Cornell University Libra Common forest trees of North Carolina.Ho COMMON FOREST TREES NORTH CAROLINA=-. HOW TO KNOW THEM tisk: e ake Fema Sidi AD BO-AS-AD | 4A POCKET MANUAL North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey, Chapel Hill N. C, In Co-operation with the Forest Service U. S. Department of Agriculture API Th A NORTH CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY JosePpH Hyper Pratt, Director, Chapel Hill, N. C. Geological Board GoverNor CAMERON Morrison, Chairman ex-officto, FRANK R. HEWITT ....csssssccsssssescsersseenessscsevers Asheville C. C.. SOOT, LD eccscsscicsscseiessesersvarens North Wilkesborc JON EH. SMA LB isccviteiesaesvsnceveincscee Washington Dr. S. WESTRAY BATTLE.......cscscecssscssseseneseeeees Asheville Forestry Division J. 8. Hotmes, State Forester. In Co-operation With THE FOREST SERVICE, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. COMMON FOREST TREES NORTH CAROLINA ao HOW TO KNOW THEM w cA POCKET MANUAL Prepared by J. S. Holmes, State Forester NORTH CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY With the Collaboration of the State Foresters of Tennessee, Virginia and Maryland, and the help and advice of the FOREST SERVICE U. S. Department of Agriculture oD CHAPEL HILL, N, C, 1922 IAI rakésr TREES DRE SHORE RE O HEKS EO HENS Se OK @ /27 G/F FOREWORD This handbook has been planned and published by the North Carolina Geological and Economic Sur- vey in order that our people may have a convenient book of reference, by the help of which they may learn to recognize the trees common to their locality. Should the use of this handbook lead to the desire for further knowledge, the State Forester will gladly direct inquirers to literature on any phase of forestry. Bulletin 6 of the Survey, “The Timber Trees of North Carolina,” by Gifford Pinchot and W. W. Ashe, has been out of print for many years, and while the present small book in no way takes its place, it does in part supply a demand for informa- tion concerning our trees which has each year be- come more insistent. The Survey hopes sometime in the future to prepare a volume on our trees more in keeping with the importance of the subject. Until that time, it is hoped that this manual will have the widest possible circulation. The text has been prepared by the State Forester in collaboration with the State Foresters of Tennes- see, Virginia and Maryland, each of whom is adapt- ing it to use in his own State and publishing it simultaneously. The style of the book and many of the descriptions have been based on similar man- uals published by Massachusetts, Maine and Ver- mont. The cuts, as will be noted, have been secured from several sources. Those of the foliage and fruit of many of the hardwoods and all of the hardwood twigs are from original drawings by Mrs. A. E, Hoyle, made especially for this publication, and fur- nished free by the U. S. Forest Service. The other plates have been purchased or borrowed. Special ac- knowledgment is due to the Vermont Experiment Station for its courtesy in loaning a number of these illustrations. The valuable and unstinted aid of Mr. W. R. Mattoon, Extension Specialist, U. 8. Forest Service, is hereby gratefully acknowledged. With- 2 FOREST TREES RRP RES DBO KG AE DUKE KE SO -HEOMGRE -~O HR out his initiative and guidance and that of the For- est Service, the production of this handbook at the present time would have been well-nigh impossible. The inclusion in this book of the botanical or scientific names of the trees is thought advisable in order to avoid the confusion likely to arise from the use of the common names alone, which often vary not only in different States, but even in separate ‘localities within the same State. A similar confusion has also been observed in the use of the scientific names of certain trees because of the difficulty of knowing which tree the botanist had in mind when he gave it the name. Hence, the practice has arisen of attaching the initials or ab- breviation of the name of the botanist who gave the plant that particular scientific name. It seems wise, therefore, to follow the usual custom and give in full these scientific names for the sake of accuracy, but the general reader is not urged to burden his memory with them. Trees are the largest and oldest of living crea- tures. They are in one way or another perhaps more closely associated with our own daily lives than is any other class of living things, yet most of us know less about them and can hardly even tell one of these friends from another. It is hoped that this book will furnish information which will enable even the child to know our common trees at sight, and will stimulate so great an interest in the life and habits of these denizens of our forests that all North Carolinians may learn to appreciate, foster and protect the great heritage of our trees. In using this book it should be borne in mind that nearly two-thirds of the area of our State is still classed as forest land; that most of this has had the greater part or all of the merchantable timber cut from it; and that through destructive lumbering, FOREST TREES Ria Erne Pio KG nce EO HEKE EO KREKHESE SH turpentining, roving livestock and forest fires, this timber has been replacing itself very slowly or not at all. It should also be remembered that a happy change is taking place. Landowners are cutting more care- fully ; cattle and hogs have been controlled in nearly all our counties; and protection from fires is being extended as rapidly as County, State and Federal funds become available. The chief thing lacking now is the interest and co-operation of the people of the towns as well as of the