Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta
Division: Coniferophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Picea
Species: Picea abies

            At each level of classification, there is a reason the Norway Spruce is classified that way. It is a member of the Domian, Eukarya, because it is multicellular, Kingdom, Plantae because it is a plant, the Subkingdom, Tracheobionta, because it is a vascular plant, the Superdivision, Spermatophyta, because it is a seed producing plant, the Division, Coniferophyta, because it is a cone producing plant, the Family, Pinaceae, because it is a member of the pine family, and the Genus, Picea, because it is a type of spruce.  Its Latin name means “Spruce Fir.”  The word spruce is derived from the word pix, referring to the sticky, sap-like resin found in spruce bark.  Fir is another type of cone producing evergreen tree.  The common names often associated with this tree are often either the Norway Spruce, or Common Spruce.  It is now found all over the world, but was found predominantly in Northern Europe. It is also one of the most abundantly found types of spruce.

 

(Phylogenetic tree courtesy of Dr. J. Peter Gogarten,
Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut)