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 numerous, drooping branches which persist nearly to the ground.
LEAVES.—Spirally arranged along the twig; crowded; 3/4-1 inch long; rigid, curved, acute; lustrous, dark green. Persistent 5-7 years.
FLOWERS.—May; monoecious; the staminate ovoid to subglobose, long-stalked, reddish to yellowish, 3/4-1 inch long; the pistillate cylindrical, sessile, erect, 1-1/2-2 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, 1/8 inch long, with long wings.
WINTER-BUDS.—Ovoid, acute, red-brown, not resinous, about 3/8 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 transplanted. Adapts itself to a variety of soils and climates. Grows rapidly, but is short-lived in our country. Desirable for ornamental planting. Useful for shelter belts.