The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Tree, Plant and Wood I.D. => Topic started by: SwampDonkey on June 05, 2004, 08:58:58 PM

Title: A woody shrub? or tree? Solved: ground hemlock
Post by: SwampDonkey on June 05, 2004, 08:58:58 PM
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/txs.jpg)

Has red berries resembling pitted olives, stuffed with pamento.  Not quite the same taste. And probably not too good for your health. ;)
Title: Re: A woody shrub? or tree?
Post by: Furby on June 05, 2004, 09:29:39 PM
Not really sure what they are called, but my parents have them for a hedge line, just off the eaves in front of the house.
Title: Re: A woody shrub? or tree?
Post by: SwampDonkey on June 06, 2004, 05:24:59 AM
Its not juniper. The berries are fleshy on the plant above. ;)
Title: Re: A woody shrub? or tree?
Post by: SwampDonkey on June 06, 2004, 05:26:41 AM
This plant is harvested for an essential oil in cancer research.  :o
Title: Re: A woody shrub? or tree?
Post by: slowzuki on June 06, 2004, 07:23:06 AM
Sure looks like ground hemlock ;D
Title: Re: A woody shrub? or tree?
Post by: SwampDonkey on June 06, 2004, 07:30:44 AM
Yup, ground hemlock or Canada Yew Taxus canadensis
Title: Re: A woody shrub? or tree? Solved: ground hemlock
Post by: slowzuki on June 06, 2004, 07:35:35 AM
There have been ads in rural delivery lately by companies offering huge sums of money to people who will allow harvest of it on their land.  Someone wrote back giving some reasons this shouldn't be done on a large scale but I can't remember the reasons at the moment.  Anyone know?
Title: Re: A woody shrub? or tree? Solved: ground hemlock
Post by: SwampDonkey on June 06, 2004, 07:46:15 AM
The main reason is that some companies do not practice proper pruning techniques of this plant and over harvest it. Then whose to say once the sites are found that the harvestors don't go back and over harvest the shoots for another buyer. ;)

I know where there are several acreas in a continous plot, on a north facing slope, growing under hardwoods. Some of the stand is mature and other parts have been recently thinned (mainly yellow birch).

Most buyers are not paying huge sums of money, they are requiring huge amounts of tips for very modest pay. ;)