366 NEW ENGLAND TREES IN WINTER. 



NORWAY SPRUCE 



Picea Abies (L.) Karst. 

 P. excelsa Link. 



HABIT A large rapidly growing tree, 50-100 ft. or more in height 

 with a trunk diameter up to 2 ft.; with spreading horizontal or ascending 

 branches and in mature trees generally with strongly drooping lateral 

 branchlets, forming a rather broad pyramidal head; foliage dark green. 

 The tree usually has a single erect trunk continuous into the crown 

 but although the tree photographed shows a double stem it is typical 

 in general outline. 



BARK Reddish-brown, on young trunks and branches smoothish with 

 very fine flaky scales becoming with age roughened with larger thicker 

 flaky scales. 



TWIGS Brown, smooth or hairy. 



LEAP-SCARS Alternate, more than 2-ranked, on strongly projecting 

 decurrent ridges of the bark. 



LEAVES Dark green and usually shining, 4-angled, 15-25 mm. long, 

 sharp-pointed, without proper leaf-stalks. 



BUDS Ovate, pointed, light brown. 



FRUIT Cylindrical-oblong, pendant cones, 4-7 inches long, light 

 reddish-brown, falling after the first winter. SCALES thin, stiff, gener- 

 ally broader than long, margin more or less irregular and finely toothed. 



COMPARISONS The large cones form the most distinctive character 

 of the Norway Spruce, and when present easily separate this species 

 from all others with which it might be confused. The pendant lateral 

 branches generally strikingly noticeable on the older trees together 

 with the vigor of growth furnish good habit characters of distinction. 



DISTRIBUTION A large tree of Europe especially abundant in Nor- 

 way: largely cultivated in this country as ornamental individual trees, 

 in hedges and for windbreaks. 



WOOD Light, soft, close-grained, reddish to yellowish-white; used 

 for spars, oars and masts to small vessels. 



