for the term: tree
Norway spruce is an introduced evergreen tree. In central Europe,
heights of up to 203 feet (61 m) have been reported [42]; the range is
usually between 100 and 200 feet (30-61 m) [87]. The bole is usually
straight and symmetrical, with no tendency to fork [42]. The bark of
young trees has pale fine shreds [50]. The bark of older trees is
usually heavy with algae and has shallow rounded scales that are easily
shed [17,50]. The crown of young trees is narrowly conic, that of older
trees becoming broadly columnar [50]. Secondary branchlets are
characteristically drooping or pendulous [2]. Norway spruce cones are
conspicuously large (4 to 7 inches [10-18 cm] long) [17]. The root
system is typically shallow, with several lateral roots and no taproot.
On rocky sites the roots spread widely, twining over the rocks. On bog
soils, Norway spruce tends to form plate-like roots [42]. In Finland, a
140-year-old Norway spruce forest in a Vaccinium-Myrtillus vegetation
type had a root zone extending only 12 inches (30 cm) into mineral soil [43].
Early growth of Norway spruce is slow, increasing to maximal rates from
20 to 60 years of age [42,50]. Within its native range, Norway spruce
remains healthy up to 200 years, and lives up to 300 to 400 years at the
northern limits of its range [42]. Senescence occurs at less than 200
years of age in the British Isles and North America [50].
Foodplant / gall
gallicola nymph of Adelges abietis causes gall of live branch tip of Picea abies
Remarks: season: summer
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Plant / epiphyte
fruitbody of Aleurodiscus aurantius grows on dead stem of Picea abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Armillaria borealis is saprobic on dead wood of Picea abies
Foodplant / pathogen
Armillaria mellea s.l. infects and damages Picea abies
Foodplant / pathogen
pycnidium of Ascochyta coelomycetous anamorph of Ascochyta piniperda infects and damages defoliated shoot of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Athelia bombacina is saprobic on fallen twig of Picea abies
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Bankera violascens is associated with needle litter of Picea abies
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Boletus calopus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Other: unusual host/prey
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Buchwaldoboletus lignicola is associated with rotting wood of Picea abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Ceratosporella dematiaceous anamorph of Ceratosporella novae-zelandiae is saprobic on dead bark of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Chalara dematiaceous anamorph of Chalara cylindrica is saprobic on dry scale of Picea abies
Foodplant / parasite
hypophyllous telium of Chrysomyxa abietis parasitises live needle of Picea abies
Remarks: season: 3-5
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / parasite
amphigenous aecium of Chrysomyxa ledi var. rhododendri parasitises live needle of Picea abies
Remarks: season: 7-9
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / parasite
aecium of Chrysomyxa pirolata parasitises cone scale of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Colpoma crispum is saprobic on dead, corticate branch of Picea abies
Remarks: season: 6
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Cortinarius callisteus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Cortinarius cinnamomeoluteus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Cortinarius cinnamomeus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Cortinarius collinitus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Cortinarius imbutus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Cortinarius malicorius is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Cortinarius sanguineus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Cortinarius semisanguineus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Foodplant / false gall
crowded pseudothecium of Cucurbitaria piceae causes swelling of characteristically twisted, swollen bud of Picea abies
Remarks: season: 6-12
Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent, rather crowded, in irregular lines, oblong, 1-6 chambered, black, pycnidial stroma of Amphorula coelomycetous anamorph of Cytotriplospora pini is saprobic on dead cone-scale of Picea abies
Remarks: season: 1-5
Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Dactylaria anamorph of Dactylaria lepida is saprobic on dead, fallen needle of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent pycnidium of Phomopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Diaporthe eres is saprobic on dead stem of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
pycnidium of Dothiorella coelomycetous anamorph of Dothiorella pithya is saprobic on fallen cone of Picea abies
Foodplant / sap sucker
Elatobium abietinum sucks sap of live, yellowed then shed needle of Picea abies
Remarks: season: (1-)3-5(-12)
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
gregarious stroma of Fusicoccum coelomycetous anamorph of Fusicoccum pini is saprobic on dead cone of Picea abies
Remarks: season: 6
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Ganoderma lucidum is saprobic on dead stump of Picea abies
Other: minor host/prey
Plant / hibernates / within
adult of Gastrodes abietum hibernates inside old cone of Picea abies
Foodplant / sap sucker
adult of Gastrodes grossipes sucks sap of Picea abies
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Gilpinia hercyniae grazes on needle of Picea abies
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Gomphidius glutinosus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hyphoderma cremeoalbum is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hyphodontia barba-jovis is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hyphodontia crustosa is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hyphodontia detritica is saprobic on dead, fallen, decayed woody debris of Picea abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Leucocoprinus birnbaumii is saprobic on decayed, fermenting woodchip of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Lirula macrospora is saprobic on dead needle of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Luellia cystidiata is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Foodplant / feeds on
