#whitespruce

Have you ever noticed an abundance of cones growing on the tops of coniferous trees like this White Spruce? I present to you two theories as to why this happens. 1) White Spruce cone production follows a three year cycle, where new growth occurs in the second year, and seeding occurs in the third. If there are harsh dry conditions, and low snow winters, a tree may produce more cones to ensure reproductive viability. This is at the expense of using vastly more energy, creating risk to the trees lifespan. We had summers with dry heat, drought, and low snow two out of the past three years here in Southcentral Alaska. 2) Most of the cones on the tops of these trees are female, which are the trees primary “sexual” way of reproducing. Male cones on the lower hanging branches are the trees “asexual” means to propagate. Sexual reproduction in conifers tends to favor successful propagation, hence the volume of female cones produced vs the male. Plus, their location at the tops of trees seems to favor seed dispersal vs. the long hanging male fruit. Do you have any thoughts on this natural phenomena? What beauty! . . . . . . . . . . #travelalaska #visitanchorage #naturalist #conifers #whitespruce #cones #pinecones #hikealaska #gohikealaska #exploreyourwild #forests #nature #natureshots #naturalbeauty #naturephotography #hikingadventures #hikingtrails #hikersofinstagram #outside #borealforest #coniferous #loveoutdoors #lovemyjob❤️ (at Glen Alps Trailhead) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ6rgQsnUgV/?igshid=rs3e2rq1uczw

Sparmaking is mess making #whitespruce (at Chase Small Craft)

Picea glauca, commonly called white spruce, is an extremely hardy evergreen conifer that is native to upland areas and lake/stream margins stretching from Alaska across the boreal forest of Canada to north eastern region of America. It is use to ornemantal tree in Turkey. #piceaglauca , #whitespruce, #ornemental, #dendrology, #nezahatgokyigitbotanikbahcesi, #istanbul.

Picea glauca 'Conica'...another lovely-fluffy spruce😁🌲 #picea #piceaglaucaconica #whitespruce #piceaglauca #flower #gardener #garden (helyszín: Soroksári Botanikus Kert)

Something I wrote about these trees for a fire ecology class: White spruce (Picea glauca) is a commonly found evergreen species in the boreal forests of North America. Fire affects white spruce stands every year in the boreal/taiga forests of interior Alaska. Its widespread density is confusing to scientists since the tree is poorly adapted to surviving fire. White spruce has thin bark and shallow roots making it susceptible to dying in even low-intensity surface fires. Studies in Alaska have shown the tree to be a late-successional species, returning to dominance in a forest 150-300 years after a fire. White spruce does not have any apparent adaptions to fire, but it has many rejuvenation responses. Most of these responses appear to be concentrated in its seeds.