Postelsia 170 
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 stiffly 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. 
