Spruce black Is an evergreen tree of the pine family. The peculiarities of this species are dense, fluffy needles and a crown of an even, beautiful shape. As they mature, the cones ate acquire an unusual purple-black color, which explains the name of the plant.
Description
Depending on the growth zone of the species, an adult tree reaches a height of up to 20 meters, a trunk diameter of up to 50 cm. The spruce crown has a conical shape. The needles of the tree are very thin, no more than 0.8 mm thick, greenish-blue in color. They ate ovoid cones, small in size, no more than 2.5 cm in width and 3 cm in length. The scales on the cones are wavy, with characteristic strokes in the middle. The bark is also thin, brown, with a grayish tint. Spruce is very beautiful, dense gray needles give the tree fluffiness. Black spruce is an unpretentious, winter-hardy, moisture-loving plant. The tree grows well in swampy areas, not demanding on soil and climatic conditions. In a drought, the spruce needs good watering.
Where grows
This species comes from North America, natural habitat – from Alaska in the north to Minnesota and Michigan in the south. The plant was brought to the Old World in the middle of the 18th century and quickly took root in Europe. Black spruce is widespread in areas with permafrost and sphagnum bogs. The tree grows mostly in the taiga, less often in mixed forests.
In Russia, spruce is rare, mainly in the forest zone. Even under favorable conditions, the tree grows very slowly. The age of the plant reaches 350-400 years.
Decorative varieties
Since the beginning of the 20th century, this plant has been actively cultivated; by now, several ornamental varieties are the most popular.
- Baysneri. These spruces have a rounded crown, the diameter and height of the plant are approximately the same and can reach 5 m.There is a variety of the Baysneri – Compacta variety, which has a similar shape, but a smaller size – no more than 2 m.
- Nana. The variety has graceful dimensions – no more than 0.5 m. Plants are very slow-growing. The needles are fluffy, have a green-bluish tint. The variety is frost-resistant, often used in urban conditions – as a pot culture, for decorating roofs and gardens.
- Kobold. This hybrid was developed in Germany in 1951. The tree grows 5 cm per year. The spruce crown is of the correct, spherical shape. The maximum plant height is no more than 1 m. These miniature spruces are very decorative and are popular with gardeners.
- Think it over. First cultivated in France. The tree has a crown in the form of a wide cone, up to 6 m high. The peculiarity of the variety is the arrangement of cones on the tree trunk. Spruce grows quickly and is frost-resistant. Such plants are often used for landscaping squares and parks.
Application
The soft and light wood of black spruce is highly valued in the pulp and paper industry. This type of spruce is also used in landscape construction, slightly inferior only to Canadian spruce. In the culture of Russia, this tree is still little known. In our country, black spruce is used for collection purposes.
The medicinal properties of this plant are known. An essential oil is obtained from the branches and needles of spruce, which has a complex effect:
- anti-inflammatory,
- pain reliever,
- antifungal,
- antiseptic,
- antibacterial,
- immunostimulating.
The components of the plant contain antioxidants capable of absorbing free radicals, which helps the body fight various ailments – diseases of the respiratory system, arthrosis, arthritis, sinusitis, chronic fatigue, muscle spasms, and circulatory disorders.
