Picea mariana; black spruce [Pinaceae]  Potentially tall evergreen tree, but often small (to 30') and sickly because of poor soil environment.  Needles rigid but not prickly, dark green, 4-sided in cross section, and ¼-½" long.  Young twigs typically dark with tiny brown hairs.  Cones ovoid, ½-1" long, with brittle rough scales.  Outer bark is reddish brown, inner bark is olive green.  Able to produce adventitious roots to replace those lost from sinking into the unstable bogs where it is found.  [016]

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