The spruces can be recognized as a genus by the sharp pointed
needles, nearly square in cross-section (not strongly flattened)
and attached to the twigs by sterigmata. The terminal branches
of mature trees of Picea abies often hang down giving them a
distinctive appearance which together with the very large cones
make this an easily recognized species. Smaller trees without
cones may be mistaken for Picea abies is native to Eurasia. It
is planted in Wisconsin, mostly around homes and it occasionally
escapes to adjacent sites. It escapes more frequently than is
indicated by the map, but is not a problem species.