Common name: White Spruce
Other common names: Canadian spruce, skunk spruce, cat spruce, Black Hills spruce, western white spruce,Alberta white spruce, and Porsild spruce.
Scientific name: Picea glauca
Conservation status: (note that this is new information compared to the original posters): Stable (of least concern)
Photos of different parts of the plant
Characteristics that make them easy to be identified
● Light brown pine cones
● Needle sets typically have 4 needles
● Full height is around 24 m tall
● Green needles
Ecological Importance:
The white spruce provides an abundant source of food for small animals such as squirrels. It provides protection for smaller animals form larger airborne predators as they are able to hide on the branches while the predators will get pricked by needles.
Human Importance and Indigenous Perspective:
The Indigenous tribes used almost every part of the tree for clothing or weaving.The roots were used for baskets and sowing seams while the bark was used as serving plates. Today, the white spruce tree is mostly used for lumber.
