User talk:Timothy2908

The Black Spruce is a tall tree. It can grow to be twenty-five meters tall. It grows in the taiga biome. As the tree gets older the crown of the tree gets more and more like a spike. The Black Spruce has sharp needles with four sides on them. The needles are blue-green, short, and pointed. They are usually a half an inch long. The bark of the tree is gray-brown. The branches are short and drooping, and are usually layered.

The Black Spruce has pinecones. The pinecones are black and the seeds are usually a purplish-brown. Many animals such as deer, moose and elk do not feed of this plant. The white tailed deer will only eat the saplings under starvation. But many birds eat this plant seeds. The seeds of this tree give the animal's nutrients.

The Black Spruce enjoys colder climates in the northern part of the world. It is all over the taiga forest. It also enjoys poorly drained soil. The Black Spruce is able to survive in the colder climates because of its layered twigs, waxy pine needles, and rough bark. These survival skills protect the Black Spruce from the cold and predators. Also from forest fires. The Black Spruce does not have a special root system.

The Black Spruce is used to build house. It is a good type of wood to make houses because of its layered wood. Layered wood is wood that is very thick and has many layers of bark. Some other values this tree has are, Christmas trees, antiscorbutic beverages, and rope. The Black Spruce is not an endangered species. It is plentiful in the wild.

black spruce
Common Names: Black Spruce Botanical Name: Picea mariana Tree Type: Coniferous

Physical Description:

Growth Habit: Black spruce is a small to medium sized tree. The roots are shallow and wide spreading. The branches are short, pendulous, and have a tendency to curve up at the ends. The bark is grayish brown and the surface is broken into thin scales 1/4" to 1/2" thick. The twigs have many hairs, some of which are tipped with glands. The cones are 1/2-1 inch long, ovoid, and purplish but turning brown at maturity. They usually stay on the trees for many years. The cone scales are stiff, have toothed margins, and dark brown seeds. The needles are 4-sided, dull blue-green in color, 1/4" to 1 1/2" long, blunt-pointed, flexible, and soft to the touch. Average maximum age of this species is about 200 years.

Height: Black spruce grows to be 30-40 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 6 - 18 inches. This species is hardy to Zone 2.

Shape: Black spruce forms an open, irregular crown and has a limited spread.

Fruit/Seed Description/Dispersal Methods:

Black spruce is monoecious. The male flowers are produced on the outer branches of the crown below the zone of female flowers. They are ovate, approximately ½ inch long and dark red to purplish in color. The female flowers, produced in the upper crown, are usually erect, cylindrical and are green or purplish and are approximately 1inch long. Black spruce flowers in late May/early June. Female conelets develop rapidly and contain mature seeds about 3 months after pollination. A few cones may be produced after the tree reaches 10 years of age, but maximum production is between 100 and 200 years of age. Black spruce seeds mature 3 months after pollination in late August or early September. Some are produced almost every year, but heavy seed years occur at 2 to 6 year intervals. Seeds are dispersed throughout the year, but dispersal is highest in the spring and seeds are not commonly dispersed over long distances.

Range within Maine:

Black spruce occurs in every county in Maine except Sagadahoc. It grows on cool upland soils but is more commonly found along streams, on the borders of swamps and sphagnum bogs. It has a tolerance to both shade (however, growth is fastest in full sunlight) and nutrient-poor soils. It is commonly found on poorly drained acidic peatlands.

Distinguishing Features:

The lower branches often touch the ground and form new trees by the natural layering method. The inner bark is olive green when freshly exposed.

Interesting Facts:

The wood of the black spruce is soft and light but strong. It is used for pulp, framing, construction lumber, planking and Christmas trees. Special uses of the tree leaves include distillation for perfume and as a main ingredient for spruce beer.

Relationship to Wildlife:

Black spruce provides good cover for moose and it is a food source for spruce grouse, snowshoe hare, red squirrels, mice, voles, shrews, chipmunks and birds. Various birds also nest in the tree.

Landscape Use:

Black spruce is very well adapted to growing over bedrock because of its shallow root system. It is susceptible to damage from flooding and disruptions from normal groundwater movements. It is easily killed by fire because of its thin bark and shallow roots.

Common Problems or Pests of the Tree in Maine:

Eastern dwarf mistletoe is the most serious disease that affects black spruce, resulting in reduced vigor, witches broom, deformed trees, and death. This species is also susceptible to needle rusts and fungi; snow blight; spruce budworm; wood borers; and European, yellowheaded and greenheaded sawflies.