Also known as Black Hemlock. | ||
needles |
cones |
seeds |
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General
Description:
A sharp pointed, pyramidal tree, from a few m tall on bleak mt. ridges to 45
m tall at lower elevations under favorable conditions; trunk 5-12 dm in diameter,
with thick bark divided into rounded ridges; leaves mostly spreading from all
sides of the branches, curved, 15-20 mm long, with stomata on both surfaces;
cones oblong-cylindric, yellowish to purplish; scales wedge-shaped; seeds about
3 mm long, with long wings. Mts. W. Mont. to Alaska, across N. Idaho and to
Calif.
Distribution:
At elevations of 4000-7000 feet elevation
from southern Alaska and western British Columbia to northern California Sierra
Nevada mountains to west central Nevada, east to southeastern British Columbia
to northern Idaho, northeastern Oregon and western Montana, in Washington in
both the Cascade and Olympic Mountains.
Habitat:
Commonly found on subalpine to alpine exposed ridges and slopes along the coast
line from southeastern Alaska into Washington and in scattered locations inland
in British Columbia, Idaho and Montana, Oregon and Northern California. Mountain
Hemlock seems to prefer sheltered, areas with deep, well-drained, but moist
soils where the precipitation is high and winters cold. Associate species are
Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Subalpine Fir, Red Fir and Lodgepole pine or
may occur in almost pure stands.
Other:
The light weight wood is mostly used only when other wood is not available for
rough construction. Wildlife value seems limited, but cover is utilized by blue
grouse and Douglas Chickarees east the bark, buds and seeds.