White Spruce

Picea glauca

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
PGPIN03040
Common Name: 
White Spruce
Scientific Name: 
Picea glauca
Naming References: 
B002
W018
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Vascular Plant
Kingdom: 
Plantae
Phylum: 
Pinophyta
Class: 
Pinopsida
Order: 
Pinales
Family: 
Pinaceae
References: 
B002
General Biology

Longevity

200 years
References: 
B002

Economic/Human Considerations

important for wood pulp and lumber; Needles: tea, Inner bark: emergency food, Gum: gum(B002, B140). Young white/black spruce cones boiled for 5-10min to make tea for colds/coughs. Clear sticky gum used to soothe irritated skin, heal cuts/cankers and prevent infection. Spruce gum is hard older reddish sap, eaten like gum, tea like sticky gum, helps remove slivers. White pulpy layer of bark make tea or heal wounds(B123).
References: 
B002
B123
B140
Habitat
northern forest, on a variety of soils in a wide range of climatic conditions (often at arctic tree line)
References: 
B002
Distribution

Ecozones

Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B002
H150

Distribution

0.70
Score: 
G
References: 
B002

Number of Occurrences

36 (B003) CAN-30; DAO-45 Canadian Museum of Nature records=CAN; Agriculture Canada, Ottawa = DAO; some duplication of records likely exists (H150).
Score: 
D
References: 
B003
H150

Area of Occupancy

Score: 
-
Threats

Threats

forestry (logging), fire
Score: 
C
References: 
H126

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Score: 
-
References: 
H126
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
Widespread distribution and many occurrences within a broad range of ecozones (H150).
S Rank: 
S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by S. Carriere based on printed material only. Agreed with by E. Haber in 2003(H150). Reviewed in 2010, no change.; Reviewed in 2015 by Marilyn Anions; no change
Last Updated: 
July 22, 2015

References

Economic Status

  • Farrar JL (1995) Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited RWED Library Call #QK475.F3 - B002 Return
  • Alestine Andre and Alan Fehr (2001) Gwich'in Ethnobotany: Plants used by the Gwich'in for Food, Medicine, Shelter and Tools. Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute and Aurora Research Institute 68p - B123 Return
  • Bull, E. L. and J. R. Duncan. (1993) Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa).. Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union. In The Birds of North America, No. 41 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). - B140 Return

Ecozones

  • Farrar JL (1995) Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited RWED Library Call #QK475.F3 - B002 Return
  • Erich Haber (2003) Personal Communication - e-mail to S. Carriere on 19/11/2003 on Subset 1 Vascular plants (Monocots except orchids). Carriere Office - e-mail archive (printed verision in GSR binders) - H150 Return

Habitat

  • Farrar JL (1995) Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited RWED Library Call #QK475.F3 - B002 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Longevity

  • Farrar JL (1995) Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited RWED Library Call #QK475.F3 - B002 Return

Naming

  • Farrar JL (1995) Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited RWED Library Call #QK475.F3 - B002 Return
  • NatureServe: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. (2001) Version 1.4 . Arlington, Virginia, USA: Association for Biodiversity Information.. Available: http://www.natureserve.org/. (Accessed: June 29, 2001 - W018 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Porsild AE, and Cody WJ (1980) Vascular Plants of Continental Northwest Territories, Canada. National Museums of Canada RWED Library Call #QK203.N7P6http://ia601004.us.archive.org/22/items/vascularplantsof00pors/vascularplantsof00pors.pdf - B003 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Porsild AE, and Cody WJ (1980) Vascular Plants of Continental Northwest Territories, Canada. National Museums of Canada RWED Library Call #QK203.N7P6http://ia601004.us.archive.org/22/items/vascularplantsof00pors/vascularplantsof00pors.pdf - B003 Return
  • Erich Haber (2003) Personal Communication - e-mail to S. Carriere on 19/11/2003 on Subset 1 Vascular plants (Monocots except orchids). Carriere Office - e-mail archive (printed verision in GSR binders) - H150 Return

Range Extent

  • Farrar JL (1995) Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited RWED Library Call #QK475.F3 - B002 Return

Taxonomy

  • Farrar JL (1995) Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited RWED Library Call #QK475.F3 - B002 Return

Threats

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return