country in growing and protecting our trees and forests. If this little book will bring about a better understanding of trees and a greater appreciation of their aesthetic and economic value to us and those who come after, its purpose will have been accomplished. JosepH Hyps Pratt, Director N. C. Geol. and Econ. Survey. TEV PrP A TREE. A tree is one of nature’s worus, a word of peace to man; A word that tells of central strength from whence all things began ; A word to preach tranquillity to all our restless clan, Ah, bare must be the shadeless ways, and bleak the path must be, Of him who, having open eyes, has never learned to see, And so has never learned to love the beauty of a tree. Who loves a tree, he loves the life that springs in star and clod, He loves the love that gilds the clouds, and greens the April sod; He loves the Wide Beneficence: hig soul takes hold on God. —From “Arbor and Bird Day Manual for North Carolina, 1915.” 4 FOREST TREES EME IKK EE ROH SE HES EO HE“ WHITE PINE (Pinus strobus L.) HE white pine occurs naturally throughout the mountains and extends into the adjacent region. It grows on high, dry, sandy and rocky ridges, but prefers the cooler or moister situations. Its straight stem, regular pyramidal shape and soft gray-green foliage make it universally appreciated as an orna- mental tree. Its rapid growth and hardiness, and One-third natural size. W 44h ey From Sargent’s ‘Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton-Miffiin Company. the high quality of the wood make it one of the most desirable trees for forest planting. The trunk is straight, and, when growing in the forest, clear of branches for many feet. The branches extend horizontally in whorls (i. e., arranged in a circle on the stem), marking the successive years of upward growth. The bark is thin and greenish red on young trees, but thick, deeply furrowed and grayish brown on older trees. The tree commonly attains heights of 50 to 60 feet and diameters of 1 to 2 feet, though much larger specimens are still to be found. The leaves, or needles, are 3 to 5 inches in length, bluish green on the upper surface and whitish be- neath, and occur in bundles of 5, which distinguishes it from all other eastern pines. The cone, or fruit, is 4 to 6 inches long, cylindrical, with thin, usually very gummy scales, containing small, winged seeds which require two years to mature. »The wood is light, soft, not strong, light brown in color, often tinged with red, and easily worked. The lumber is in large demand for construction pur- poses, box boards, matches and many other products. FAREST TREES hatin D> $ROKG AE OD HEHE SE D> BROKE HE > HKR- SHORTLEAF PINE (Rosemary Pine) (Pinus echinata Mill.) HE shortleaf pine, also known as rosemary ‘Tie yellow pine and old-field pine, is widely distributed throughout the South. It is the char- acteristic pine over the uplands and the lower moun- tain slopes, where it occurs mixed with hardwoods and in pure second-growth stands. The young tree in the open has a straight and somewhat stout stem SHORTLHAF PINE. One-half natural size. From Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton-Miffin Company. with slightly ascending branches. In maturity the tree has a tall, straight stem and an oval crown, reaching a height of about 100 feet and a diameter of about 44% feet. The young tree, when cut or burned back, reproduces itself by sprouting from the stump. The leaves are in clusters of two or three, from 3 to 5 inches long, slender, flexible, and dark blue- green. The cones, or burrs, are the smallest of all our pines, 14% to 214 inches long, oblong, with small sharp prickles, generally clustered, and often hold- ing to the twigs for 3 or 4 years. The small seeds are mottled and have a wing, which is broadest near the center. The bark is brownish red, broken into rectangular plates; it is thinner and lighter-colored than that of loblolly pine. The wood of old trees is rather heavy and hard, of yellow-brown or orange color, fine-grained and less resinous than that of the other important soutb- ern pines. It is used largely for interior and ex- terior finishing, general construction, veneers, paper pulp, excelsior, cooperage, mine props, and other pur- poses, , 6 FOREST TREES ORG MES “DHE HG AE DS HOKE ~O HEGRE OHSS LOBLOLLY PINE (Pinus taeda L.) he member of the yellow pine group, loblolly pine is a tree of the Coastal Plain, ranging southward from the southernmost county of Delaware. It is variously known locally as shortleaf pine, fox-tail pine and old-field pine. As the last name implies, it seeds up abandoned fields rapidly, particularly in sandy soils where the LOBLOLLY PINH One-half natural size. From Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton-Miffiin Company. water is close to the surface. It is also frequent in clumps along the borders of swamps and as scat- tered specimens in the swamp hardwood forests. The bark is dark in color and deeply furrowed, and often attains a thickness of as much as 2 inches on large-sized trees. The leaves, or needles, 6 to 9 inches long, are borne three in a cluster, and, in the spring, bright green clumps of them at the ends of branches give a luxuriant appearance to the tree. The fruit is a cone, or burr, about 3 to 5 inches long, which ripens in the autumn of the second year, and, during fall and early winter, sheds many seeds which, by their inch-long wings, are widely dis- tributed by the wind. The resinous wood is coarse-grained, with marked contrast, as in the other yellow pines, between the bands of early and late wood. The wood of second- growth trees has a wide range of uses where dura- bility is not a