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Canada hemlock, eastern hemlock, hemlock spruce, pruche du Canada

Habit Trees to 30m; trunk to 1.5m diam.; crown broadly conic.
Bark

brownish, scaly and fissured.

Twigs

yellow-brown, densely pubescent.

Buds

ovoid, 1.5–2.5mm.

Leaves

(5–)15–20(–25)mm, mostly appearing 2-ranked, flattened;

abaxial surface glaucous, with 2 broad, conspicuous stomatal bands, adaxial surface shiny green (yellow-green);

margins minutely dentate, especially toward apex.

Seed

cones ovoid, 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.5cm;

scales ovate to cuneate, 8–12 × 7–10mm, apex ± round, often projected outward.

2n

=24.

Tsuga canadensis

Habitat Moist rocky ridges, ravines, and hillsides
Elevation 600–1800m (2000–5900ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; CT; DE; GA; IN; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; PA; RI; SC; TN; VA; VT; WI; WV; NB; NS; ON; PE; QC
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Discussion

Numerous cultivars of Tsuga canadensis have been developed, including compact shrubs, dwarfs, and graceful trees. Wood of the species tends to be brittle and inferior to that of the other North American hemlocks.

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is the state tree of Pennsylvania.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Pinaceae > Tsuga
Sibling taxa
T. caroliniana, T. heterophylla, T. mertensiana
Synonyms Pinus canadensis
Name authority (Linnaeus) Carrière
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