Norway Spruce, Picea abies (L.) Karst.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Leaves linear, four-sided, evergreen, 3/8 to 1 inch long, dark green, with woody, peg-like bases tat remain on the twig when the green portions fall, spirally arranged and extending from the twig in several directions. Twigs drooping, orange on new growth. Buds with recurved scales. Cones pendant, 4 to 6 inches long, their scales dull brown, rigid, with finely toothed margins. Bark thin, dark, scaly.
SIMILAR TREES: White and blue spruces have smaller cones, and the twigs are stiffly held, not drooping. Blue spruce has longer, more sharply pointed leaves that are usually (in cultivated trees) noticeably blue-green in color. White spruce has grayish twigs. Firs and Douglas-fir resemble spruces and are often confused with them but differ in having flattened leaves that lack woody, peg-like bases. Fir cones are held upright on the branches and disintegrate at maturity; cones of Douglas-fir have protruding bracts.
IOWA DISTRIBUTION: Planted throughout the state; occasionally naturalized on cool, moist slopes in northeastern Iowa.
No comments:
Post a Comment