PINACEAE 

 Black Spruce 



Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP. [Picea nigra Link} 



HABIT. A small tree 20-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter 

 of 6-10 inches; forming a narrow-based, conical, more or less 

 irregular crown of short, slender, horizontal branches; often 

 small and stunted. 



LEAVES. Spirally arranged, spreading in all directions; 

 awl-shaped, 4-sided, blunt at the apex, more or less incurved ; 

 stiff; dark blue-green and glaucous; ]4,-*A inch long. Persistent 

 for several years. 



FLOWERS. April-May; monoecious; the staminate sub- 

 globose, about l /2 inch long, composed of many spirally arranged, 

 dark red anthers; the pistillate oblong-cylindrical, composed of 

 broad, purple scales (subtended by rounded, toothed, purple 

 bracts) spirally arranged upon a central axis, about l / 2 inch long. 



FRUIT. Autumn of first season, but persistent on the 

 branch for many years ; pendent, ovoid, short-stalked cones, 

 about i inch long; seeds about ^ inch long, with pale brown 

 wings Yz inch long. 



WINTER-BUDS. Ovoid, acute, light red-brown, puberul- 

 ou s, % inch long. 



BARK. Twigs at first green and rusty-p'ubescent, becoming 

 dull red-brown and rusty-pubescent ; thin, gray-brown on the 

 trunk, separating into thin, appressed scales. 



WOOD. Light, soft, weak, pale yellow-white, with thin, 

 pure white sapwood. 



DISTRIBUTION. Occurs sparingly in southern Michigan; 

 more abundant in the northern portions. 



HABITAT. Cold, sphagnous bogs and swamps; shores of 

 lakes. 



NOTES. Short-lived. Undesirable for ornamental planting. 

 Growing to its largest size in the far north. 

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