# Picea mariana

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North American species of spruce tree

Black spruce Stand of black spruce near Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Gymnosperms Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae Genus: Picea Species: P. mariana Binomial name Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenburg Synonyms[2] Synonymy Abies denticulata Michx. Abies mariana Mill. Abies nigra (Castigl.) Du Roi Peuce rubra Rich. Picea brevifolia Peck Picea ericoides Bean Picea nigra (Du Roi) Link Pinus denticulata (Michx) Muhl. Pinus mariana (Mill.) Du Roi Pinus marylandica Antoine Pinus nigra Aiton 1789 not J.F. Arnold 1785

***Picea mariana***, the **black spruce**, is a North American [species](/source/Species) of [spruce](/source/Spruce) tree in the [pine family](/source/Pinaceae). It is widespread across Canada, found in all 10 provinces and all 3 [territories](/source/Canadian_Arctic_Lands). It is the official tree of [Newfoundland and Labrador](/source/Newfoundland_and_Labrador) and is that province's most abundant tree. Its range extends into northern parts of the United States: in [Alaska](/source/Alaska), the [Great Lakes region](/source/Great_Lakes_region), and the upper [Northeast](/source/Northeastern_United_States). It is a frequent part of the [biome](/source/Biome) known as [taiga](/source/Taiga) or boreal forest.[3][4][5][6][7]

The Latin [specific epithet](/source/Binomial_nomenclature) *mariana* means "of the Virgin Mary".[8]

## Description

Needles and young cones

*P. mariana* is a slow-growing, small upright [evergreen](/source/Evergreen) [coniferous](/source/Coniferous) [tree](/source/Tree) (rarely a [shrub](/source/Shrub)), having a straight trunk with little taper, a scruffy habit, and a narrow, pointed crown of short, compact, drooping branches with upturned tips. Through much of its range it averages 5–15 m (15–50 ft) tall with a trunk 15–50 cm (6–20 in) diameter at maturity, though occasional specimens can reach 30 m (98 ft) tall and 60 cm (24 in) diameter. The [bark](/source/Bark_(botany)) is thin, scaly, and greyish brown. The [leaves](/source/Leaf) are needle-like, 6–15 mm (1⁄4–9⁄16 in) long, stiff, four-sided, dark bluish green on the upper sides, paler [glaucous](/source/Glaucous) green below. The [cones](/source/Conifer_cone) are the smallest of all of the spruces, 1.5–4 cm (1⁄2–1+1⁄2 in) long and 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) broad, spindle-shaped to nearly round, dark purple ripening red-brown, produced in dense clusters in the upper crown, opening at maturity but persisting for several years.[3][4]

Natural [hybridization](/source/Hybrid_(biology)) occurs regularly with the closely related *[P. rubens](/source/Picea_rubens)* (red spruce) and very rarely with *[P. glauca](/source/Picea_glauca)* (white spruce).[3] It differs from *P. glauca* in having a dense cover of small hairs on the bark of young branch tips, an often darker reddish-brown bark, shorter needles, smaller and rounder cones, and a preference for wetter lowland areas. Numerous differences in details of its needle and [pollen](/source/Pollen) morphology also exist but require careful microscopic examination to detect. From true [firs](/source/Fir), such as *[Abies balsamea](/source/Abies_balsamea)* (balsam fir), it differs in having pendulous cones, persistent woody leaf-bases, and four-angled needles, arranged all round the shoots.

Due to the large difference between [heartwood](/source/Heartwood) and [sapwood](/source/Sapwood_(wood)) moisture content, it is easy to distinguish these two wood characteristics in [ultrasound](/source/Ultrasound) images,[9] which are widely used as a [nondestructive technique](/source/Nondestructive_testing) to assess the internal condition of the tree and avoid useless log breakdown. Older [taxonomic](/source/Taxonomy_(biology)) synonyms include *A. mariana*, *P. brevifolia*, or *P. nigra*.

## Ecology

Growth varies with site quality. In swamp and [muskeg](/source/Muskeg) it shows progressively slower growth rates from the edges toward the centre. The roots are shallow and wide spreading, resulting in susceptibility to [windthrow](/source/Windthrow). In the northern part of its range, [ice pruned](/source/Ice_pruning) asymmetric black spruce are often seen with diminished foliage on the windward side.[10] Tilted trees colloquially called "[drunken trees](/source/Drunken_trees)" are associated with thawing of [permafrost](/source/Permafrost).[3][11]

In the southern portion of its range it is found primarily on wet organic soils, but farther north its abundance on uplands increases. In the [Great Lakes region](/source/Great_Lakes_region) it is most abundant in peat [bogs](/source/Bogs) and swamps, also on transitional sites between peatlands and uplands. In these areas it is rare on uplands, except in isolated areas of northern [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota) and the [Upper Peninsula of Michigan](/source/Upper_Peninsula_of_Michigan).

Black spruce taiga, Copper River, Alaska

Most stands are even-aged due to frequent fire intervals in black spruce forests. It commonly grows in pure stands on organic soils and in mixed stands on mineral soils. It is tolerant of nutrient-poor soils and is commonly found on poorly drained acidic peatlands. It is considered a [climax species](/source/Climax_species) over most of its range; however, some ecologists question whether black spruce forests truly attain climax because fires usually occur at 50 to 150 year intervals, while "stable" conditions may not be attained for several hundred years.[3] The frequent fire return interval, a natural [fire ecology](/source/Fire_ecology), perpetuates numerous successional communities. Throughout [boreal](/source/Boreal_ecosystem) North America, *[Betula papyrifera](/source/Betula_papyrifera)* (paper birch) and *[Populus tremuloides](/source/Populus_tremuloides)* (quaking aspen) are successional hardwoods that frequently invade burns in black spruce. Black spruce typically seeds in promptly after fire and with the continued absence of fire eventually dominates the hardwoods.

Black spruce is a [pioneer](/source/Pioneer_species) that invades the [sphagnum](/source/Sphagnum) mat in filled-lake bogs, though often preceded slightly by *[Larix laricina](/source/Larix_laricina)* (tamarack). Black spruce frequently out-competes shade-intolerant tamarack in the course of bog succession.[12] However, as the peat soil is gradually elevated by the accumulation of organic matter and the fertility of the site improves, balsam fir and northern white cedar (*[Thuja occidentalis](/source/Thuja_occidentalis)*) eventually replace black spruce and tamarack. On drier sites following fires, black spruce can take over stands of faster growing [jack pine](/source/Jack_pine) (*Pinus banksiana*) by virtue of its ability to grow in partially shaded conditions which inhibit pine seedlings.[13] But black spruce seedlings are intolerant to the low light and low moisture conditions under mature spruce stands. Balsam fir and northern white cedar, both more understory-tolerant species with deeper [taproots](/source/Taproot), survive and eventually succeed the spruce in the absence of fire.[14]

The [spruce budworm](/source/Spruce_budworm), a [moth](/source/Moth) larva, causes defoliation which kills trees if it occurs several years in a row, though black spruce is less susceptible than white spruce or balsam fir. Trees most at risk are those growing along with balsam fir and white spruce.[15]

## Cultivation

Numerous [cultivars](/source/Cultivars) have been selected for use in parks and gardens. The cultivar *P. mariana* 'Nana' is a dwarf form which has gained the [Royal Horticultural Society](/source/Royal_Horticultural_Society)'s [Award of Garden Merit](/source/Award_of_Garden_Merit).[16][17] Picea mariana is known to hybridize with Serbian spruce, *[Picea omorika](/source/Picea_omorika)*. The hybrid is *[Picea machala](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Picea_machala&action=edit&redlink=1)*, and hybrids with [Sitka spruce](/source/Sitka_spruce) are known as well.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Uses and symbolism

