Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Specialized needle-like evergreen leaves
Shape
Linear, four-sided (quadrangular) needles with pointed tips
Margin
Entire (smooth, unbroken margins on the single needles)
Arrangement
Spiral arrangement, each needle attached individually to the twig by a woody peg-like projection called a sterigma
Venation
Parallel single vein running down the center of each needle
Key Features
Stiff, four-sided needles that roll easily between fingers, prominent woody leaf pegs remaining on twigs after needles fall, and an often unpleasant aroma when crushed
Description
White Spruce is a large, conical evergreen conifer that can grow up to 100 feet tall with dense foliage. Its bark is thin and scaly, flaking off in small greyish scales. It produces cylindrical, light brown cones and emits a distinct, sometimes pungent aroma when crushed.
Habitat
Boreal forests and northern taiga zones, thriving in moist upland soils, along streams, and occasionally in rocky or poorly drained areas across northern latitudes
Native Range
Native across northern and boreal North America, spanning from Alaska across Canada down to the northern United States