Which of the following species of wood are classified as softwood?

• A. Maple
• B. Ash
• C. Spruce
• D. Poplar

Answer: (C)

Softwoods come from conifer trees, which are typically evergreen and have needles, while hardwoods come from broadleaf trees that usually shed their leaves. Spruce is a conifer, so its wood is classified as softwood. Maple, ash, and poplar come from deciduous broadleaf species, so they are hardwoods. This distinction often correlates with properties like density and typical uses: spruce tends to be lighter and easier to work with, making it common for structural lumber and instrument tops, whereas maple, ash, and poplar are generally denser and used for flooring, furniture, and other applications where more strength is needed.