Black spruce is the [provincial tree](/source/Provincial_tree_emblems_of_Canada) of [Newfoundland and Labrador](/source/Newfoundland_and_Labrador). The timber is of low value due to the small size of the trees, but it is an important source of [pulpwood](/source/Pulpwood) and the primary source of it in Canada.[18] Fast-food [chopsticks](/source/Chopsticks) are often made from black spruce.[5] It is increasingly being used for making [cross laminated timber](/source/Cross_laminated_timber) by companies such as Nordic Structures, which allows the high strength due to the tight growth rings to be assembled into larger timbers.[19] Along with red spruce, it has also been used to make [spruce gum](/source/Spruce_gum) and [spruce beer](/source/Spruce_beer).[20]

## Gallery

		- Boggy [taiga](/source/Taiga) habitat

		- Lit by the midnight sun in [Ivvavik National Park](/source/Ivvavik_National_Park)

		- Immature cones

		- Mature, open cones

		- Seeds

		- Black spruce in Abbot, Maine

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-iucn_status_13_November_2021_1-0)** Farjon, A. (2013). ["*Picea mariana*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42328/2972877). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2013** e.T42328A2972877. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42328A2972877.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42328A2972877.en). Retrieved 13 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["*Picea mariana*"](http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2563398). *[World Checklist of Selected Plant Families](/source/World_Checklist_of_Selected_Plant_Families)*. [Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew](/source/Royal_Botanic_Gardens%2C_Kew) – via [The Plant List](/source/The_Plant_List). Note that this website has been superseded by [World Flora Online](/source/World_Flora_Online)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-farjon_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-farjon_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-farjon_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-farjon_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-farjon_3-4) Farjon, A. (1990). *Pinaceae. Drawings and Descriptions of the Genera*. Koeltz Scientific Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-87429-298-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-87429-298-3)..