requisite, such as for building ma- terial, box shooks, barrel staves, basket veneers, pulpwood, lath, mine props, piling and fuel, 7 FAREST TREES DP AOE D> HOKE RE SHENG EO HOEK SS > ER- LONGLEAF PINE (Pinus palustris Mill.) HE young longleaf pine forms one of the most heen features of the southern forest. When 5 to 10 years of age, the single upright stem with its long, dark, shiny leaves, forms a handsome plume of sparkling green, while in later youth the stalwart, sparingly branched sapling, with its heavy twigs and gray bark, attracts immediate attention. The LONGLEAF PINE One-half natura! size. From Sargent’s ‘Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton-Miffin Company. older trees have tall, straight trunks, 1 to 3 feet in diameter and open, irregular crowns, one-third to one-half the length of the tree. Longleaf pine is confined to the Coastal Plain region. It has been extensively logged, bled for tur- pentine, repeatedly burned and ranged over by native “razor-back” hogs until in many sections it has been almost exterminated or replaced by other pines. The leaves are from 10 to 15 inches long, in clus- ters of 3, and gathered toward the ends of the thick, scaly twigs. The flowers, appearing in early spring before the new leaves, are a deep rose-purple, the male in prominent, short, dense clusters and the female in inconspicuous groups of 2 to 4. The cones, or burrs, are 6 to 10 inches long, slightly curved, the thick scales armed with small curved prickles. The cones usually fall soon aftcr the seeds ripen, leaving their bases attached to the twigs. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, tough and dura- ble. As Georgia pine, pitch pine and southern pine, it has been, and still is, used for all kinds of build- ing and other construction. Naval stores, consist- ing of tar, pitch, rosin-and turpentine, are obtained almost exclusively from this tree and its close rela- tive, the slash pine, by blecding the trees for their raw gum. 8 FOREST TREES oR ES OD HE KGS HE OE HEKOE SE OH & $ HRE GE HE DO HEME EO HEME SE OD HE SPRUCE PINE (Scrub Pine) (Pinus virginiana Mill.) HE spruce pine, scrub or southern jack pine, is found in greatest abundance over the upper and hilly parts of the State. It occurs often in pure stands in old fields and is very persistent in gully- ing, broken and very dry soils. It is one of our slower-growing pines. The side branches usually persist for many years, even after dying, thus giving SPRUCE PINE One-half natural size. From Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton-Miffiin Company. a scrubby appearance to the tree which is responsi- ble for one of its common names. The twisted and spreading leaves are borne two in a cluster. They vary from 11% to 3 inches in length, are grayish green in cclor, and are shorter than those of any other pine native to the State. The fruit is a cone, or burr, averaging about 2 inches in length, narrow, and often slightly curved, with small prickles. Cones are produced almost every year, and, as they persist on the branches from 3 to 5 years, a tree top with many dry, open cones is char- acteristic of the species. The bark is thin, reddish brown, and broken into shallow plates. Even with age, the fissures in the bark are so shallow as to give a somewhat smooth appearance to the trunk of the tree. Except in the occasional large-sized trees, the wood is very knotty because of the persistence of the side branches. It is light and soft, but fairly dur- able in contact with the soil, so that it is being used to some extent for posts, poles and piling. The lum- ber is increasingly used for rough construction, but it warps easily with alternate wetting and drying. It is much used for paper pulp and firewood. 10 FOREST TREES AE DUC HEE SO HOMES OC HES E O HR POND PINE (Pinus serotina Michx.) HE pond pine, also known as pocosin pine, bay pine or black-bark pine, is found in small swamps and on flat, undrained, poor, sandy, or low, peaty soils of the Coastal Plain. It averages 40 to 70 feet in height and 1 to 2 feet in diameter. The trunk is often slightly crooked and somewhat rough with knots or bulges. The tree somewhat resembles lob- resale POND PINE One-half natural size, From Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton-Mifflin Company. lobby pine, but can be distinguished most easily by the broader and shorter cones, and its location gen- erally on wet or very sour lands. The leaves occur in clusters of 8, or occasionally 4, and range in length from 5 to 8 inches. They persist on the branches for 3 to 4 years. The cones, or burrs, when open are noticeably globular in out- line, somewhat flattened, 2 to 214 inches long. Like all pines, they require two seasons for ripening, but remain closed for 1 to 2 years afterward, and per- sist on the branches for several years. The bark is dark red-brown and irregularly di- vided by shallow furrows. The wood is resinous, heavy, often coarse-grained, orange-colored, with pale yellowish, wide sapwood. It is sawed and sold without discrimination along with lumber of other southern pines. In the earlier days of lumbering this pine was not much used for lumber. It is one of the few species of pine which, following cutting or killing-back by fire, sprouts from the stumps of young vigorous saplings, 11 FOREST TREES DP ORE ED HOKE OE KE EO HOKE SO HK TABLE MOUNTAIN PINE (Pinus pungens Lambert.) HE table mountain pine, for which mountain pine is suggested as being a more appropriate name, is a rather small tree, 20 to 60 feet high, with an average diameter of 1 to 2 feet. It occurs scat. tered sparingly through the higher Appalachian Mountains on the drier slopes