Picea abies
Ecology
An evergreen tree of plantations and shelter-belts, grown in a wide variety of soils but not suited to deep peat, dry soils and exposed situations. It seeds freely, and natural regeneration occurs in open ground, in clear-felled areas and on heathland. Generally lowland, but upper altitudinal limit unknown.
Status
Trends
P. abies, native to Britain in previous interglacials, has been cultivated in gardens since 995 (Harvey, 1981) and was recorded in the wild by 1927. Although less popular than P. sitchensis, it is still much planted for timber, pulping and Christmas trees.
World Distribution
A Eurasian Boreal-montane species; absent as a native from W. Europe.
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Broad Habitats
Light (Ellenberg): 7
Moisture (Ellenberg): 6
Reaction (Ellenberg): 3
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 4
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 3.2
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 14.7
Annual Precipitation (mm): 1054
Height (cm): 4600
Perennation - primary
Life Form - primary
Woodiness
Clonality - primary
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 1460
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 120
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 2
Weighted Changed Factor: 59
Weighted Change Factor Confidence (90%)
JNCC Designations
Atlas text references
.
1975. The history of the British Flora, edn 2.
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1986. Atlas of north European vascular plants north of the Tropic of Cancer. 3 vols.
Jalas & Suominen (1973)
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1982. The Forester's Companion.
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1965. Vergleichende Chorologie der zentraleuropäischen Flora. Volume 1. 2 vols.
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1972. Conifers in the British Isles. A descriptive handbook.