Trees of New York State 9.^ 



PINACEAE 



I'iccii luaiiaiia (Mill.) B. S. and P. [IMcea nigra (Ait.) Ijink.] 



Black Spruce 



Habit — -Usually a small tree 10-30 feet in height with a trunk diameter of 

 4-12 inches, occasionally at its optimum range reaching a height of 100 

 feet. An extremely variable form. Cro\vn narrowly pyramidal, irregular 

 and open, in exposed trees often extending to tlie ground. Branches shore, 

 declined but curving upward at the ends, the basal ones frequently taking 

 root and sending up shoots (layering). 



Leaves — Borne on sterigmata in close spirals, standing out from all sides 

 of the branches, awl-shaped, 4-sided, blunt at the apex, straight or slightly 

 curved, bluish green, Vi-^ of an inch long, falling gradually after 7-10 

 years. 



riowers — ■ Appearing in May and early June, monoecious, borne in cones. 

 Staminate cones terminal or subterminal, almost sessile, about Vs of 

 an inch long, cylindrical to subglobose, dark red at maturity. Ovulate 

 cones terminal or subterminal, on different branches, oblong-cylindrical 

 about Vs of an inch long, purple at pollination. 



Fruit — An ovate, purplish brown cone, V^-'^Vi inches in length, borne on 

 short incurved peduncles, strongly reflexed, attaining full size early in 

 the summer, turning grayish brown and opening gradually in the autumn 

 but remaining on the trees many years. Cone-scales rounded, dull gray- 

 ish browai, with erose margins. Seeds dark browni, winged, about % of 

 an inch long. 



Winter characters — Branchlets at first light or yellowish brown and cov- 

 ered ^\^th short rusty hairs, during the second year becoming dark brown, 

 glabrous, and scaly. Buds %-i/4 of an inch long, ovate, acute, puberu- 

 lent, light reddish bro^^^l, with closely appressed scales. Mature bark 

 grayish brown, thin, flaky, with appressed scales. 



Habitat — Typically found in sphagnum bogs and cold, spring^- swamps, more 

 rarely on drier, better-drained uplands and rocky slopes. In company 

 with Tamarack, extending northward to the limit of tree growth where 

 specimens two or three feet in height are found bearing cones. 



Range — A transcontinental species extending from Labrador to Alaska, 

 south through New England and New Yprk to Pennsylvania, northern 

 Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin and central Minnesota. Zones C, D, and E. 



Uses — ■ Karely sawed into timber in the state because of its small stature. 

 Wood light, soft, weak, pale yellowish white A\'ith thin sapwood. Used 

 largely in the manufacture of chemical pulp. Varieties of the Black 

 Spruce (as the Hudson Bay form) are used ornamentally. Often cut for 

 Christmas trees. 



