Hemlock is the common name of stately evergreen trees belonging to the pine family. They grow in the forests of North America, Japan, China, and India.
Hemlocks have blunt, soft needles. These are joined to the twig by small woody stalks that remain on the twig when the needles fall off. These small, peglike projections are a distinctive feature.
Eastern, or Canadian, hemlock ranges from southern Canada to the mountains of Georgia. It may live up to 800 years. It is a medium-to-large tree with a dense, pyramid-shaped crown. Its short, dark green needles grow in two rows. Each needle has two whitish bands on its lower surface. The bark of this hemlock is an important source of tannin for the leather industry. The wood is soft and splinters easily. It is used for building frames and clapboards. This kind of hemlock is the state tree of Pennsylvania.
Carolina hemlock is a handsome but rare tree found high in the Appalachian Mountains from Virginia to northern Georgia. The dark green needles extend from all sides of the twig instead of appearing in two rows. Western hemlock is an important tree of the Pacific Northwest and is the state tree of Washington. It resembles the Canadian hemlock but is larger. It can grow to a height of 200 feet (60 meters) with a trunk diameter of 8 feet (2.4 meters). Its wood is valued both for lumber and for pulp. Mountain hemlock is found in the mountains from Alaska to California. It grows on ridges exposed to severe weather.
See also Conifer.
