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Picea mariana
(Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.
Black Spruce
Pinaceae
Picea mariana is a coniferous tree species in the family Pinaceae. It is widespread across much of Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States. It is the provincial tree of Newfoundland (FNAEC 1993).
Description
Picea mariana is a medium-sized tree but is sometimes shrubby, especially in extreme conditions, growing up to 30 m tall with a trunk that grows up to 0.6 m in diameter, forming a narrowly conical crown. Branches are descending, then rising at the tips with short horizontal branchlets; the branchlets may root into the ground and form clonal trees. Needles are stiff and curved slightly forward, around 0.8 to 1.5 cm long, squarish in cross section with a blunt tip. They are generally grayish or bluish green with a few whitish bands (which are stomata) on all sides of the needles. As with other species in the genus Picea, the needles are attached to the twig via a woody "peg" that persists after the needle has fallen. Buds are around 3 to 5 mm long, and are not resinous. The bark is grayish brown and scaly. Twigs are yellowish to orange brown and are covered in short, sometimes glandular hairs. Pollen cones are 1 to 1.5 cm, reddish brown. Seed cones are around 2 to 3 cm long, hanging down from the branchlets. They are dark purple, ripening to brown. The cone scales are egg-shaped, thin, woody, stiff and brittle in texture. Seeds are 2 to 3 mm long, with a wing that is 2 to 5 mm long (Eckenwalder 2009).
Picea mariana is the smallest spruce in North America, and also has the smallest cones among North American spruces. The cones stay on the tree for a long tree, unlike other spruces (Sibley 2007). It can be distinguished from the white spruce (Picea glauca) by having shorter cones and hairy twigs (FNAEC 1993); in the east, it is more similar to the red spruce (Picea rubens) but the cones of that species are slightly longer and the needles do not have a waxy coating giving them a bluish color (FNAEC 1993).
Picea mariana is the smallest spruce in North America, and also has the smallest cones among North American spruces. The cones stay on the tree for a long tree, unlike other spruces (Sibley 2007). It can be distinguished from the white spruce (Picea glauca) by having shorter cones and hairy twigs (FNAEC 1993); in the east, it is more similar to the red spruce (Picea rubens) but the cones of that species are slightly longer and the needles do not have a waxy coating giving them a bluish color (FNAEC 1993).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Picea mariana is harvested for wood, especially for pulp in the eastern part of its range (Farjon 2013; Eckenwalder 2009), and the roots used by Native Americans to bind birch canoes together. It is also used as a Christmas tree, but reportedly this is becoming less common (Farjon 2013). A drink called spruce beer can be made by boiling the needles and branchlets, then adding sugar; gum can also be made from the resin (Little 1980). Picea mariana is sometimes grown as an ornamental, and some dwarf cultivars are available. It prefers acidic, moist soils and full sun, and grows in USDA zones 3 to 7 (MBG).
Distribution
Picea mariana is typically found in bogs and marshes (often called “muskegs”). It forms pure stands or is associated with other conifers or hardwoods in the same range. It most commonly grows at altitudes between 150 m and 800 m, but can grow higher on mountains in the western part of its range (Farjon 2013). It is widespread: it is native to all Canadian provinces, and in the United States it is native to Alaska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine (Kartesz 2015).
Status
Picea mariana is listed on the IUCN Red List as “Least Concern”, as its range is extremely wide, covering much of Canada, and there are no significant threats to the species (Farjon 2013).
References
Eckenwalder, J. E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference. Portland: Timber Press.
Farjon, A. 2013. Picea mariana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42328A2972877.en.
FNAEC (Flora of North America Editorial Committee), editor. 1993. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. New York: Oxford University Press.
Kartesz, J. T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
Little, E. L. 1980. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Picea mariana ‘Nana’. Plant Finder. [accessed 2022 Aug 9]. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=260955
Sibley, D. A. 2009. The Sibley Guide to Trees. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Farjon, A. 2013. Picea mariana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42328A2972877.en.
FNAEC (Flora of North America Editorial Committee), editor. 1993. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. New York: Oxford University Press.
Kartesz, J. T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
Little, E. L. 1980. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Picea mariana ‘Nana’. Plant Finder. [accessed 2022 Aug 9]. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=260955
Sibley, D. A. 2009. The Sibley Guide to Trees. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Description
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