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Picea engelmannii |
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Family: Pinaceae |
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Engelmann Spruce |
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The genus Picea is composed of about 30 species native
to North America [12] and Eurasia [20]. The word picea comes from the ancient Latin name (pix, picis = pitch) of a pitchy pine, probably
Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The word engelmannii is named for George Engelmann
(1809-1884), German born physician and botanist of St. Louis, an authority on
conifers who first recognized this species as undescribed.
Other Common Names: Arizona spruce, balsam, Columbian
spruce, Engelmann elm, Engelmann spar, Engelmann spruce, Engelmann-fichte,
Engelmanns-gran, epicea d'Engelmann, epinette d'Engelmann, mountain spruce,
picea de Englemann, picea di Engelmann, pino real, real pino, Rocky Mountain
spruce, silver spruce, spruces d'america, western white spruce, white pine,
white spruce.
Distribution: Engelmann spruce is native to the Rocky
Mountain region from southwestern Alberta and central British Columbia, south
in the high mountains from Washington to northern California, east to eastern
Nevada, southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico and north to Wyoming and
central Montana. About two thirds of the lumber is produced in the southern
Rocky Mountain States. Most of the remainder comes from the northern Rocky
Mountain States and Oregon.
The Tree: Engelmann spruce trees reach heights of
130 feet, with diameters of 3 feet. Larger trees may exceed 130 feet in height
and 3.5 feet in diameter.
General Wood Characteristics: The heartwood of Engelmann spruce is
nearly white with a slight tinge of red. The sapwood varies from 3/4 inch to 2
inches in width and is often difficult to distinguish from heartwood. The wood
has medium to fine texture and is without characteristic taste or odor. It is
generally straight grained. Engelmann spruce rated as light in weight. It is
low in strength as a beam or post. It is limber, soft, low in shock resistance,
and has moderately small shrinkage. The lumber typically contains numerous
small knots.
Mechanical Properties (2-inch
standard)
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Compression |
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Specific gravity |
MOE x106 lbf/in2 |
MOR lbf/in2 |
Parallel lbf/in2 |
Perpendicular lbf/in2 |
WMLa in-lbf/in3 |
Hardness lbf |
Shear lbf/in2 |
Green |
0.33 |
1.03 |
4700 |
2180 |
200 |
5.1 |
260 |
640 |
Dry |
0.35 |
1.30 |
9300 |
4480 |
410 |
6.4 |
390 |
1200 |
aWML = Work to maximum load.
Reference (59). |
Drying and Shrinkage
Type of shrinkage |
Percentage of
shrinkage |
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0% MC |
6% MC |
20% MC |
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Tangential |
7.1 |
5.3 |
2.2 |
Radial |
3.8 |
2.7 |
1.1 |
Volumetric |
11.0 |
8.3 |
3.5 |
References: 0% (56) |
Kiln Drying Schedulesa
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Conventional
temperature/moisture content-controlled schedulesa |
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4/4,
5/4 |
6/4
stock |
8/4 |
10/4 |
12/4 |
British
schedule |
Lower grades |
T7-B6 |
T5-B5 |
T5-B5 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Upper grades |
T9-E5 |
NA |
T7-E4 |
T7-A4 |
T7-A3 |
K |
aReference
(28, 185). |
Conventional
temperature/time-controlled schedulesa |
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Lower
grades |
Upper
grades |
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4/4,
5/4 stock |
6/4
stock |
8/4
stock |
4/4,
5/4 stock |
6/4
stock |
8/4
stock |
12/4,
16/4 stock |
Standard |
291 |
291 |
291 |
291 |
289 |
289 |
288 |
aReferences
(28, 185). |
High temperaturea |
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4/4,
5/4 stock |
6/4
stock |
8/4
stock |
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Standard |
400 |
400 |
400 |
4- by 6-in. decking
(405) |
aReferences
(28, 184). |
Working Properties: Engelmann spruce is easliy worked (14).
Durability: Spruces are rated as slightly or
nonresistant to heartwood decay (14).
Preservation: Engelmann spruce is rated as resistant
to preservative treatment (7).
Uses: Engelmann spruce is used principally for
lumber and for mine timbers, railroad crossties, and poles. It is used also in
building construction in the form of dimension lumber, flooring, sheathing, and
studding. It has excellent properties for pulp and paper making.
Toxicity: Working with fresh spruce wood may cause
dermatitis, or other contact sensitivity (6,11&16).
Additional Reading and
References Cited (in
parentheses)
1. Alexander, R.
R. and Shepperd, W. D. Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. in:
Burns, R. M. and Honkala, B. H., tech. coords. Silvics of North America. Volume
1, Conifers. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service; 1990; pp. 187-203.
2. Boone, R. S.;
Kozlik, C. J.; Bois, P. J., and Wengert, E. M. Dry kiln schedules for
commercial woods - temperate and tropical. Madison, WI: USDA Forest Service,
FPL-GTR-57; 1988.
3. Dallimore,
W.; Jackson, A. B., and Harrison, S. G. A handbook of Coniferae and
Ginkgoaceae. London, UK: Edward Arnold Ltd.; 1966.
4. Drow, J. T.
Mechanical properties of Engelmann spruce. Madison, WI, USA: USDA Forest
Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Report No. 1944-4; 1960.
5. Elias, T. S.
The complete trees of North America, field guide and natural history. New York,
NY: van Nostrand Reinhold Co.; 1980.
6. Hausen, B. M.
Woods injurious to human health. A manual. New York, NY: Walter de Gruyter;
1981.
7. Henderson, F.
Y. A handbook of softwoods. London: HMSO; 1977.
8. Hofmann, J.
V. Engelmann spruce. The Timberman. 1922; 23(9):33-36.
9. Little, jr.
E. L. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Washington,
DC: USGPO, USDA Forest Service, Ag. Handbook No. 541; 1979.
10. Markstrom,
D. C. and Alexander, R. R. Engelmann spruce, an American wood. Washington, DC,
USA: USDA, Forest Service, FS-264; 1984.
11. Mitchell, J.
and Rook, A. Botanical dermatology: plants and plant products injurious to the
skin. Vancouver, BC: Greenglass Ltd.; 1979.
12. Simpson, W.
T. Dry kiln operator's manual. Madison, WI: USDA Forest Service, FPL Ag.
Handbook No. 188; 1991.
13. Summitt, R.
and Sliker, A. CRC handbook of materials science. Vol. 4. Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press, Inc.; 1980.
14. USDA. Wood
handbook: wood as an engineering material. Madison, WI: USDA Forest Service,
FPL Ag. Handbook No. 72; 1974.
15. Western Pine
Association. Engelmann spruce of the western pine region, its properties, uses
and grades. Portland, OR, USA: Western Pine Association; 1957.
16. ?Woods, B.
and Calnan, C. D. Toxic woods. British Journal of Dermatology. 1976; 95(13):1-97.