Part 15

FRUIT.--Autumn of first season, but persistent on the tree for a year longer; ovoid, obtuse, light brown, short-stalked cones, 1/2-3/4 inch long; seeds 1/8 inch long, with pale brown wings widest near the middle.

WINTER-BUDS.--Small, globose, lustrous, dark red.

BARK.--Twigs at first grayish, glaucous, later light orange-brown, and finally dark brown; red-brown and scaly on the trunk.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, very strong, coarse-grained, very durable, light brown, with thin, nearly white sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Common throughout the state.

HABITAT.--Prefers cold, deep swamps, or in the north coming out on the drier uplands.

NOTES.--Becomes a picturesque tree in old age. Should be transplanted while dormant.

+SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF PICEA+

a. Leaves 3/4-1 inch long, sharp-pointed; twigs glabrous.

b. Cones 1-2 inches long, maturing in first season; leaves ill-scented when bruised. P. canadensis, p. 21.

bb. Cones 3-6 inches long, maturing in second season; leaves not ill-scented when bruised. P. abies, p. 25.

aa. Leaves 1/8-3/8 inch long, blunt-pointed; twigs rusty-pubescent. P. mariana, p. 23.

+WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF PICEA+

a. Leaves 3/4-1 inch long, sharp pointed; twigs glabrous.

b. Cones 1-2 inches long, maturing in first season; leaves ill-scented when bruised. P. canadensis, p. 21.

bb. Cones 3-6 inches long, maturing in second season; leaves not ill-scented when bruised. P. abies, p. 25.

aa. Leaves 1/8-3/8 inch long, blunt-pointed; twigs rusty-pubescent. P. mariana, p. 23.

1. Winter branchlet, x. 2. Leaves, × 1. 3. Cross-section of leaf, enlarged. 4. Unopened cone, × 1. 5. Partly opened cone, × 1. 6. Cone-scale with seeds, × 1.]

+PINACEAE+

+White Spruce+

Picea canadensis (Mill.) BSP. [Picea alba Link]

HABIT.--A tree 50-60 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet; forming a rather broad, open, pyramidal crown.

LEAVES.--Spirally arranged, but crowded on the upper side of the branches by the twisting of those on the under side; awl-shaped, 4-sided, incurved; dark blue-green; about 3/4 inch long; ill-scented when bruised. Persistent for several years.

FLOWERS.--April-May; monoecious; the staminate oblong-cylindrical, long-stalked, 1/2-3/4 inch long, composed of many spirally arranged, red anthers; the pistillate oblong-cylindrical, composed of broad, reddish scales (subtended by orbicular bracts) spirally arranged upon a central axis.

FRUIT.--Autumn or early winter of first season, falling soon after discharging the seeds; pendent, slender, oblong-cylindrical, nearly sessile cones, 1-2 inches long; seeds about 1/8 inch long, with large wings oblique at the apex.

WINTER-BUDS.--Broadly ovoid, obtuse, light brown, 1/8-1/4 inch long.

BARK.--Twigs smooth, gray-green, becoming orange-brown, finally dark gray-brown; thin, light gray-brown on the trunk, separating into thin, plate-like scales.

WOOD.--Light, soft, weak, straight-grained, light yellow, with sapwood of the same color.