Jim wrote:Separate question for Grant about Picea glauca, white spruce. At one time, I believe you told me, Adirondack red spruce and white spruce were considered the same species. Can you tell me more about that or point me to a reference? I found that interesting!
Jim
Well, they
are two separate species; White spruce,
Picea glauca, Red spruce,
Picea rubens. The term "Adirondack spruce" is one of several common names that have been applied to both of them.
For example, white spruce also goes by the following names: Adirondack spruce, Alberta spar, Alberta spruce, Alberta white spruce, Alberta-gran, Black Hills spruce, blue spruce, bog spruce, Canadese spar, Canadese witte spar, Canadian spruce, cat spruce, double spruce, eastern blue spruce, eastern Canadian spruce, eastern spruce, epicea canadien, epinette a biere, epinette blanche, epinette grise, epinette jaune, he-balsam, juniper, labrador spruce, Maritime spruce, New Brunswick spruce, northern spruce, Nova Scotia spruce, picea canadese, picea de Alberta, picea de Canada, picea del Canada, picea di Alberta, pine, Porsild spruce, Quebec spruce, sapin blanc, sapin de Normandie, sapinette blanche, sapinette d'Alberta, single spruce, skunk spruce, spruce pine, spruces d'america, St. john's spruce, transcontinental spruce, vit-gran, water spruce, western white spruce, wit-spar, and yew pine.
And red spruce also goes by the following names: Abetina rossa, Adirondack spruce, black spruce, blue spruce, Canadese rude spar, Canadian red spruce, Canadian spruce, double spruce, eastern spruce, epicea rouge du Canada, he balsam, he-balsam, Hudson-fichte, kanadensisk rud-gran, North American red spruce, picea roja de Canada, picea rossa del Canada, rot-fichte, sapinette rouge du Canada, spruce pine, spruces d'america, West Virginia spruce, and yellow spruce.
These names are from the US Forest Service tech sheets. I am sure there are more common names.
I hope this serves to illustrate the confusion that can be generated by using common names
G
)