Picea abies
Specifications
Family
Pinaceae
Species
Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.
norway spruce
european spruce
Description
It is whitish with evident growth rings, undifferentiated, and resinous. Its texture is medium, the grain straight, and its density varies from 0.30 to 0.62. Frequent defects include resin pockets.
Plant morphology
Reaching up to 60 meters in height, it has a straight trunk and a relatively narrow conical crown. Its growth habit varies depending on altitude: more spreading at lower Alpine altitudes, narrower at higher elevations to limit snow damage. The thin, reddish bark flakes into small scales when young, then cracks and divides into regular, rounded plates.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Europe, from Scandinavia to the Balkans.
Habitat and ecology
A mesophilous and heliophilous species, it grows from 400 to 2,200 m and prefers continental climates and acidic, cool, deep, humus-rich soils. It has high water requirements. In Italy, it is the most important forest species, being the main component of the subalpine coniferous forest.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
The wood is used for building structures, ship masts, large poles, window frames, and violin making.
Use in musical instruments
A minimum percentage of trunks with resonant characteristics is highly sought after and widely used in violin making for soundboards and bracing of bowed and plucked instruments. Italian forests known for producing valuable resonant fir trees are in the Fiemme Valley, particularly in Paneveggio, on the Latemar plateau, and in the Tarvisio area.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Fine
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
420
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
38
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
85
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
66
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
15200
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Not very durable
Insect resistance
Not resistant