Conidendrin in Floccosoids of Western Hemlock

Floccosoids are whitish flecks of previously unknown composition that occur rather infrequently in western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). Microscopic examination of the flecks has shown them to be completely included in the tracheids. Some floccosoids were carefully removed from a western hemlock sample with benzene. The resultant crystals were studied by paper chromatography and were found to be almost completely conidendrin, with neither matairesinol nor hydroxymatairesinol being detected. At the present time, the cause of the appearance of floccosoids in western hemlock trees is unknown. Since conidendrin is relatively insoluble in water, its appearance in the tracheids and not in the ray cells indicates that it is most likely laid down during growth or is transported there by a much more water soluble precursor such as hydroxymatairesinol. In any case, the discovery that floccosoidal material is mainly conidendrin indicates that floccosoids should not significantly affect the end utilization of the hemlock wood containing them.

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