Tsuga Sp. - Hemlock

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Tsuga mertensiana 7059
Caption for Image 1
(Wikimedia)1
Tsuga mertensiana cone, Brno
Tsuga mertensiana cone
(Wikimedia)2
Hemlock foliage and cone
Tsuga heterophylla
(Wikimedia)3

Image References

  1. Tsuga mertensiana, Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Tsuga mertensiana, Petr Filippov, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Tsuga heterophylla, Ebustad, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Tsuga Sp. - Hemlock

Family: Pinaceae - Pine Family

"10 species: northern hemisphere. (Japanese: hemlock)" [Jepson2012]

Local Species;

Key to the Species and Taxonomic Notes

Species Mentioned; Tsuga Sp.[Schofield]

Edible Uses

Tips and Branches
A handful of hemlock twigs steeped in hot water makes a pleasant vitamin C-rich beverage.[Schofield]
Small branch tips were used as a flavoring when cooking bear meat. Young shoots or branch tips of hemlock were used to suppress hunger. Some Coastal people of British Columbia and Alaska occasionally ate the inner bark of mountain hemlock (T. Mertensiana) [Turner, Kuhnlein]
Leaves and twigs: T. heterophylla; Yield 'spruce oil', used commercially to flavour chewing gum, soft drinks, ice cream etc[183PFAF].
Leaves and young shoots: T. heterophylla; Chewed as an emergency food to keep one alive when lost in the woods[257PFAF].
T. heterophylla, T.mertensiana: A herbal tea is made from the leaves and shoot tips[172, 183PFAF]. These tips are also an ingredient of 'spruce beer'[183PFAF].

Inner Bark
Gathered in spring as the sap runs. The cambium can be eaten raw or cooked, blended with sap and pressed into cakes, boiled like noodles, cooked with berries, or dried as a flour substitute. [Schofield]
Members of the Gitksan tribe in British Columbia baked it in fire pits lined with moss and swamp cabbage leaves. [Schofield] Almost everywhere along the British Columbia coast where herring are known to spawn—from Coast Tsimshian territory in the north to the Nuu-chah-nulth territory on the coast of Vancouver Island, hemlock boughs, or sometimes entire trees, are immersed in the waters of inlets and river estuaries, or tied onto floating logs anchored close to the shore, to collect herring spawn, which was and still is a valued food. The herring spawning season is usually around April. Certain marine algae, such as giant kelp, eelgrass, and the boughs of some other evergreen trees, were also employed to collect the spawn, but hemlock was considered one of the best materials because it has flexible, easily handled boughs and the needles impart a mild, pleasantly resinous flavor to the spawn. They are not actually eaten with the spawn, but the spawn was often cooked still attached to the needles, and these were then removed by the people eating it. The spawn was also dried while attached to the boughs; today it is preserved by drying, salting, or freezing. Sometimes a few hemlock needles are swallowed with the spawn, but eating too many is said to be harmful, causing appendicitis or perforated intestine, according to some elders.[Turner, Kuhnlein]
The inner bark (cambium and secondary phloem) of western hemlock, like that of Sitka spruce, lodgepole pine, and other tree species, was harvested in spring, before the bark "sticks" to the tree and gets tough, and was eaten, freshly cooked or dried, by several coastal groups, including Tlingit and Kaigani Haida of southeastern Alaska, and the Coast Tsimshian, Gitksan (an interior group), Haida, Nuxalk (Bella Coola), Kwakwaka'wakw, and some Coast Salish peoples of British Columbia. As with the other edible inner bark species, hemlock bark was considered to be at the right stage to eat for only a short interval of time, usually around May or June, but sometimes as late as July, depending on the warmth of the season. A sample was often tasted first before large-scale harvesting took place, to make sure the tissue was sweet. Younger trees were said to yield sweeter inner bark. Then, the bark was removed in strips or sheets, using a sharpened stick, and the edible part scraped off the inside of the bark and placed into baskets. This was very tedious work. Sometimes the trees were climbed by men and the pieces of bark dropped for scraping to the women waiting below. The harvesting process often took several days, and people would make regular springtime expeditions to get this food. As much as 50 kg might be obtained by a family.[Turner, Kuhnlein]
The inner bark was usually cooked, often in an underground pit lined with skunk-cabbage leaves or, more recently, in a stove-top kettle. Once cooked, it was pressed or pounded with a hammer, sometimes in a wooden trough, into loaves or cakes. These could be eaten immediately, alone or mixed with dried berries, or dried in trays placed on wooden racks set over a fire. The trays were lined with thimbleberry or skunk-cabbage leaves, and the Gitksan sprinkled fireweed syrup over the leaves to hold them together. The dried product was stored in wooden boxes. Before eating, it was soaked in warm water, and sometimes pounded and boiled to reconstitute it. More recently, the cooked inner bark has been frozen, or preserved in jars using the water-bath method, or cooked in water, ooligan grease, and sugar, then put up in preserving jars. [Turner, Kuhnlein]
T. heterophylla; Raw or cooked[213, 257PFAF]. It can be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread[161]. It has also been used as a sweetener for other foods[257PFAF]. The inner bark was often cooked and then dried for use in the winter[256PFAF]. At its best in spring[172PFAF], it was one of the staple foods of the Alaskan Indians [82PFAF]. Cambium cakes were constipating and "would pluck you up" unless eaten with grease. [Norton KaigHaida]
T.mertensiana; raw or dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread[161PFAF]. It is best used in the spring[172PFAF].
T. heterophylla, T.mertensiana: An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails[183PFAF].
Pitch
T. heterophylla; obtained from crevices in the bark, has been chewed as a gum[257PFAF].
Other Uses
Distilled hemlock oil is an ingredient in veterinary liniments. It can also be used in human liniments and massage oils for sore muscles but must be diluted - the pure oil is extremely irritating to the skin. On camping trips, you can start your fire with hemlock chips, sip hemlock tea, and sleep in comfort in your hemlock bed. The boughs are also useful for covering an emergency shelter. [Schofield]

Tannin
Boiled bark yields substantial tannic acid.[Schofield]
T. heterophylla; The bark contains 8 - 18% tannin and is a major source of tannin in America[46, 82, 171, 226PFAF].
T. mertensiana; The bark contains 8 - 14% tannin[46, 171PFAF]. The inner bark is used according to one report[82PFAF].
Boiling hemlock bark in water yields substantial tannic acid. "When a prepared animal skin or hide is soaked in a tannic acid solution the tannin combines with the protein of the hide to form decay resistant leather." Samples of 3,OOO-year-old bark-tanned Egyptian leather have been found in excellent condition. Boiled hemlock bark can also be used as a red-brown dye and wood preservative. [Schofield]

Hair

T. heterophylla; The pitch is rubbed on the hair to get rid of head lice[257PFAF].

Incense

T. mertensiana; The boughs are steamed or rubbed on furniture and used as a room deodorant and disinfectant[257PFAF].

Resin

T. heterophylla, T. mertensiana;Yields a resin similar to Abies balsamea, it is gathered by incisions in the trunk or by boiling the wood[46, 61, 64PFAF].

Pot-pourri

T. mertensiana; The slightly unripe cones are used in pot-pourri. They retain an attractive scent for several years[200PFAF].

Dye

T. heterophylla; A reddish-brown dye is obtained from the bark[21, 46, 257PFAF]. T. mertensiana; A brown dye is obtained from the bark[21, 46PFAF].

Rust

T. heterophylla; A decoction of the bark has been used to clean rust off iron and steel[257PFAF].

Pitch

T. heterophylla, T. mertensiana; A pitch (called hemlock pitch), is obtained by distillation of the young branches[46PFAF].

Wood

T. heterophylla; Light, hard, tough, easy to work. Commercially superior to other members of this genus, it is an important tree for construction, the outside of buildings etc and for carving into spoons etc[46, 61, 82, 171, 226, 229PFAF]. It is also a major source of pulp[226PFAF]. The wood makes a slow-burning fuel and so can be used to bank up a fire to keep it burning overnight[257PFAF].
T. mertensiana; Wood - strong. Used for heavy construction[171PFAF]. Close-grained, light, soft and weak according to other reports, which go on to say that it is occasionally manufactured into lumber when other wood is not available[82, 229PFAF].

