postelsia 179 



bark is at first thin and somewhat scaly, but on 

 old trees it becomes from one to two inches 

 thick, deeply furrowed and rugged. The foli- 

 age is easily recognized. The growth of the 

 current season is of a very bright fresh green 

 color, the older leaves are dark and glossy on 

 the upper side, glaucous beneath. The leaves 

 are small, flat and very unequal in size, and the 

 longer and shorter leaves are intermingled. The 

 leaves are petioled, and as in the yew, they are 

 twisted so that they lie almost in one plane. 

 Young trees of this species can be distinguished 

 even at a considerable distance by their peculiar 

 drooping leading shoots which are in marked 

 contrast with the stifily erect leading shoots of 

 the spruce and balsam fir. The small, drooping 

 terminal cones are very abundant. Before ma- 

 turity they are greenish tinged with purple; 

 when mature they are of a soft grayish-brown 

 color. The wood of this tree is superior to that 

 of other species of hemlock. It is used for piles 

 and lumber. The bark is rich in tannin and is 

 used for tanning. 



