Spruce Fir

Origin: Bosnia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Austria, Sweden, Finland.

Latin name.
Picea abies Karst.

Natural vegetation area.
In Italy, Alpine area. In Europe, considerably widespread in the entire central-northern area and on the Balkans.

TRUNK CHARACTERISTICS.
The tree reaches 40 m height, with diameter at breast height up to 70-80 cm; normally heights are between 25 and 30 m, with diameter at breast height of 40-45 cm. The trunk is straight and regular; the abundance and the growth of branches depend on the density of the stands.

WOOD APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS.
There is no differentiation between the sap and the heart because the overall colour is yellowish/whitish; the latest area of the growth rings is dark brown and very clear. The wood contains resin, which under special circumstances can create some actual “pockets” within the texture. Frequent presence of compression wood following persistent or repeated mechanical stresses which caused the bending or inclination of the trunk.

Specific weight in the fresh condition.
860 kg/m³ on average; after normal seasoning: 450 kg/m³.

Histological structure.
Medium texture; rather straight grain in the trees grown in regular forests and at moderate altitudes, spiral grain in the isolated trees subject to strong wind, which along with the snow load often causes the formation of compression wood.

Shrinkage.
From low to medium.

Mechanical characteristics.
Axial compression strength 38 N/mm² on average; bending strength 73 N/mm²; moderate hardness. The impact behaviour is low.

Modulus of elasticity.
15.000 N/mm².

Most frequent structural defects and alteration.
Grain spiral deviation; resin pockets; compression wood; discolouration (pink stains) due to incipient fungal attack.

Durability.
Poor as concerns both fungal and insect attack.

 

Texts taken from: “Manuale tecnico del legno”, FNALA CNA LEGNO LEGNO, by Prof. Ing. Guglielmo Giordano.

 

Species available for the following products: