Also known as White, Canadian, Black Hills, Cat, or Skunk Spruce. | ||
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General
Description:
The hardy White Spruce tree barely enters Idaho at the extreme northern “panhandle.”
Although its range is from Alaska southward through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan
northeastward into the north eastern New England states.
Distribution:
Alaska to Newfoundland southward to British Columbia, northern Idaho and Montana,
into northern Wyoming, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, New York
and Maine.
Habitat:
From sea level to 5,600 feet elevation in moist areas along streams and standing
water, and on hill and mountain sides. It is found with balsam fir, black spruce,
eastern hemlock, quaking aspen, white birch and red maple and not usually in
pure stands.
Other:
It is planted as an ornamental in
cities and on the ISU campus throughout the west. It is an important food sourse
for grouse and other birds, squirrels, the latter eating the cones, buds and
young twigs. Porcupines and bears eat the bark sapwood. The wood is light, soft,
resilient and straight-grained. It is useful for pulp, boxes, crates and rough
general construction lumber. Native Americans once used the roots for basketry
and lacework such as for canoes.