Once upon a time, the creator organized a celebration to award trees with their cones. Douglas-fir and cedar were early and got to pick nice big cones. However, hemlock was late. By the time he arrived, only the smallest, least desirable cones were left. That is why hemlock has small cones, and ever since then, hemlock hangs its head in shame for its cones. At least, that’s a story told by the Northwest Coastal First Nations to explain why western hemlock trees have tops that hang downwards. The evolutionary reason for why hemlocks droop that way probably has more to do with helping it survive. Perhaps the flexibility of the young tips of the hemlock allow them to bend with the wind instead of breaking. Or maybe they bend like that to shed snow that falls on them in winter, which keeps them from breaking under the weight. In any case, such stories highlight the importance of western hemlock to the First Nations who inhabit the Pacific Northwest.
Old growth rainforest right up to the water at strawberry Point, Bamfield. Photo by me.
Western hemlocks grow close to the sea along the West coast, from Alaska down to California and everywhere in between. However, some trees eschew the coastal scenery in favor of the mountains and grow a bit inland in the Rockies instead. Besides the cones and the droopy tops, you can recognize them by their immense height (up to 70 meters tall!), small flattened needles, and silvery, lightly grooved bark. Along the coast, hemlocks are an integral part of the majestic old growth temperate rainforest, such as those around Bamfield. The “old growth” part means a forest that hasn’t been logged for at least several hundred years. This means they have a big variety of tree sizes, from young seedlings all the way to towering forest giants that are centuries old. As for the “rainforest” part, as an Albertan living in Vancouver, I can attest that it is indeed rather rainy here. Old growth rainforests are extremely important ecologically, providing homes for rare species such as spotted owls and marbled murrelets. Sadly, most of the original old growth forest has been logged in the last Century or two.
Western hemlock showing drooping tip. Image from Pinterest.
Historically, Coastal First Nations used western hemlocks in many ways. They used its wood for making tools, fishing gear and other small implements. The chemicals in hemlock bark helped them tan animal hides to make clothing and shelter. They even scraped out the inner bark of the hemlock to make flour for bread and cakes! Nowadays, western hemlock is a valuable source of lumber and a popular ornamental tree to plant in parks. However, if you’re considering planting a hemlock, you better have the space to accommodate one.
Western hemlock cones. Note how tiny they are. Image from: http://www.conifers.org/pi/Tsuga_heterophylla.php
If you live in Western North America, pay attention to the trees next time you go for a hike in the forest or a stroll in a park. If you see a needle-bearing tree with small cones and a hanging head, it may well be a western hemlock. Just don’t go and tease it about its cones. They tend to be a bit sensitive about that.
Want to find out more about western hemlock? Here’s what the government of Canada has to say about them: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/treebook/westernhemlock.htm
BIOL 326: Experimental biology of invertebrates 