PICEA abies

"Common Spruce". The commonest spruce in general cultivation and the species popularly known as the "Christmas tree". A large tree with orange or reddish-brown, usually glabrous shoots. Leaves 1-2.5cm long, shining dark green, densely clothing the upper sides of the branchlets, pectinate below. Cones cylindrical, 10-15cm long. This species is extensively used for afforestation and the white or cream-coloured wood for a wide variety of articles. The young shoots and leaves are the basis of "Spruce Beer".