Cosmetic

Makes a foot powder. A pleasant addition to baths. Sooths skin, calms the nerves and relieves tensions.[Schofield]
Cambium: Powdered hemlock cambium is a good ingredient in foot powder. It helps eliminate foot odor. If you're troubled by insomnia, try a relaxing hemlock bath before bedtime. [Schofield]

Incense

Medicinal Uses
Western hemlock(T. heterophylla) was commonly employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints[257PFAF]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. [PFAF]

Hemlock was used to make a medicine for women with sores or burns. The bark was scraped, hammered with a stone, and mixed with water in a clam shell. This solution was applied to the sore (Boas, 1930). Hemlock needles were chewed and applied to burns, with a covering of shredded yellow cedar bark (Boas, 1966). Boughs from young hemlocks growing on stumps were soaked in warm water and used to wash the eyes (Brown, 1969), and the upper lids of inflamed eyes were rubbed with hemlock sap (Boas, 1966). A medicine made from hemlock bark was taken for diarrhoea {see Juniperus). The twigs were ignited and used to cauterize warts and moles (op. cit. ). [Turner&Bell]

Inner Bark & twigs

Tea brewed as a traditional treatment for colds, flu, and fever.[Schofield]
Decoctions of the twigs and cambium have been used as external washes for skin sores and gargles for sore throat.[Schofield]

Pitch

Applied externally as a counter irritant for arthritic pain.[Schofield]

Gum

T. heterophylla; Obtained from the trunk and applied to cuts. It has also been applied to the skin to prevent chapping and sunburn[257PFAF]. T. mertensiana; The warm gum obtained from the trunks has been used as a dressing on cuts[257PFAF].

Plant

T. heterophylla; A poultice of the plant has been applied to bleeding wounds[257PFAF].
Tribes added club moss added to hemlock tea ". . . to treat the fever and loss of strength associated with influenza like disorders." Herbalists ancient and modern have recommended hemlock infusions for kidney and bladder ailments. [Schofield]

Twigs

T. heterophylla; A moxa has been used to get rid of warts[257PFAF].

Leaves

T. heterophylla, T. mertensiana; A poultice of the chewed leaves has been used in the treatment of burns[257PFAF].

Bark

T. heterophylla, T. mertensiana; astringent, diaphoretic and diuretic[21PFAF]. The powdered bark can be put into shoes for tender or sweaty feet or for foot odour[21PFAF].
T. heterophylla; A decoction of the pounded bark has been used in the treatment of haemorrhages, tuberculosis and syphilis The boiled bark, combined with liquorice fern (Polypodium glyccyrhiza), has been used in the treatment of haemorrhages[257PFAF]. An infusion of the inner bark or twigs is helpful in the treatment of kidney or bladder problems. It can also be used as a good enema for treating diarrhoea and as a gargle or mouthwash for mouth and throat problems[21PFAF]. Externally, it can be used as a wash on sores and ulcers[21, 257PFAF].
T. mertensiana; A tea made from the inner bark or twigs is helpful in the treatment of influenza, colds, kidney or bladder problems, and also makes a good enema for treating diarrhoea[21, 257PFAF]. It can also be used as a gargle or mouthwash for mouth and throat problems or externally to wash sores and ulcers[21PFAF].

Medicinal
Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg., WESTERN HEMLOCK, AND Tsuga Mertensiana Carr, MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK
Bella Coola : Leaves chewed and applied to burns.
See also scrub pine .
Gum warmed and applied to cuts. Not boiled for a diuretic for gonorrhoea.
Burning twigs applied to the skin for various internal ailments. Southern Carrier: Not used. Gitksan: Not used.[Smith(1927)]

Nutritional Information
Western Hemlock – Tsuga heterophylla[Turner, Kuhnlein]
Part: Cambium Per 100 g fresh weight

Food Energy (Kcal)103
Magnesium (mg)11.6
Ash (g)1.1
Water (g)70
Carbohydrate (g)25.9
Iron (mg)2.5
Protein (g)2.3
Zinc (mg)1.6
Calcium (mg)202
Fat (g)0.6
Cultivation
Hedge:
T. heterophylla; Tolerant of light trimming, plants can be grown as a hedge[81PFAF]. This species makes a good hedge in Britain[124, 200PFAF].
T. mertensiana; Tolerant of light trimming, plants can be grown as a tall hedge [29, 81PFAF].

Tsuga heterophylla - Western Hemlock

Habitat / Range
Moist to dry slopes, river terraces and flats in the lowland and montane zones; common in and W of the Coast-Cascade Mountains in W BC and in SE BC; N to SE AK and S to N CA, N ID and NW MT. [IFBC-E-flora]

General: Tree to 50 (60) m tall; narrow crown, with noticeably drooping leader (growing tip); young twigs covered with mix of short hairs and longer hairs; bark rough and scaly, strongly furrowed and ridged in older trees, dark brown to reddish-brown. [IFBC-E-flora]

Ecological Indicator Information
A very shade-tolerant, submontane to subalpine, Western North American evergreen conifer distributed more in the Pacific than the Cordilleran region. Occurs in cool temperate and cool mesothermal climates; its occurrence increases with precipitation, and decreases with increasing elevation and continentality. Most productive on submontane, fresh, and nutrient-medium soils within summer-wet cool mesothermal climates. Common on nitrogen-poor, water-shedding and water-receiving sites; on nitrogen-rich soils restricted to acid organic materials. Regenerate on acid organic substrates and on decaying coniferous wood.[IPBC] (Information applies to coastal locations only)[E-flora]
Propagation: Trees transplant well when they are up to 80cm tall, but they are best put in their final positions when they are about 30 - 45 cm or less tall, this is usually when they are about 5 - 8 years old[200]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[200].[PFAF]
Tsuga Mertensiana - mountain Hemlock
Habitat / Range
Wet to dry slopes in the lowland to subalpine zones; common at high elevations along W BC and infrequent in SE BC and lower elevations of NW BC coast; N to SE AK and S to C CA, N ID and W MT. [IFBC-E-flora]

General: Tree, seldom to 40 m tall, much shorter near tree-line; narrow crown, with slightly drooping leader (growing tip), less evident with age; twigs strongly hairy with mix of short and long hairs; bark thick, strongly furrowed and ridged, dark purplish- to reddish-brown. [IFBC-E-flora]

Ecological Indicator Information
A shade-tolerant/intolerant, sub montane to subalpine, circumpolar forb (transcontinental in North America). Occurs on fresh to very moist, nitrogen-rich soils (Moder and Mull humus forms) within boreal, temperate, cool semiarid, and mesothermal climates; its occurrence decreases with increasing elevation. Frequent in herbaceous communities, occasional in broad-leaved forests on disturbed, water-shedding and water-receiving sites. A nitrophytic species characteristic of continuously disturbed sites.[IPBC][E-flora]

Other Use
Cedar bark used to rub off children was pushed under slits in the bark of mountain hemlock. The slits were closed with gum from the same tree. It was hoped that by this ritual the children would be lightskinned as was the inner bark of this species (Boas, 1930)[Turner&Bell]

An easily grown plant, it thrives best when growing in a deep well-drained soil in the western parts of Britain where it appreciates the higher rainfall[11]. However, it succeeds in most soils and positions, being especially good on acidic sandy soils[81]. Plants are very shade tolerant when young, but need more sunlight as they grow older[81, 200]. Plants are thin and poor when grown in dry or exposed places[200]. Dislikes atmospheric pollution[82]. A very ornamental plant[11], it is slow growing for the first few years, averaging 30cm a year, but older trees, especially in Scottish lowland sites in areas with cool moist summers, are growing rapidly[185]. Trees live 400 - 500 years in the wild[229]. They commence bearing seeds when about 20 - 30 years old, years of high production alternating with years of low production[229]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. [PFAF]

Tsuga mertensiana - Mountain hemlock


References

[E-flora] http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Tsuga%20heterophylla&redblue=Both&lifeform=1 [Accessed: 11/26/2014 6:24:05 PM ]
[IFBC-E-flora] http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Tsuga mertensiana&redblue=Both&lifeform=1, Accessed Jan 13, 2015
[Jepson2012] J. Robert Haller, Nancy J. Vivrette, & James R. Griffin, 2012. Tsuga, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=47422, accessed on Mar 25 2014
[PFAF]
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tsuga+heterophylla, Accessed Jan 13, 2015
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tsuga+mertensiana, Accessed Jan 13, 2015