and ridges and asso. ciated with the black or pitch pine. TABLE MOUNTAIN PINE One-half natural size. From Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton-Mifflin Company. The bark of the trunk is lighter-colored than that of the black pine, but the bark of the small branches is broken into thin loose scales. The leaves are short, 2 to 4 inches long, in clus- ters of two, rarely of three, bluish green, stiff, stout and more or less twisted, persisting for 2 to 3 years. The flowers are of two kinds on the same tree, the male in long loose clusters on the old twig, the female in whorls of 2 to 7 on the new growth. This pine can readily be distinguished by its heavy massive cones, 2 to 3 inches long, with very stout curved prickles, which occur usually in close groups around the twigs. The cones open when ripe and shed their seed gradually, but the empty cones remain on the tree often for many years. The wood is soft, light, not strong, resinous and coarse-grained. Along with associated species it is sometimes cut for rough lumber, and in other places for charcoal, but its chief value is for fuelwood. 12 FOREST TREGS LO EKG AS > GOO GA SD “FRI ES “HR Ee ~E_-HRRSj RED SPRUCE (Picea rubra Dietr.) HE red spruce is found on the summits and upper slopes of our highest mountains where it grows on well-drained but moist and rocky soil, at elevations of 4,000 to 6,700 feet. Here it naturally combined with the southern balsam to form dense forests, which unfortunately have been largely de- stroyed in recent years, RED SPRUCH One-half natural size. From Sargent’s ‘Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton-Mifflin Company. The red spruce is narrowly conical in outline. It is a medium-sized tree, commonly reaching a height of 60 to 80 feet and a diameter of 1 to 2 feet. The trunk is straight and tapers gradually. The branches are somewhat drooping below, horizontal in the mid- dle, ascending above, and are very persistent even in a dense stand. The leaves are linear, four-sided, about one-half inch long, sharp-pointed, dark yellow-green and glossy. They grow from all sides of the twigs. The flowers are of two kinds on the same tree and mature in one season. The cones, or burrs, are oblong, 1 to 2 inches long, with thin reddish brown scales. Unlike those of the balsam, the cones of the spruce hang down and soon after the seeds are scat- tered they fall without breaking apart. The wood is light and moderately soft but strong and elastic. It is in great demand for special con- struction purposes and newspaper pulp. Its com- bined elasticity and strength fit it admirably for use in making musical instruments and airplanes. 18 FAREST TREES LD ROORKEE HENGE DO HEKE SES HKEKSES OH HEMLOCK (Tsuga canadensis Carr.) HE hemlock, sometimes known as hemlock spruce or spruce pine, is a large timber tree, attaining a height of 60 to 100 feet and a diameter of 2 to 4 feet. It is common along streams and on cool slopes throughout the mountains and extends somewhat into the adjoining regions. Its horizontal or ascending branches and drooping twigs, forming From Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton-Miffiin Company. a pyramidal crown, make it one of our handsomest and most desirable trees for shade and ornament. The leaves are from one-third to two-thirds of an inch in length, oblong, dark green and lustrous on the upper surface and whitish beneath, and, although spirally arranged, appear to be 2-ranked on the stem; they fall during the third season. The cones are oblong, about three-fourths of an inch long, light brown in color. The cone scales are broadly ovate and about as wide as they are long. The seed is small and winged, maturing in the fall and dropping during the winter. The wood is light, soft, not strong, brittle and splintery. It is used for coarse lumber and for paper pulp. The bark on old trunks is cinnamon-red or dark gray and divided into narrow, rounded ridges, and is one of our chief sources of tannin. The Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana En- gelm.) differs from the above by having its leaves not conspicuously 2-ranked on the twigs but point- ing in all directions, giving the tree a rough appear- ance; while the cone scales are narrow oval, much longer than they are wide. It grows on dry, rocky ridges and cliffs along the Blue Ridge and in north- eastern Tennessee. It is a very desirable tree for ornamental planting. 14 __ FOREST TREES GS SHEE AE SD HUEOKS- PRO LEER ERG EE HPSS D> HOKE FE SHE RED CEDAR (Juniperus virginiana L.) VERY valuable tree found in all classes and conditions of soils—from swamp to dry rocky ridges—seeming to thrive on barren soils where few other trees are found. It is scattered throughout the State except in the high mountains, but it is most important in the middle section. There are two kinds of leaves, usually both kinds being found on the same tree. The commoner kind RED CEDAR One-half natural size. From Sargent’s ‘Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton-Miflin Company. is dark green, minute and scale-like, clasping the stem in four ranks, so that the stems appear square. The other kind, usually appearing on young growth or vigorous shoots, is awl-shaped, quite sharp- pointed, spreading and whitened. The two kinds of flowers are at the end of minute twigs on separate trees. Blooming in February or March, the male trees often assume a golden color from the small catkins, which, when shaken, shed clouds of yellow pollen. The fruit, which matures in one season, is pale blue, often with a white bloom, one-quarter of an inch in diameter, berry-like, enclos- ing one or two seeds in the sweet flesh. It