immersed pycnidium of Macrophoma coelomycetous anamorph of Macrophoma parca feeds on leaf of Picea abies
Remarks: season: 1
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Monochamus sartor feeds within dead, fallen branch of Picea abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
stromatic, in large groups perithecium of Nectria fuckeliana is saprobic on dead twig of Picea abies
Remarks: season: 3-8
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Nodotia lyndoniae is saprobic on rotting, brashed branch of Picea abies
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Paxillus involutus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
stalked apothecium of Pezizella subtilis is saprobic on dead, fallen needle of Picea abies
Remarks: season: 10-11
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Phanerochaete radicata is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Phanerochaete sordida is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Other: unusual host/prey
Foodplant / parasite
stalked apothecium of Phialea strobilina parasitises fallen cone of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Phlebia tremellosa is saprobic on dead, fallen, decayed trunk (large) of Picea abies
Other: unusual host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Phlebiella christiansenii is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Phlebiella pseudotsugae is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Phlebiella sulphurea is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Phlebiopsis gigantea is saprobic on dead, decayed trunk (cut end) of Picea abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / parasite
pycnium of Pucciniastrum areolatum parasitises live cone scale of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
superficial, clustered, hypophyllous pycnidium of Rhizosphaera coelomycetous anamorph of Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii is saprobic on dead needle of Picea abies
Remarks: season: late winter to early spring
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Russula nauseosa is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Russula queletii is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
mycelium of Sebacina incrustans is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Sistotrema citriforme is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Skeletocutis kuehneri is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Other: unusual host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Skeletocutis vulgaris is saprobic on dead, fallen, decayed branch (large) of Picea abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent, shortly stalked apothecium of Tryblidiopsis pinastri is saprobic on dead, attached twig of Picea abies
Remarks: season: 5-7
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Trypodendron lineatum feeds within bark of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
Tubulicrinis sororius is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Picea abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Tylopilus felleus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Picea abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Tylospora fibrillosa is saprobic on dead, fallen litter of Picea abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
convex, pluriloculate stroma of Cytospora coelomycetous anamorph of Valsa abietis is saprobic on dead twig of Picea abies
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | BioImages, BioImages - the Virtual Fieldguide (UK) |
| Source | http://www.bioimages.org.uk/html/Picea_abies.htm |
Population
Population Trend
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/42318 |
Tree, Evergreen, Monoecious, Habit erect, Trees without or rarely having knees, Tree with bark rough or scaly, Young shoots 3-dimensional, Buds resinous, Buds not resinous, Leaves needle-like, Leaves alternate, Needle-like leaf margins entire (use magnification), Leaf apex obtuse, Leaves < 5 cm long, Leaves < 10 cm long, Leaves not blue-green, Needle-like leaves 4-angled, Needle-like leaves not twisted, Needle-like leaf habit erect, Needle-like leaf habit drooping, Needle-like leaves per fascicle mostly 1, Needle-like leaf sheath early deciduous, Needle-like leaf sheath persistent, Twigs glabrous, Twigs viscid, Twigs not viscid, Twigs with peg-like projections or large fascicles after needles fall, Berry-like cones orange, Woody seed cones < 5 cm long, Bracts of seed cone included, Seeds brown, Seeds winged, Seeds unequally winged, Seed wings prominent, Seed wings equal to or broader than body.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Compiled from several sources by Stephen C. Meyers, Oregon State University in collaboration with Aaron Liston, Oregon State University, Steffi Ickert-Bond, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Damon Little, New York Botanical Garden. |
| Source | http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PIAB |
More info for the terms: cover, litter, natural, prescribed fire, swale
Prescribed fire has been used as a tool for forest regeneration in
Norway, primarily to prepare the ground for natural regeneration from
seed trees, usually Scotch pine. Management of Norway spruce in Norway
is often based on information from other countries where Norway spruce
and Scot's pine are the dominant conifers. After World War II, prescribed
fires were used to prepare sites for artificial regeneration, either for
sowing Scot's pine seeds or for planting Norway spruce nursery stock.
It is often difficult to conduct prescribed fires in Norway; the weather
is changeable and conditions are often too moist for burning. These
facts, coupled with increasing costs of burning, have led to a
preference for site scarification by mechanical means instead of fire
[6]. Prescribed fires are not used much in Finland today either, due to
high costs and variable weather [78]. The average size of individual
wildfires is usually greatest in mixed stands of Scot's pine and Norway
spruce [61].
Norway spruce is known as a nutrient-demanding species; this has led to
concern that prescribed fire for site preparation burns too much of the
humus and results in soils that are not favorable for good Norway spruce
growth. In Norway, Norway spruce seedlings showed good 12-year survival
on both burned (83 percent survival) and unburned (78 percent survival)
sites. Overall height growth on unburned sites was slightly better at
12 years than on burned sites, although early growth on burned sites was
better [6]. In Sweden, sites that were clearcut and burned, then seeded
with Norway spruce were compared with similar sites that had not been
burned. The unburned sites had thicker humus layers after 43 years of
growth. The authors estimate that it takes 70 to 80 years from the time
of the fire for burned humus layers to be rebuilt to prefire levels [37].
Prescribing fire for site preparation in Scandinavia depends on the
vegetation type. Types that are characterized by thick, raw humus
layers benefit from fire, which releases nutrients and activates the
humus [6,74]. After fire passes over humus, ashes and carbonized plants
form a thin cover over the otherwise undamaged humus layers [74].
Prescribed fires used for site preparation must be conducted with care
to prevent destruction of humus and excessive heating of upper mineral
soil. Fires temperatures of 662 degrees Fahrenheit (350 deg C) or less
at the soil surface will release nutrients stored in litter and allow
them to condense in the humus and upper mineral soils [28]. Fires that
burn quickly enough to leave humus may be acceptable. Decomposition
rates in northern Norway spruce forests are very slow. In Finland, 56
years after logging, even very thin branches are left intact in slash
and litter [54]. Prescribed fires can release some of this organic
matter, and increase the pH of the soil. Some nutrients are lost to the
atmosphere [78]. Types with thin humus layers are better unburned,
since the humus would be destroyed by fire [66,79]. Norway spruce is
unsuited for such sites, since its shallow roots render it less able to
exploit the mineral soil for nutrients than Scotch pine [37].
Prescribed burning is usually not necessary on most fertile soils, but
may be useful on sites that have experienced swale cultivation [79].
Fire suppression in Sweden since the nineteenth century has resulted in
an over-representation of aging Norway spruce forests, and it has been
recommended that prescribed fires for stand rejuvenation are necessary
in Swedish National Parks and nature reserves to improve stand health by
reestablishing a mosaic of seral stands [84].
Major Threats
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/42318 |
Trees to 60 m tall; trunk to 6 m d.b.h. in native range; bark furrowed into small scales; branchlets usually pendulous, reddish brown or orange when young, glabrous or slightly pubescent; winter buds conical, scales reflexed, reddish brown. Leaves ascending or directed forward on upper side of branchlets, spreading on lower side, quadrangular-linear, straight or curved, 1.2-2.5 cm, stomatal lines along each surface. Seed cones brown when mature, cylindric, 10-15(-18.5) cm. Seed scales rhombic-obovate or -ovate, distal margin denticulate, apex truncate or emarginate. Seeds ca. 4 mm; wing ca. 1.6 cm.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
| Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200005295 |
Norway spruce is easily damaged or killed by fire [74]. The crown
canopy of Norway spruce is often totally destroyed by even minor surface
fires [64,76]. However, there are almost always scattered survivors
even following crown fires; in most cases survival is due to local
topography which prevents fire spread [82]. In Finland, forest fire
damage is greatest in Norway spruce forests (compared with mixed or pure
Scotch pine stands) [61]. In the United States, grass fires are
reported to cause severe damage to Norway spruce plantations [17].
Norway spruce seeds buried in humus at 1.2 inch (3 cm), 1.9 inch (5 cm),
and 3.9 inch (10 cm) depths were undamaged by the heat of a prescribed
fire that measured 820 degrees Fahrenheit (438 deg C) at the soil
surface. The humus provided excellent insulation; the temperature at
1.2 inches (3 cm) was only 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.5 deg C) [74].
In a laboratory study in which heated air was applied to stem sections
and to whole tops of dormant 3- and 4-year-old Norway spruce seedlings,
Norway spruce was found to be more tolerant of heat than European larch
or Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis). Active Norway spruce seedlings
were more heat tolerant than European and Japanese larch, eastern white
pine (Pinus strobus), Scotch pine, or American beech (Fagus
grandifolia), but none were very tolerant. In this experiment, no
seedlings were killed by the heat treatment, but dormant Norway spruce
seedlings were almost completely defoliated [39].