Picea mastersii Mayr; P. watsoniana Masters; P. wilsonii var. shanxiensis Silba; P. wilsonii var. watsoniana (Masters) Silba.

Trees to 50 m tall; trunk to 1.3 m d.b.h.; bark gray, irregularly flaking; crown pyramidal; branchlets yellowish green or yellowish gray, turning pale gray or brownish gray, glabrous, rarely initially puberulent; winter buds yellowish brown or brown, ovoid, not resinous, scales appressed at base of branchlets. Leaves directed forward on upper side of branchlets, spreading on lower side, quadrangular-linear, straight or slightly curved, broadly quadrangular in cross section, 0.8-1.3 cm × 1.2-1.7 mm, stomatal lines 4 or 5 along each surface, apex acuminate. Seed cones green, maturing yellow-brown or pale brown, ovoid-oblong, 5-8 × 2.5-4 cm. Seed scales at middle of cones obovate, 1.4-1.7 × 1-1.4 cm, exposed part not obviously striate, nearly smooth, base cuneate, apex rounded, acute, or truncate. Seeds obovoid, 3-4 mm; wing pale brown, oblanceolate, 8-11 mm. Pollination Apr, seed maturity Oct.

The timber is used for construction, poles, furniture, and wood pulp. The species is also cultivated for afforestation and as an ornamental.

* Mountains, river basins; 1400-2800 m. Gansu, Hebei, Hubei, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan