Sitka spruce (Ss) - Picea sitchensis
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External Links Other external information on Sitka spruce
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BC Distribution of Sitka spruce (Ss)
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On the most productive sites in the hypermaritime forest, Sitka spruce growth performance is far superior to that of other associated species. Excellent vigour of Sitka spruce is found on sites such as this moist, very rich alluvial terrace on western Vancouver Island.
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| Description |
Sitka spruce is the largest spruce in the world (reaching a height of 100 m in, for instance, the Carmanah River Valley). At maturity it has a massive stem, often buttressed at base; relatively wide, compact crown, with horizontal branches, and a thin reddish-brown bark broken into large loose scales. Sitka spruce is a very productive, valuable timber species for lumber, pulp, and many other special uses.
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Geographic Range
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Geographic element: Western North American/mainly Pacific and less Cordilleran Distribution in Western North America: north, central and south in the Pacific region; (central) in the Cordilleran region |
Ecological Amplitudes
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Climatic amplitude: (subalpine boreal) – (cool temperate) – wet cool mesothermal Orographic amplitude: submontane – montane – (subalpine) Occurrence in biogeoclimatic zones: (lower MH), (northern subcontinental BWBS),(ICH), (CDF), wetter hypermaritime (maritime and submaritime) CWH It has been stated that Sitka spruce is dependent on fog, commonly occurring in the Pacific coast fog belt. This association with fog may be important along the southern coast, but along the central and northern coast it is probably a coincidence, as the species may grow successfully outside this belt. Edaphic Amplitude Range of soil moisture regimes: slightly dry – fresh – moist – very moist – wet Range of soil nutrient regimes: (poor) – medium – rich – very rich; tolerant of salt spray and soils influenced by brackish water The most productive growth of Sitka spruce occurs on moist and rich hypermaritime sites; therefore, it could be concluded from those field observations and experimental studies carried out by Krajina and his students (Cordes 1968, 1972; Krajina 1969) that Sitka spruce requires considerable amounts of both calcium and magnesium, possibly favoring magnesium. This is why it benefits (tolerates), to some degree, from calcium and magnesium inputs in brackish water or ocean spray. Sitka spruce also requires greater quantities of phosphorus than common douglas, western redcedar, or western hemlock. Ocean spray is a good external source of phosphorus. Normally, calcium-rich soils provide a relatively favorable medium for nitrification, so it is rather surprising that Sitka spruce tolerates ammonium compounds when they replace nitrates and are the only source of nitrogen in the sand cultures. Nevertheless, in the complete Hoagland solution, applied in sand cultures, where nitrates prevail over ammonium compounds, Sitka spruce grows still better. Sitka spruce tolerates sodium inputs from ocean spray or brackish water. Therefore, along the Pacific coast, where ocean spray has a strong influence on vegetation, pure stands of Sitka spruce may develop because other trees do not tolerate strong ocean spray. Another common name – tideland spruce – suggests this tolerance of salinity. |
| Root System Characteristics | Root habit of Sitka spruce is very variable- ranging from shallow, plate-like roots in the soils with a root-restricting layer to deep (up to 200 cm), wide-spreading roots in the deep, well-aerated soils. Roots of Sitka spruce are associated with both ecto- and endo-mycorrhizae. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tolerances |
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| Damaging Agents |
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| Associated tree species and successional role | In British Columbia, Sitka spruce grows in pure and mixed-species stands, which are prevailingly even-aged. Pure stands usually follow disturbance by wind, and occur on tidal flats, and on sites affected by ocean spray. Sitka spruce is present in early, mid-, and late stages of secondary succession along ocean shores, on floodplains and on upland sites; a major or minor component in old-growth stands in hypermaritime and maritime climates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Silvical Characteristics |
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Genetics and Notes
| Genetics | Genetic variation in Sitka spruce is clinal, primarily along a latitudinal gradient. Sitka spruce may hybridize with white spruce (Picea x lutzii) (Roche 1969) and with Engelmann spruce. Such natural hybrids may be found in the Nass and Skeena River areas and along the coast-interior ecotone, respectively. Sitka spruce has very long branches, but the hybrids with Engelmann spruce have rather narrow crowns. |
| Notes |
Sitka spruce is a desirable component in hypermaritime forests in pure or mixed-species stands, either with other conifers or hardwoods (nurse species in spruce weevil-prone areas), except on water and nutrient deficient-sites. The success of natural regeneration is often inconsistent, consequently planting is usually required if a high component of Sitka spruce is desired in new stands. More detailed silvics information is given by: Harris, A.S. 1990. Picea sitchensis. Pp. 2260-267 in R.M. Burns and B.H. Honkala (technical coordinators) Silvics of North America, Vol. 1. Agri. Handbook 654, USDA For. Serv., Washington, D.C. |