Mountain Hemlock
Tsuga mertensiana

One of the ways to distinguish mountain hemlock from the more common western hemlock (T. heterophylla) is the growth patern of the needles. One the mountain hemlock, the needles grow all around the stem, as seen here. On the western hemlock, the needles tend to grow only on the sides.

Location: Mt. Verstovia Trail, Sitka, Alaska

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