CONIFKRJE. 



307 



PICEA, Don. (Spruce.) Leaves scattered, articulated to the per- 

 sistent base of the petiole, partly tetragonal, rigid. Staniiuate flowers 

 solitary in the axils, the connective not produced as a scale-like 

 appendage. Scales of the reflexed cone persistent, mostly concealing 

 the small subtending bract. 



1. P. nigra, Liuk. (Black Spruce.) Trunk 70 to 80 feet high. Branchlets 

 spreading linrizoutally. Bark smooth aud dark. Head pyramidal, symmet- 

 rical, aud when young very graceful. Leaves half an inch long, erect, stiff, 

 *4-si(led, very dark-green. Cones egg-shaped, hanging, al)0ut 2 inches long, 

 dark-purple, changing to reddish-hrown ; scales ellipsoid ; margin unevenly 

 toothed. 



Geof/rap/ii/. — This tree was introduced into England in 1700, and grows 

 well there; hut it nowhere rises to its native grandeur except in its forest 

 home, in the highlands of southern Canada, and the northern United States. 

 Its geographical range is from the Atlantic coast west to the head waters of 

 the Mississippi, hetweeu 39° and 50° north latitude. 



Etymologi/. — The generic name is from the Latin piceus, pitchy. Nigra, 

 the specific name, is Latin, signifying "black," given to tliis tree on account of 

 the heavy, dark-greeu color of 

 its foliage aud bark. It forms a 

 fine conical head with a taper- 

 ing trunk. The common name 

 spruce is derived from the old 

 English Spruce or Pruse, Prussia, 

 the tree having been first known 

 as a native of Prussia. 



Use. — The black spruce is 

 largely used in planted grounds. 

 The wood is hard, light, strong, 

 and elastic ; it is extensively 

 used for architectural purposes, 

 for framework and flooring in 

 the construction of dwellings. 

 ( )n account of its elastic aud so- 

 norous qualities it is mnch used 

 for piano sounding-l)oards. Picea alba (White Spruce). 



2. P. alba. Link. (White Spruce.) Trunk .50 feet high. 1 to 2 feet in diam- 

 eter, tapering, forming a pyramidal head. Leaves less than an inch long, 

 sprinkled over the branchlets, needle-shaped, curved upwards, light, glaucous, 

 green. Cones about 2 inches long, subcylindrical ; scales entire; the winged 

 seeds very small. 



Geography. — When y<Muig this tree is very beautiful, and rivals the cele- 

 brated Norway spruce. Its geographical range is between 42° and 67° north 

 latitude. It abounds in the forests of southern Canada ami the northern 

 United States. 



Eti/mologj/. — Allxt, the specific name, is Latin, moaning " white," and refers 

 to the lic^ht color uf the foliage ; the popular name is due to the same 

 characteristic. 



