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State Trees
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The term floral emblem, which refers to flowers specifically,
is primarily used in Australia and Canada. In the United States, the term state flower
is more often used. |
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South Dakota Symbols
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South Dakota State Tree
White Spruce
(Pinaceae Picea glauca)
Adopted in 1947.
The Black Hills spruce, Pinaceae Picea glauca, a member of the evergreen family, is the state tree. The pyramid-shaped tree is characterized by dense foliage of short, blue-green needles and slender cones.
Description of the South Dakota State Tree
Common names
White spruce also known as Canadian spruce, skunk spruce, cat spruce, Black Hills spruce, western white spruce, Alberta white spruce, and Porsild spruce, is adapted to a wide range of edaphic and climatic conditions of the Northern Coniferous Forest.
The Black Hills spruce, a member of the evergreen family, is the state tree. The pyramid-shaped tree
is characterized by dense foliage of short, blue-green needles and slender cones.The wood of white spruce is light, straight grained, and resilient. It is used primarily for pulpwood and as lumber for general construction.
Identification
- Leaf: Evergreen, stiff, 1/3 to 3/4 inch long, green to blue-green in color, square in cross section. When crushed a pungent odor is apparent. Needle tips are pointed, but not sharp.
- Flower: Monoecious; males reddish but turning yellow; females purple.
- Fruit: Cones are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, cigar-shaped, light brown in color. Scales are rounded with entire margins. Maturing in August.
- Twig: Slender, light brown or pale, sometimes glaucous, hairless. Needles borne on woody pegs.
- Bark: Thin, gray-brown in color, smooth, later flaky or scaly.
- Form: Conical, medium-sized trees.
Taxonomic Hierarchy of the White Spruce
| Kingdom |
Plantae -- Plants |
| Subkingdom |
Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants |
| Superdivision |
Spermatophyta – Seed plants |
| Division |
Coniferophyta – Conifers |
| Class |
Pinopsida – |
| Order |
Pinales – |
| Family |
Pinaceae – Pine family |
| Genus |
Picea A. Dietr. – spruce |
| Species |
Picea glauca (Moench) Voss – white spruce |
Source:
Dendrology at Virginia Tech
US Department of Agriculture
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State Trees
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All of the state
trees, except the Hawaii state tree, are native to the state in which they are designated.
tree \ˈtrē\
noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English trēow; akin to Old Norse trē tree, Greek
drys, Sanskrit dāru wood
Date: before 12th century
1 a: a woody perennial plant having a single usually elongate main stem generally
with few or no branches on its lower part
b: a shrub or herb of arborescent form <rose trees> <a
banana tree> |
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