Up here in the Pacific Northwet, we use the dead branches off fir and other coniferous trees. These are all dead as fir trees are self pruning and this has been referred to as squaw wood- easily broken off with a quick snap. If it is rubbery, you know it is wet and less than useful. Heavy concentrations of pitch on the trunks of these trees are also useful as this can be scraped off and used with both squaw wood or birch bark, or cattail heads to make something you can start with a ferro rod.