Цу́га гетерофи́лла: описание и распространение западной ге́млока

Species of conifer

Tsuga heterophylla, the western hemlock or western hemlock spruce, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonoma County, California. The Latin species name means 'variable leaves'.

Western hemlock is a large evergreen conifer growing to tall, exceptionally 273 feet (83 m), and with a trunk diameter of up to 9 feet (3 m). It is the largest species of hemlock, with the next largest (mountain hemlock) reaching a maximum height of 194 feet (59 m). The bark is brown, thin, and furrowed (outwardly appearing similar to that of Douglas fir). The species is closely associated with temperate rainforests, and most of its range is less than from the Pacific Ocean. Valleys it can be found in usually receive at least of rain annually. Older forests are damaged by rot causing fungi, dwarf mistletoe, and leaf consuming insects such as Acleris gloverana and Lambdina fiscellaria. It can also be found in large gardens in northwest Europe and southern New Zealand.

When planted on the banks of a river, western hemlock can help reduce erosion. Outside of its natural range, the tree is of importance in forestry. Until the early 1920s, the tree was largely ignored for use as lumber due to its presumed similarity to the poor quality eastern hemlock. Its fiber is used to make rayon and various plastics. The inner bark was eaten by some Native American tribes as an emergency food, and the bark was cooked to make medicinal extracts for tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, and hemorrhage.