Picea engelmannii var. engelmannii
(Engelmann Spruce)
Picea engelmannii, Hoosier Ridge, Summit Co. 4731
Picea engelmannii, Hoosier Ridge, Summit Co. 4739
Picea engelmannii, Hoosier Ridge, Summit Co. 4724
Picea engelmannii, Hoosier Ridge, Summit Co. 4734
Picea engelmannii, Hoosier Ridge, Summit Co. 1877
| Scientific Name | Picea engelmannii var. engelmannii | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PIENE |
| Common Name | Engelmann Spruce | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 822704 |
| Family | Pinaceae (Pine) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Montane to alpine (8500 to 12000 ft.); well-drained, loamy sands and silts, and clay soils. Plant: Long-lived, very large evergreen conifer tree, growing to 45 to 150 feet with trunks 15 to 40 inches in diameter; mature trees have a narrow, spire form and short, compact branches, spreading horizontally to somewhat drooping; bark is very thin, grayish-brown on young trees becoming purplish brown to reddish brown. A small tree at upper subalpine elevations and forming krummholz at treeline. At higher elevations in CO the trees can grow to be very old, 350 to 600 years old. Needles: Needles are single and spirally arranged, four-sided, with pointed tips that are not particularly sharp; deep bluish-green with whitish streaks, somewhat greyish when young; 0.8 to 1.2 inches long; needle buds are small, about 1/4-inch long and orange-brown. Cones: Male and female cones on same tree, female in the upper portion and male in the lower; male cones often purplish when young becoming yellow at maturity; female cones purplish brown to brown, 1.5 to 2.4 inches long and hanging down (pendant). References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, "The Alpine Flora of the Rocky Mountains" by Richard W. Scott, Fire Effects Information System and US Forest Service. |
BONAP Distribution Map
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Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains