Blue spruce needle courtesy of Scott Catron, flickr.

P. pungens in History

Botanist C.C. Parry was the first to discover P. pungens on PClouds rushing over blue spruce, courtesy of Cory Funk, flickr. ikes Peak in 1862.  It was named in 1879 by George Engelmann.  The school children of Colorado voted on Arbor Day in 1892 to name the blue spruce as the Colorado state tree.  It wasn't adopted as the official state tree until March 7, 1939.  Then in 1933, Utah State Legislature chose the blue spruce to be their state tree as well.

 Check out the references that made this webpage possible. 

Also check out some of these other Christmas organisms that might interest you Sabal mexicana , Pistacia vera, Arceuthobium pusillum, or Camellia sinensis.