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Identification Clues:
This pyramidal tree is a cone-bearing evergreen
with four-sided dark green needles arising singly on the branches.
Notice that the cones are less than 2" long and have rounded, papery scales.
The papery quality of spruce cones is different from the woody cones characteristic
of pine species. The cones occur mostly on the upper portion of the
tree. The branches, with the needles removed, will not appear hairy.
Distribution:
Black Hills spruce is actually a subspecies
of the white spruce. White spruce is native to Canada and the northern
United States. The Black Hills spruce subspecies is unique to the
Hills of South Dakota and eastern Wyoming.
Highlights:
The male and female cones are borne on the
same tree. The male cone produces the pollen grains that fertilze
the ova of the female, which then develop into the seeds inside the female
cone. Usually in conifers, the male cones are lower on the tree with
the female cones avoce them. This arrangement reduces the chances
of self-fertilizations. The Black Hills Spruce is the state tree
of South Dakota. |
