Norway Spruce

Norway spruce, native to Europe, has become locally naturalized, at least in north central United States (and adjacent Canada). The species is the most widely cultivated spruce in North America; many cultivars exist, including dwarf shrubs.

Trees to 30m; trunk to 2m diam.; crown conic. Bark gray-brown, scaly. Branches short and stout, the upper ascending, the lower drooping; twigs stout, reddish brown, usually glabrous. Buds reddish brown, 5--7mm, apex acute. Leaves 1--2.5cm, 4-angled in cross section, rigid, light to dark green, bearing stomates on all surfaces, apex blunt-tipped. Seed cones (10--)12--16cm; scales diamond-shaped, widest near middle, 18--30 ´ 15--20mm, thin and flexuous, margin at apex erose to toothed, apex extending 6--10mm beyond seed-wing impression. 2 n =24.

Trees to 60 m tall; trunk to 6 m d.b.h. in native range; bark furrowed into small scales; branchlets usually pendulous, reddish brown or orange when young, glabrous or slightly pubescent; winter buds conical, scales reflexed, reddish brown. Leaves ascending or directed forward on upper side of branchlets, spreading on lower side, quadrangular-linear, straight or curved, 1.2-2.5 cm, stomatal lines along each surface. Seed cones brown when mature, cylindric, 10-15(-18.5) cm. Seed scales rhombic-obovate or -ovate, distal margin denticulate, apex truncate or emarginate. Seeds ca. 4 mm; wing ca. 1.6 cm.

Cultivated. Beijing Shi, Jiangxi (Lu Shan), Shandong (Qingdao Shi) [native to Europe]

Pinus abies Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1002. 1753

Pinus abies Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1002. 1753; P. excelsa Lamarck (1778), not Wallich ex D. Don (1828); Picea excelsa (Lamarck) Link.