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| | Black Spruce, Picea mariana |
 | | Although rare, Black and White Spruce (Picea glauca) hybrids, known as Rosendahl Spruce, have been found in northeastern Minnesota and other areas. |
 | | Distinguished from true firs, such as Balsam (Abies balsamea), in having pendulous cones, persistent woody leaf-bases, and four-angled needles, scattered and pointing in every direction; from White Spruce (Picea glauca) in having shorter needles, smaller and rounder cones, and a preference for wetter lowland areas. |
 | | After White Spruce (Picea glauca), one of the earliest species to follow the retreating ice northward, reaching northeastern Minnesota about 13,000 years ago. |
| www.rook.org /earl/bwca/nature/trees/piceamar.html (2601 words) |
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