Handbook of Trees of the Xohtjip:rn States and Canada. 



29 



The Black Spruce in forest growth, where 

 climate and conditions are most favorable, is 

 found sometimes attaining the height of 80- 

 100 ft., with a trunk 2-3 ft. in diameter, but 

 such conditions are only found in regions 

 north of the United States where the climate 

 is too severe for the endurance of most of our 

 trees. 



This tre9 with the Tamarack marks the 

 limit of tree growth in the far north and 

 extends in range nearly across the continent, 

 growing alike on bottom-lands and mountain 

 slopes. Within the limits of the United 

 States, however, conditions seem to be less 

 favorable. Here it is confined to low bottom- 

 lands, sphagnum swamps and the margins of 

 ponds, where its dwarfed and picturesque 

 narrow forms with gracefully curved branches 

 and bluish green foliage are pleasing and 

 characteristic features. It is found even 

 growing to great age in the floating bogs about 

 the shores of small lakes in northern Minne- 

 sota and producing cones in abundance, even 

 though no more than 2 or .3 ft. in height. 



The wood of the Black Spruce is light, a cu. 



ft. weighing 32.86 lbs., soft and useful for 



paper pulp and lumber w^hen of sufficient siz^.s 



Considerable spruce gum is also derived from 



this tree. 



Leaves usually %-% in. long, crowded and more 

 or less curved, stiff and with sharp callous tips, 

 blue-green with numerous stomata above and 

 fewer beneath : branchlets pubescput. Floirrrs: 

 staminate ol)!ong with reddish anthers ; pistillato 

 oblong with thin reflexed scales and rounded eroso 

 bracts. Fruit: cones ovate, persisting often 2 or 

 more seasons, strongly reflexed upon the branch- 

 lets, %-lV2 in. long, narrowing to a strongly in- 

 curved stalk, with scales rounded and more or 

 less erose-dpntate at anpx ; S(>Pds about l^ in. 

 IfiTi-^ with ample pale brown wing widest above the 

 middli\ 



1. Syn. P. brcvifolia Peck. 