is a favorite winter food for birds. The bark is very thin, reddish brown, peeling off in long, shred-like strips. The tree is extremely irregular in its growth, so that the trunk is usually more or less grooved. The heart wood is distinctly red, and the sapwood white, this color combination making very striking effects when finished as cedar chests, closets and interior woodwork. The wood is aromatic, soft, strong and of even texture, and these qualites make it most desirable for lead pencils. It is very dura- ble in contact with the soil, and on that account is in great demand for posts, poles and rustic work. 18 FOREST TREES ORGS DAE EE DHL RE SE Hoe OH WHITE WALNUT, OR BUTTERNUT (Juglans cinerea L.) Tae white walnut, usually called butternut in the North, is a smaller tree than the black wal- nut, though in the highlands and where it attains its best development, it reaches a height of 70 feet and a diameter of 3 feet. The trunk is usually forked or crooked, and this makes it less desirable for saw timber, The bark differs from that of the WHITE WALNUT, OR BUTTERNUT Twig, one-half natural size. Leaf, one-third natural size black walnut in being light gray on branches and on the trunk of small trees, becoming darker on large trees. This tree may also be distinguished from black walnut by the velvet collars just above the sears left by last year’s leaves. The compound leaves are 15 to 30 inches long, each with 11 to 17 sharp-pointed, oblong, finely toothed leaflets 2 to 3 inches long. The flowers are of two kinds on the same tree, the male in long yellow-green drooping catkins, the female recognized by the rather conspicuous red-fringed stigmas. The fruit is a nut enclosed in an oblong, somewhat pointed, yellowish green husk, about 2 inches long, which is covered with short rusty, clammy, sticky hairs. The nut has a rough, . grooved shell and an oily, edible kernel. The wood is light, soft, not strong, coarse-grained, light brown, and takes a good polish. It is used for interior finish of houses and for furniture. A yellow or orange dye can be made from the husks of the nuts, 19 FAREST TREES A> $ioeo PAE D> “UO ME RE OS HUEKE EO HOKE -S OE BLACK WALNUT (Juglans nigra L.) HIS valuable forest tree occurs on rich bottom- lands and moist fertile hillsides throughout the State. In the forest, where it grows singly, it fre- quently attains a height of 100 feet with a straight stem, clear of branches for half its height. In open-grown trees the stem is short and the crown broad and spreading. BLACK WALNUT Leaf, one-fifth natural size. Twig,three-quarters natural size. The leaves are alternate, compound, 1 to 2 feet long, consisting of from 15 to 23 leaflets of a yel- lowish green color. The leaflets are about 3 inches long, extremely tapering at the end, and toothed along the margin. The bark is thick, dark brown in color, and divided by rather deep fissures into rounded ridges. The fruit is a nut, borne singly or in pairs, and enclosed in a solid green husk which does not split open, even after the nut is ripe. The nut itself is black with a very hard, thick, finely ridged shell, enclosing a rich, oily kernel edible and highly nu- tritious. The heartwood is of superior quality and value. It is heavy, hard and strong, and its rich chocolate brown color, freedom from warping and checking, susceptibility to a high polish, and durability make it highly prized for a great variety of uses, including furniture and cabinet work, gun-stocks, and air- plane propellers. Small trees are mostly sapwood, which is light colored and not durable. Walnut is easily propagated from the nuts and grows rapidly on good soil, where it should be planted and grown for timber and nuts, 20 FOREST TREES PRES SHENG AE DS HEME - Poa aE > BOG E> BiRo< = DHE SE LO IHC SCALY-BARK OR SHELL-BARK HICKORY (Hicoria ovata Britton) (Carya ovata K. Koch) HE scaly-bark hickory is known by every child “le the community because of its sweet and de- licious nuts. It is a large commercial tree, aver- aging 60 to 100 feet high and 1 to 2 feet in diameter. It thrives best on rich, damp soil and is common along streams and on moist hillsides throughout the State. Leaf, one-third : SCALY-BARK HICKORY natural size. Twig, one-half natural size. The bark of the trunk is rougher than on other hickories, light gray and separating into thick plates which are only slightly attached to the tree. The terminal winter buds are egg-shaped, the outer bud- scales having narrow tips. The leaves are alternate, compound, from 8 to 15 inches long and composed of 5, rarely 7 obovate to ovate leaflets. The twigs are smooth or clothed with short hairs. The fruit is borne singly or in pairs, and is globu- lar. The husk is thick and deeply grooved at the seams. The nut is much compressed and pale, the shell thin, and the kernel sweet. The flowers are of two kinds, opening after the leaves have attained nearly their full size. The wood is heavy, hard, tough and very strong. It is used largely in the manufacture of agricultural implements and tool handles, and in the building of carriages and wagons. For fuel the hickories are the most satisfactory of our native trees. 22 a. FOREST TREES EGS DENG AE SD HOKE $ROKEHKE PD HR< PIGNUT HICKORY (Hicoria glabra Britton) (Carya glabra Sweet) HE pignut hickory is a medium to large upland tree, occurring plentifully on poor soil in the middle section and less frequently in the other parts of the State. It has a tapering trunk and a narrow oval head. ; The bark is close, ridged and grayish, but oc- casionally rough and flaky. The twigs are thin, smooth and glossy brown. The polished brown win- ter buds are egg- shaped. the outer reddish brown scales falling in the autumn. Twig, one-half natural size. The leaves are smooth, 8 to 12 inches long and composed of 5 to 7 leaflets. The individual leaflets are rather small and narrow. The fruit is pear-shaped or rounded, usually with a neck at the base, very thin husks splitting only half way to the base or not at all. The nut is smooth, light brown in color, rather thick-shelled, and has an edible kernel. