Sargent spruce, Miao diao shan
Picea brachytyla

Family: Pinaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 30 m tall. The trunk is 1 m across. The bark is grey. It is cracked along its length into thick square plates. The crown is cone shaped. The branches hang down. They change form yellow to brown with maturity. The leaves are directed forward and pressed together in the upper side. They are spreading under the branches. They can be slightly curved or straight and flattened. They are 1-2.2 cm long by 1-1.5 mm wide. They are keeled on both sides. The seed cones are green, red or purple brown. They are 6-10 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. The seeds are about 1.2 cm wide.

There are between 30 and 40 species of Picea.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on mountain slopes, valleys and river basins between 1500-3800 m altitude in N China. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, SE Asia, Tasmania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Flowers, inner bark, seeds, tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

The young male flowers are used as flavouring. The immature female cones are cooked. The young shoot tips are used for tea. The very small seeds can be eaten. The inner bark is cooked and used to thicken soups.

Synonyms

Abies brachytyla Franchet; Picea asecndens Patschke; Picea brachytyla var. latisquamea Taspf.; Picea pachyclada Patschke; Picea sargentiana Rehder & E.H.Wilson;