PINACEAE 
Norway Spruce 
Picea abies (L.) Karst. [Picea excelsa Link] 
HABIT.—A tree 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 
1-3 feet; forming a dense, conical, spire-topped crown of numer- 
ous, drooping branches which persist nearly to the ground. 
LEAVES.—Spirally arranged along the twig; crowded; 
%4-1 inch long; rigid, curved, acute; lustrous, dark green. Per- 
sistent 5-7 years. 
FLOWERS.—May; monoecious; the staminate ovoid to sub- 
globose, long-stalked, reddish ‘to yellowish, 34-1 inch long; the 
pistillate cylindrical, sessile, erect, 114-2 inches long. 
FRUIT.—Autumn of first season; sessile, cylindrical cones 
3-6 inches long, pendent from the tips of the uppermost branches; 
sterile scales very short, toothed; seeds red-brown, rough, % inch 
long, with long wings. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Ovoid, acute, red-brown, not resinous, 
about % inch long. 
BARK.—-Twigs red- or orange-brown, smooth or corrugated ; 
becoming thin and gray-brown on old trunks, slightly fissured, 
scaly. 
WOOD.—Light, strong, tough, elastic, soft, fine-grained, 
white, with thick, indistinguishable sapwood. 
NOTES.—Grows to a height of 120-150 feet in northern 
Europe and Asia. Perfectly hardy in Michigan. Easily trans- 
planted. Adapts itself to a variety of soils and climates. Grows 
rapidly, but is short-lived in our country. Desirable for orna- 
mental planting. Useful for shelter belts. 
—- 25 — 
