The tree is native to the Himalayas in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and Nepal. It is found at high elevations in Azad Kashmir, Murree Hills, Hazara, Swat, Dir, Kurram Agency and Chitral.

The heartwood is not distinct from sapwood and wood is light and soft. The wood is creamy white or light brown. The wood is straight and even-grained with medium texture.

The wood is non-porous. The growth rings are distinct and 8-16 per inch. The resin canals are present but minute and scanty, invisible to the naked eyes, appear as white specks under a lens. The tracheids of springwood are medium fine arranged in a definite radial rows 1.7-4.9 mm in length with a diameter of 40-55µ and wall-thickness 1-2µ while summerwood tracheids wall-thickness range is 4-6µ. The true parenchyma is absent. The rays are very fine and not distinct with naked eye, 5-9 per mm and 13-20 µ wide.

Cross view of Spruce wood Tangential view of Spruce wood Radial view of Spruce wood

The Spruce wood can be used in making of railway sleeper ( after creosoting) , construction work and packing cases. This wood is also suitable for making pulp and mulch.

1. Pearson, R.S and H.P. Brown.1932. Commercial Timbers of India.pp 1052-1056.

2. Sheikh, M.I.1993. Trees of Pakistan. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar. pp-91.

3. Siddiqui, K.M., M. Ayaz and I. Mahmood.1996. Properties and Uses of Pakistani Timbers. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar.pp21-22.