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Norway spruce migrated from several refugia following the last ice age (Fig. 11.1). The geographic range expanded throughout the current interglacial period and includes primarily higher mountain regions and lowlands. In the lowlands, the range of Norway spruce expanded in conjunction with significant increases in precipitation (Schmidt-Vogt 1977; Ralska-Jasiewiczowa 1983). During the last millennium, the range expansion of spruce has been assisted by human activity. The species has spread from its ecological mainstays to areas following fire, land clearing, or extensive logging. In the XIX and XX centuries Norway spruce was introduced into lowlands and lower mountain zones. Human activity also resulted in a lowering of the high-altitudinal limit of the species in European mountains, locally by as much as 200–400 m a.s.l. (Schmidt-Vogt 1977).

In Norway spruce, female flowers that are infected in the spring time form cones with whitish pycnia (spermogonia) on the inner side of the cone scales. During the summer the cones develop numerous spherical brown aecia (Fig. 12.1). At high relative humidity, the scales of affected cones appear ruffled, whereas the healthy cones remain closed. The affected cones develop few seeds if any.

Norway spruce [ (L.) .] is second only to Scots pine () as the most important forest tree species in European forestry. It is comparatively easy to cultivate, and its wood products are very valuable for high-quality pulpwood and lumber. Its wood is broadly used in carpentry and as a construction material. Narrow-ringed wood without defects, termed resonant wood, is highly prized for manufacture musical instruments (see Chapter 6.2.3). Young Norway spruce trees are used as Christmas trees and its boughs are used for decorative purposes.

The economic importance of Norway spruce () is a key reason why this species has been the subject of numerous studies of the impacts of toxic pollutants on forest trees (Bennett and Buchen 1995). Experiments with Norway spruce are also justified owing to a large intraspecific variation in tolerance to environmental pollutants. Genetic variation may, in part, explain contrasting findings among published results of pollution tolerance. In addition, genetic variation enables selection of individuals, clones (Kriebitzsch et al. 1996; Longauer et al. 2001) or whole populations (Havranek et al. 1990; Geburek and Scholz 1992) that are relatively tolerant to the influence of toxic compounds.

As a raw material (), Norway spruce wood, has wide application as a building material and in industry, especially in northern European countries. The wood of Norway spruce is an important natural resource in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, as well as the Scandinavian countries. In addition to its wood, Norway spruce is highly valued for its tannin-rich bark and resins.