Both fir and spruce are conifers. But how they differ from each other, few people dare to answer. Spruce can be easily confused with fir when viewed from afar, because in appearance they are very similar. But if you look closely, the differences are not hard to spot.
Instructions
Step 1
Needles
Fir itself is a soft tree. Fir needles resemble flat narrow leaves rather than needles, which cannot be said about spruce. The spruce needles have a point, while the fir needles have a notch in place of the point. Therefore, fir needles are not thorny, but soft and fluffy.
On the underside of the fir needles, two whitish stripes can be seen, creating a shimmering effect. There are numerous stomata on them. Fir needles are located on the branches one by one and live longer than spruce ones - up to 10-12 years.
Step 2
Cones
The spruce cones hang, and the fir cones are directed upwards. They are located on the branches of a tree upright, resembling candles. When the cone ripens, it crumbles into pieces, and the scales with seeds fall to the ground. A thin, sharp rod sticking upward remains on the tree. In a spruce, a ripe cone simply reveals the scales.
Step 3
Bark
The bark of the fir is completely smooth. There are no cracks on it. The trunk itself is very slender and perfectly straight. The spruce has a rough trunk. The color of the fir bark is light grayish. The bark of the tree is very thin, filled with resin, and the branches that can take root are low. Fir is distinguished from spruce by its smooth ash-gray trunk.
Step 4
Seeds
Fir seeds have wings, which in appearance are almost the same as those of spruce. But even here there are differences: the fir seed grows together with the wing, tightly connecting with it. In spruce, the wings are easily separated from the seed and crumble.
