Picea

Spruce

Picea, commonly known as spruce, is a vital genus of coniferous trees prized for its therapeutic potential. Rich in essential oils, resins, and antioxidants, spruce extracts are utilized in traditional medicine to support respiratory health, ease joint pain, and promote circulation through topical and aromatic applications.

  • Scientific name: Picea
  • 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 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, is referred to by various names depending on the language and region. In Luxembourgish, it is called Fiichten, while in Chinese, it is identified as 云杉属. In Poland, the common name is Świerk, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is known as Smrča, and in Hungary, it is referred to as lucfenyő.
Language Common Name Source
lb Fiichten Wikidata
zh 云杉属 Wikidata
pl Świerk Wikidata
bs Smrča Wikidata
hu lucfenyő Wikidata
et Kuusk Wikidata
ba Шыршы Wikidata
nl spar Wikidata
ar راتينجية Wikidata
sv Gransläktet Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the northern reaches of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be observed throughout the landscape of Denmark. It also thrives within the territories of Finland and the islands of Føroyar. Furthermore, the species is documented across the regions of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range extends to the cold environments of Iceland.

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

Chemicals

Picea has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include epi-isohydroxymatairesinol, hydroxymatairesinol, isohydroxymatairesinol, singlet oxygen.

Total chemicals
4
Scientific sources
4

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
epi-isohydroxymatairesinol 1 ★☆☆☆☆
hydroxymatairesinol 1 ★☆☆☆☆
isohydroxymatairesinol 1 ★☆☆☆☆
singlet oxygen 1 ★☆☆☆☆