FTANnBOOK OF Trees of the JSToetheen 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 tree with the Tamarack marks the 

 limit of tree growth in the far north and 

 «itends 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 

 iavorable. 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 when of sufficient size. 2 



Considerable spruce gum is akso derived from 



this tree. 



Leaves usually y^-V2 in. long, crowded and more 

 or less curved, stiff and with sharp callous tips, 

 "blue-green with numerous stomata above a:]d 

 fewer beneath : branchlets pubescent. Flowers: 

 staminate oblong with reddish anthers ; pistillate 

 oblong with thin reflexed scales and rounded erose 

 bracts. Fruit: cones ovate, persisting often 2 or 

 more seasons, strongly reflexed upon the branch- 

 lets, %-XV2 in. long,' narrowing to a strongly in- 

 <!urved stalk, with scales rounded and more or 

 Ipss ernse-dentate at anex ; seeds about Vs in. 

 InT with ample pale brown wing widest above the 

 middle. 



1. Syn. P. irevifoUa Peck. 