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rushforthc_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rushforthc_4-1) Rushforth, K. (1987). *Conifers*. Helm. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7470-2801-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7470-2801-X).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gd_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gd_5-1) Earle, Christopher J., ed. (2018). ["*Picea mariana*"](http://www.conifers.org/pi/Picea_mariana.php). *The Gymnosperm Database*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-fna_6-0)** Taylor, Ronald J. (1993). ["*Picea mariana*"](http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500911). In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). [*Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA)*](http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=1). Vol. 2. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, [Missouri Botanical Garden](/source/Missouri_Botanical_Garden), St. Louis, MO & [Harvard University Herbaria](/source/Harvard_University_Herbaria), Cambridge, MA.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Kartesz, John T. (2014). ["*Picea mariana*"](https://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Picea%20mariana.png). *County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA)*. Biota of North America Program (BONAP).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-RHSLG_8-0)** Harrison, Lorraine (2012). *RHS Latin for Gardeners*. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84533-731-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84533-731-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BlackSpruce_9-0)** Wei, Q.; Chui, Y. H.; Leblon, B.; Zhang, S. Y. (2009). ["Identification of selected internal wood characteristics in computed tomography images of black spruce: A comparison study"](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10086-008-1013-1). *Journal of Wood Science*. **55** (3): 175. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2009JWSci..55..175W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009JWSci..55..175W). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s10086-008-1013-1](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10086-008-1013-1). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [135727845](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:135727845).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Hogan, C. Michael (2008). Stromberg, Nicklas (ed.). ["Black Spruce: Picea mariana"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111005174426/http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=44751). *GlobalTwitcher.com*. Archived from [the original](http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=44751) on 2011-10-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kokelj_11-0)** Kokelj, S.V.; Burn, C.R. (2003). "'Drunken forest' and near-surface ground ice in Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada". In Marcia Phillips; Sarah Springman; Lukas Arenson (eds.). [*Proceedings of the 8th Int'l Conf. on Permafrost*](https://web.archive.org/web/20150608164232/http://research.iarc.uaf.edu/NICOP/DVD/ICOP%202003%20Permafrost/Pdf/Chapter_100.pdf) (PDF). Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [90-5809-582-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/90-5809-582-7). Archived from [the original](http://research.iarc.uaf.edu/NICOP/DVD/ICOP%202003%20Permafrost/Pdf/Chapter_100.pdf) (PDF) on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Conway, V.M (1949). "The bogs of central Minnesota". *Ecological Monographs*. **19** (2): 173–206. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1949EcoM...19..173C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1949EcoM...19..173C). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1948637](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1948637). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1948637](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1948637).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Kozlowski, T.T.; Ahlgren, C.E. (1974). *Fire and Ecosystems*. Cambridge Massachusetts: Academic Press. p. 542. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-12-424255-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-12-424255-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Bloomberg, W.J. (1950). ["Fire and spruce"](https://doi.org/10.5558%2Ftfc26157-2). *Forestry Chronicle*. **26** (2): 157. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5558/tfc26157-2](https://doi.org/10.5558%2Ftfc26157-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Saskatchewan2_15-0)** ["Forest Pest Fact Sheet"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180428134459/http://web.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/Z-PDF-pest-info-folder/Eastern%20spruce%20budworm.pdf) (PDF). *Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment*. Archived from [the original](http://web.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/Z-PDF-pest-info-folder/Eastern%20spruce%20budworm.pdf) (PDF) on 2018-04-28. Retrieved 11 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-RHS_16-0)** ["Picea mariana 'Nana' AGM"](https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/90319/Picea-mariana-Nana/Details). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2020-04-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["AGM Plants - Ornamental"](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf) (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 78. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Powers_Coniferous_18-0)** Powers, R.F.; Adams, M.B.; Joslin, J.D.; Fisk, J.N. (2005). "Non-Boreal Coniferous Forests of North America". In Andersson, F. (ed.). *Coniferous Forests* (1st ed.). Amsterdam [u.a].: Elsevier. p. 271. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-444-81627-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-444-81627-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Chibougamou_19-0)** ["BLACK SPRUCE'S UNIQUE FIBER"](http://chibou.com/en/the-resource/black-spruce). *Chantiers Chibougamou*. Retrieved 31 October 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Little, Elbert L. (1980). *The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region*. New York: Knopf. p. 284. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-394-50760-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-394-50760-6).

Media related to [*Picea mariana*](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Picea_mariana) at Wikimedia Commons

Taxon identifiers Picea mariana Wikidata: Q218425 Wikispecies: Picea mariana BioLib: 2384 CoL: 4HQ3K Conifers.org: Picea_mariana EoL: 1033617 EPPO: PIEMA EUNIS: 150685 FEIS: picmar FNA: 233500911 GBIF: 5284802 GRIN: 28305 iNaturalist: 84296 IPNI: 195883-2 IRMNG: 10197201 ITIS: 183302 IUCN: 42328 MichiganFlora: 1921 NatureServe: 2.160234 NBN: NBNSYS0500000178 NCBI: 3335 NZOR: 8083beb6-681a-46e2-9c51-b168dffeb997 Observation.org: 133457 Open Tree of Life: 363879 Panarctic Flora: 130203 PPE: picea-mariana Plant List: kew-2563398 PLANTS: PIMA POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:195883-2 Tropicos: 24900169 VASCAN: 7174 WisFlora: 4495 WFO: wfo-0000482467 Abies mariana Wikidata: Q17358751 APNI: 230963 CoL: 63Z6G GBIF: 2685972 GRIN: 681 IPNI: 261574-1 IRMNG: 11223509 ITIS: 183303 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:261574-1 Tropicos: 24900527 VASCAN: 22119 WFO: wfo-0000511254

Authority control databases National United States Israel Other NARA Yale LUX

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