The Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

The photo above shows a scene of lush greens after a rain... what it doesn't show is that this photo was taken in early January (last year) and all the trees except the Eastern Hemlocks are bare! What an incredible scene it was to come across, especially in the dead of winter when (here in NE Ohio) one tends to forget what lush green scenes look like. 

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About
A member of the pine family, this coniferous species can be identified by its unique qualities -

• Soft "lacy" foliage
• Fine rounded needles with white stripe on the underside
• Unique small pinecones which hang down from the tip of branches
• Grow up to 60 to 75 feet tall, in a pyramidal shape

Habitat
Prefers growing in cool, moist areas. Often found in gorges along sandstone cliffs where cracks in the rocks release cool air from deep underground. A native from Canada, these trees were brought to the area thousands of years ago when the glaciers moved through the area. 

Animals
Important resource for food, nesting, and shelter for many animals including - barred owl, white-tailed deer, turkey, grouse, rabbits, porcupines (not around here), and others use as places to live. Squirrels, mice, and voles eat the seeds. 

Threat
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid 
"Eastern hemlocks are currently under attack by an exotic sap sucking insect that originated from Asia. The hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) is a serious pest in Shenandoah National Park that threatens to eliminate all eastern hemlock stands. First observed in 1988, it has since been found in all sections of the park, at all elevations, and on all aspects where surveys have occurred. Hemlock woolly adelgid has caused significant decline in hemlock crown health and tree mortality has increased Park-wide. Without intervention, there is a very real possibility that this insect pest could directly or indirectly eliminate eastern hemlocks from Shenandoah's ecosystem. Efforts to extend the lives of our remaining healthy hemlocks in 2005 will be accomplished through soil and stem treatments with a systemic pesticide that remains at effective levels to kill adelgids for over a year. Some vehicle accessible areas will also be sprayed with an insecticidal soap. The battle to save a lasting remnant of Shenandoah's hemlock gene pool for future generations continues."

Other info
Different from the herb poison hemlock (completely different species).
The bark has been cut and used for its tannin to aid in tanning leather.