European spruce seeds

European spruce / Picea abies (Norway spruce)

This is a coniferous tree, the type species of the genus Spruce (Picea) of the Pine family (Pinaceae). An evergreen tree with a shallow root system. Reaches a height of 35-50 meters. The crown is in the form of a cone, formed by drooping or outstretched branches arranged in whorls.

The bark is gray in color, exfoliating in thin plates. Tetrahedral needles (leaves), arranged in a spiral, sit one at a time on leaf pads. The length of the needles is from 1 to 2.5 centimeters. The life span of each needle is six years or more.

Microstrobiles (male spikelets) are axillary, formed at the ends of the last year's shoots, surrounded by scales at the base. Pollen formation - in May. The cones are drooping, located at the ends of the branches: first vertically, and then hanging. Mature cones are oblong - up to 15 centimeters long and 4 centimeters wide. Seeds ovate-pointed, up to 4 mm long; wing reddish brown. They ripen in the autumn of the first year, but they get enough sleep only in January - March.