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, tough and flexi- ble. Its uses are the same as those of the other hickories. The small-fruited hickory (Carya microcarpa Nutt.), by some considered a variety of the pignut hickory, differs from it in having a round fruit and a bark which frequently separates into narrow plates. The pale-leaved hickory (Carya pallida Ashe) is found scatteringly in the upland woods. ° It has pale, delicate foliage. The leaves are woolly or hairy underneath, and when young are covered with silvery scales. The husks are thicker than those of the pignut. ae FOREST TREES BORE MEE SHE KG ED HEHE SD HOKE OH BLACK WILLOW (Salix nigra Marsh.) ie black willow is common along streams throughout the State except in the high moun- tains. It rarely comes to be over 50 feet in height and is frequently found growing singly or in clumps along the water courses. In winter the easily sepa- rable, bright reddish-brown or golden, naked twigs are quite conspicuous. The leaves are from 3 to 6 inches long and less than one- half an inch wide; the tips are very much tapered and the en- tire margins finely toothed. The leaves are bright green on both sides, turning pale yellow in the early autumn. The flowers are in catkins, the male and female on sepa- rate trees. The fruit is a pod bearing numerous minute seeds which are furnished with long silky down, enabling them to be blown long distances. The bark is deeply di- vided into broad, flat ridges which separate into thick plate-like scales. On old trees it becomes very shaggy. In color it varies from BLACK WILLOW light brown tinged Two-thirds natural size. with orange to dark brown or nearly black. The wood is soft, light and not strong. A high grade of charcoal, used in the manufacture of gun- powder, is obtained from willow wood, and it is the chief wood used in the manufacture of artificial limbs. There are many species, or kinds, of willows not easily distinguished. They are of high value in checking soil erosion and waste along stream banks, for which purpose they should be more extensively grown. 25 FOREST TREES NAA D> ROE RE O HERE SO HEKEE O HE SWAMP COTTONWOOD (Populus heterophylla L.) HIS is a tree of low, wet swamps and the borders of rivers, in the Atlantic coastal and Mississippi Valley regions. The seeds are carried far by winds and germinate on wet sandy soils. The tree attains a height of 70 to 90 feet and a diameter of 3 feet. The branches are usually short, forming a narrow, round-topped head, and the buds are resinous. = SWAMP COTTONWOOD. Twig, three-quarters natural size. Leaf, one-half natural size. The leaves are broadly ovate, 3 to 6 inches wide and 4 to 7 inches long, gradually narrowed at the tip and slightly rounded toward the base, usually finely toothed along the edges, dark green above, pale and smooth below; on rounded leaf-stems from 2 to 8 inches long. The flowers, which bloom in early spring, are in catkins, the female catkins few-flowered. The fruit, containing the tiny seeds supported by “cotton,” is borne on female, or pistillate, trees, and the male, or staminate, flowers occur separately on other trees. The fruit ripens before the leaves are fully grown. The wood is light and soft and, as lumber, re- quires special attention in drying to prevent its warping badly. It makes excellent paper pulp for printing half-tone illustrations. The European white poplar (Populus alba L.) with light-gray bark and leaves, white woolly be- neath, is often found near old houses and along roadsides. The Lombardy poplar, a tall narrow form of the European black poplar (Populus nigra var. italica Du Roi) is often planted and is a strik- ing tree for the roadside. 26 FOREST TREES PREG DICKIE AE DHE ED HR SD HRS. CAROLINA POPLAR (Cottonwood) (Populus deltoides Marsh.) Toa cottonwood, or Carolina poplar, is scattered widely but nowhere occurs in great abundance; it does not grow naturally in the mountains. The tree is easily propagated by cuttings and grows rapidly, hence it has been widely planted to get shade quickly. For this purpose, however, the tree is unsatisfactory, because it begins to shed the leaves CAROLINA POPLAR Leaf, one-half natural size. Twig, one-third natural size. by midsummer, the “cotton” from the female, or seed-bearing, tree is often a nuisance, the soft wood is easily broken by winds, and the rank growth of the roots often results in stopping drain pipes and cracking and lifting sidewalks. The leaves are simple, alternate, broadly ovate or triangular, pointed, square at the base, and coarsely toothed no the edges, 3 to 5 inches across each way, covered with soft white hairs on the under side, supported by flattened slender stems, 2 to 3 inches long. The winter buds are covered with chestnut-brown, resinous scales. The flowers are in catkins of two kinds, male and female, and appear before the leaves. The fruit containing the seed has a cluster of white silky hairs, which carries it for long distances. The wood is soft, light-weight, warps easily upon drying, but is used for many purposes, sometimes as a substitute for yellow poplar and linden. It makes the highest grade of gloss magazine paper for the printing of half-tone illustrations. 27 FOREST TREES “Go AME D> Rion OO HEE EE OHO SE OK RIVER BIRCH (Red Birch) (Betula nigra L.) HIS is the only native birch found at low eleva- aan in the South. It is at home, as the name im- plies, along water courses, and inhabits the deep, rich soils along the borders of streams, ponds, lakes, and swamps which are sometimes inundated for weeks at a time. The bark provides a ready means of distinguish- ing this tree. It varies from reddish brown to cinna- RIVER BIRCH One-third natural size. mon-red in color, and peels back in tough papery layers. These layers persist on the trunk, present- ing a very ragged and quite distinctive appearance. Unlike the bark of our other birches, the thin papery layers are usually covered with a gray powder. On older trunks, the bark on the main trunk becomes thick, deeply furrowed, and of a reddish-brown color. The leaves are simple, alternate, 2 to 3 inches long, more or less oval in shape, with double-toothed edges. The upper surface is dark green and the lower a pale yellowish green. The flowers are in catkins, the two kinds grow- ing on the same tree. The fruit is cone-shaped about 1 inch long, and densely crowded with little winged nutlets that ripen from May to June. The wood is strong and fairly close-grained. It has been to some extent used in the manufacture of woodenware, in turnery and for wagon hubs. Since, however, this tree is scattered in its distribu- tion and mostly confined to the banks of streams, it does not figure largely in commercial lumbering, but is cut chiefly for firewood. 28 FQOQREST TREES DEKE ES D> GRRE KKKG RAS D> FRKKK EE “HKG EE ~ -HD~ YELLOW BIRCH (Betula lutea Michx.) HE yellow birch is confined to our cool, high mountain slopes, generally at greater elevations than the black birch, from which it can usually be distinguished by its bark. It is a large tree, often with a short or crooked trunk, occasionally reaching a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 4 feet. The bark on the trunk and large branches is sil- very or yellow-gray, with thin papery layers sepa- YELLOW BIRCH One-half natural size. rating and often curling at the edges, giving the trunk a ragged appearance. The twigs are light brown, lustrous and slightly aromatic, but less so than those of the black birch. The leaves are simple, alternate, oval or approxi- mately oblong, doubly and finely toothed, 3 to 5 inches long, dark green and lusterless on the upper surface. The flowers are in catkins; the male, or stami- nate catkins, purplish and visible all the winter previous to opening; the female, or pistillate, cat- kins greenish, erect, shorter and thicker than those of the black birch, and developing in the spring. The wood is heavy, strong, hard, close-grained and light brown in color. It is used for flooring, woodenware, furniture, and other uses, but is con- sidered inferior to the black birch. It is prized as firewood. iS. QAREST TREES Hie he Pramas > BO KEE DP HEHG SE OAS BLACK BIRCH (Betula lenta L.). HE black birch, also known as sweet birch. or cherry birch, occurs only in the highlands and mountain ‘sections. ‘It attains its best development in the mountain coves and on rich ‘slopes where’ it reaches an average height of 70 feet and a diameter of 2.to 8 feet. The tree is moderately slow growing, but is of value ‘for its products and protection to the een in the high mountains, BLACK BIRCH RRR EE se eas 7 Twig, one-half natural size. beats one-third natural size. The bark ‘of the ‘enn ‘is:dark brown, almost black, dull and broken into large irregular, but not papery, plates: The small branches and twigs; also dark in color but lustrous and very aromatic, are frequently cut and. distilled for the production. of: birch oil, much used as wintergreen flavoring. .The leaves are simple, alternate, oval or ap- proaching oblong, 3 to 4 inches long, finely toothed, and dark green, dull on the’ upper ‘surface. The flowers are of two kinds; the male catkins, usually 3 to 4 on a shoot, forming i in the summer and blooming the following spring when the female cat- kins or “cones” open from the winter buds.. The seeds ripen in late summer or autumn and fall with the loosened scales of the “cone.” “The wood i is heavy, very strong, hard and compact. The dark-brown color of the wood has given rise, to the common local name of mahogany, or’ mountain mahogany. It is used for furniture, often being sold as “mahogany,” and for, flooring and interior trimming ; locally it,is prized as firewood. 80 | FOREST TREES | SGA DS HSK AE DUES EO HERE EO HEKES- IRONWOOD (Hop Hornbeam) (Ostrya virginiana K..Koch).. HE tree gets its common names from the quali- ties of its wood and the hop-like fruit. Itisa small, slender, generally round-topped tree, from 20 to 30 feet high and 7 to 10 inches in diameter. The top consists of long slender branches, commonly drooping toward the ends, It is found mostly on rather dry soils throughout the upland and moun- tain regions. TRONWOOD Twig, one-half natural size. Leaf, one-third natural size. The bark is mostly light brown or reddish brown, and finely divided into thin scales by which the tree, after a little acquaintance, can be easily rec- ognized. The leaves are simple, alternate, generally oblong with narrowed tips, sharply toothed along the mar- gin, sometimes doubly toothed, from 2 to 3 inches long. The flowers are of two kinds on the same tree; the male, in drooping catkins which form the pre- vious summer, the female, in erect catkins on the newly formed twigs. The fruit, which resembles that of the common hop vine, consists of a branch of leafy bracts 1 to 2 inches long containing a num- ber of flattened ribbed nutlets. The wood is strong, hard, durable, light brown to white, with thick pale sapwood. Often used for fence posts, handles of tools, mallets and other small articles. 