Picea abies
Norway spruce
Picea abies, commonly known as the Norway spruce, is a majestic coniferous tree native to Europe. Beyond its importance in forestry, it holds significant medicinal value. Its resin, bark, and needles are traditionally used in herbal remedies to support respiratory health, soothe inflammation, and promote overall vitality through essential oils.
- Scientific name: Picea abies
- Family: Pinaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Pinidae. Within the order Pinales and the family Pinaceae, it is classified under the genus Picea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Pinidae | WCVP |
| Order | Pinales | WCVP |
| Family | Pinaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Picea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Picea abies, is referred to by several common names across different Chinese linguistic contexts. In Simplified Chinese, it is known as 欧洲云杉 (zh-hans) and 欧洲云杉 (zh-cn), and it is also identified as 欧洲云杉 in the Singaporean context (zh-sg). In Traditional Chinese, the name is written as 歐洲雲杉 (zh-hant), which is also the standard designation used in Hong Kong (zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 欧洲云杉 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 歐洲雲杉 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 歐洲雲杉 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 欧洲云杉 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 欧洲云杉 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 歐洲雲杉 | Wikidata |
| eu | Izei gorri | Wikidata |
| pl | świerk pospolity | Wikidata |
| qu | Pisya | Wikidata |
| be | елка еўрапейская | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence extends to the island territories of Føroyar and Iceland. The species is also documented to inhabit parts of Great Britain. Collectively, these locations define the northern geographical range of this medicinal species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Picea abies, commonly known as the Norway spruce, is highly valued in traditional medicine for the various substances it produces. The most significant medicinal components are the resins found within its woody tissues and bark, which possess potent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. When the bark or needles are wounded, the tree produces aromatic exudates that serve as a natural defense mechanism against pathogens. These viscous secretions are often processed or collected in the form of a soothing balm, which is frequently applied topically to treat skin irritations, muscle aches, and respiratory congestion.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| resins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Exudates | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Balm | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Picea abies has 25 reported phytochemicals identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Zn, Al, As, Ba, Ca.
- Total chemicals
- 25
- Scientific sources
- 26
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Zn | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Al | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| As | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ba | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ca | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cd | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Co | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cr | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cu | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fe | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Picea abies has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include wound healing, wounds.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| wound healing | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |