1)   Abies balsamea   (Balsam fir)

• Pitch from almost every conifer is used to seal and protect wood.
• “Canada Balsam” from the Balsam Fir is used to cement together the lens elements in optical equipment and to mount specimens for microscopy.
• It is North America’s most popular Christmas tree, but only newly planted in the Arboretum in grid 42-4W.
• Native to eastern North America

2)   Cedrus libani   (Cedar of Lebanon)

• “Cedar oil” is distilled from several conifers, mostly not Cedrus, the “true cedar”.
• Cedar oil has insecticidal properties, was used in ancient embalming, and is currently used as immersion oil in microscopy and to mask surface flaws in emeralds.
• Several of our true cedars – Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar, and Deodar Cedar are located along the Lynn Street entrance, west of the Wilcox foot bridge.

3)   Picea sitchensis   (Sitka spruce)

• Before the introduction of chicle, North Americans (both natives and immigrants) chewed spruce gum.
• Spruce roots are used for stitching bark canoes and weaving hats and baskets.
• The famous “Spruce Goose” was not spruce but acquired its alliterative sobriquet because early airplane builders valued spruce’s high strength-to-weight ratio.
• Our best Sitka spruce is in 15-B on Azalea Way.

4)   Pinus monticola   (Western white pine)

• The Lower Kootenay Band of the Ktunaxa Nation made bark canoes from white pine bark.   See the website: sturgeon-nose-creations.com
• Industrially, pine extracts make pine tar, turpentine, pitch, and rosin for violin bows, ballet shoes, baseball bats, and soldering flux.
• Pinus monticola is in the Pinetum in grid 35-6W.

5)   Quercus suber   (Cork oak)

• Quercus = oak, suber = cork. Location: Rock Roses on Arboretum Drive.
• Any questions?