Needlelike, 1/3" to 2/3" long; flat but blunt, scattered and borne in many rows, but usually twisted into a two-rank arrangement; remains on twig for two or three years, but falls rapidly if twig is dried, leaving twigs roughened by woody, raised projections. Most buds are scaly and not resinous.
For more information, see
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/trees_shrubs/conifers/easternhemlock.html.