Eastern shade-tolerant conifers

Picea glauca (Moench) Voss - white spruce

Image 1. The upper part of the hypocotyl and the lower parts of the cotyledons of a new germinant: the tips of the first two neoformed leaves are just visible where the cotyledon bases spread apart.

Image 2. A view of the upper sides of the six spreading cotyledons of a new germinant showing the first yellowish neoformed leaves beginning to elongate (as part of the epicotyl).

Image 3. A vigorously growing seedling in its third year showing sylleptic branches developing along the leader, August.

Image 4. A sapling, about 16 years old, with a heavy crop of seed cones (that have opened and shed their seeds), early September.

Image 5. The upper part of the crown of a pole-sized tree, showing the branching pattern and the wide and deep distribution of seed cones, September.

Image 6. The upper crown of a 140-year-old tree, showing dense, bushy branches, and the widely distributed, pendent, seed cones, early September.

Image 7. A tree, about 110 years old left standing after other trees that grew around it have been felled: the crown is deep, and the branches bushy, mid-May.

Image 8. The trunk of a 140-year-old tree in a stand of younger (80-year-old from release) Abies balsamea, and some Betula papyrifera.

Image 9. The lower trunk of a 140-year-old tree, September.

Image 10. Pollen cones that have emerged from their buds and are growing vigorously: note their terminal and distal-lateral positons on the shoots, early June.

Image 11. Pollen cones at the end of the pollen-shedding stage: note their tendency to grow erect, and for the pollen sacs to be pushed clear of their bud scales by elongation of the basal parts of the cone axes, early June.

Image 12. Erect pollen cones at the end of the pollen-shedding stage, early June.

Image 13. Erect, receptive seed cones, showing the reflexed tips of the ovuliferous scales (cone scales) that serve to direct pollen into the cone and down to where the ovules occur: note the lighter-coloured, small bracts, one of which occurs beneath each cone scale, early June.

Image 14. An erect, receptive seed cone, similar to those of No. 13, but with pale, greenish scale tips and bracts, early June: note that the terminal vegetative bud on the supporting shoot is swollen but not yet burst at this stage.

Image 15. A dark purple receptive seed cone, in early June (in this case - compare No. 14 - vegetative shoot elongation is well under way).

Image 16. Greenish seed cones with cone scales closing together (the scale tips change from reflexed to appressed) after the receptive stage as vegetative (shoot) elongation advances, early to mid-June.

Image 17. Closed, purplish seed cones assuming pendent orientation, in mid-June, as shoot elongation becomes vigorous.

Image 18. Closed, pendent, enlarging, greenish seed cones in mid-June.

Image 19. Mature, greenish seed cones drying rapidly in mid- to late August (the already brown cone at the right with cones scales spread apart has probably dried in advance of the others because of insect damage in its interior).

Image 20. Browning, mature, pendent, seed cones just before the cone scales spread apart to release the seeds, late August.

Image 21. Brown, mature (now dead), pendent, seed cones with scales spread apart to release seeds, September: note the smooth edges that are typical of cone scales of the species.

Information provided by:
Dr. G.R. Powell
Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management at UNB