31 FAREST TREES Pin Kp EE AED BRE KKK REE D> HOKE > BROKE EE D] HOM HORNBEAM (Carpinus caroliniana Walt.) ile hornbeam, often known as jronwood and oceasionally as water beech, is a small, slow- growing, bushy tree with a spreading top of slender, crooked, or drooping branches. It is found along streams and in low ground throughout the State. Its height is usually from 20 to 30 feet and its diameter 4 to 8 inches, although it sometimes grows larger. The trunk is fluted with irregular ridges extend- ing up and down the tree. The bark is light brownish gray to dark bluish gray in color, sometimes marked with dark pands extending horizontally on the trunk. The leaves are simple, alternate, oval, long - pointed, doubly toothed along the mar- gin, 2 or 3 inchesin length. They resemble those of the black or sweet birch, but are smaller. HORNBEAM natural size, Leaf, one-third natural size. The flowers Twig one-half are borne in cat- kins separately on the same tree; the male catkin about 11% inches long, the female about three-fourths of an inch, with small, leaf-like, 3-lobed green scales. The fruit is a nutlet about one-third of an inch long. It falls, attached to the leaf-like scale which acts as a wing in aiding its distribution by the wind. The wood is tough, close-grained, heavy and strong. It is sometimes selected for use for levers, tool handles, wooden cogs, mallets, wedges, etc. The tree is of little commercial importance and often occupies space in the woods that should be utilized by more valuable kinds. 32 FOREST TREES ROG IKE SE DHE HE - HEOKS SS ED Oo KEE KROME POST OAK (Quercus stellata Wang., formerly Q. minor Sarg.) HE post oak is usually a medium-sized tree, with T: rounded crown, commonly reaching a height of 50 to 80 feet and a diameter of 1 to 2 feet, but some- times considerably larger. It occurs throughout the State, ascending in the mountains to 2,500 feet, but is most abundant on the poorer soils of the middle districts. The bark is rougher and darker than the white oak and broken into smaller scales. The stout young twigs and the leaves are coated at first with a thick light- eolored fuzz which soon becomes darker and later drops away POST OAK : One-third natural size. entirely. The leaves are usually 4 to 5 inches long and nearly as broad, deeply 5-lobed with broad rounded divisions, the lobes broadest at the ends. They are thick and somewhat leathery, dark green and shiny on the upper surface, lighter green and rough hairy be- neath. The flowers, like those of the other oaks, are of two kinds on the same tree, the male in drooping, clustered catkins, the female inconspicuous. The fruit is an oval acorn, one-half to 1 inch long, set in a rather small cup which may or may not be stalked. The wood is very heavy, hard, close-grained, light to dark brown, durable in contact with the soil. It is used for crossties and fence posts, and along with other oaks of the white oak class for furniture and other purposes. 36 FOREST TREES Rho KK Gre D> HRI EE SD “HRI KE OO HKG aE © HOKE OVERCUP OAK (Quercus lyrata Walt.) HE overcup oak, sometimes known as swamp post oak, is a large tree with small, often pendu- lous branches rarely reaching a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 3 feet. It occurs in river bottoms and rich low grounds of the Coastal Plain and the Mississippi basin, but is nowhere very abundant. The leaves are 7 to 9 inches long, 1 to 4 inches broad, oblong, wider towards the point, narrowed at the base, dark green above, whit- ish beneath, with % to 9 distinct, deep, pointed lobes. They fre- quently turn to a bright scarlet or to scarlet and orange in the fall. The bark is rough, OVERCUP OAK flaky, gray tinged Leaf, one-third natural size. with red. Twig, two-thirds natural size. The flowers open in April with the unfolding of the leaves. The acorn, or fruit, ripens the first year. It is thor- oughly characteristic of the species. The large rounded or somewhat flattened acorn, one-half to 1 inch long, is nearly covered by the ovate or nearly spherical cup, which is thickened at the base but gradually grows thinner to the thin, often ir- regularly split, margin of the cup. The name of the tree comes from this characteristic. The wood is heavy, hard, strong and durable and is used for the same purposes as that of white oak, 87 FAREST TREES PRR OLA > LR aE E> PEO KEG EE HEH SE DO HEE CHESTNUT OAK (Quercus montana Willd., formerly Q. prinus L.) HESTNUT OAK, also known as mountain oak and rock oak, has acquired these names from its leaf, which resembles that of the chestnut, and from its fondness for rocky or. mountain ridges. It is found widely distributed throughout the moun- tains on dry gravelly and rocky slopes, ridges and stream banks, and less commonly in the upland part of the State in similar dry, rocky situ- ations. It is noticeably a spreading tree of medi- um height; at 15 to 20 feet, the trunk frequent- ly divides into several large, angular limbs, making an open, irregu- lar-shaped head. The bark is dark reddish brown, thick, deeply di- vided into broad, rounded ridges, and is of high commercial value for the extraction of tannic acid. The leaves are simple, alternate, oblong, often rounded at the point, irregularly scalloped or wavy on the edge (not sharp-toothed as in chestnut), 5 to 9 inches long, and shiny yellowish green above, lighter and slightly fuzzy beneath. The fruit is an acorn about an inch long, oval, shiny brown, and enclosed up to half its length in a cup. It ripens in one season, and, like the acorn of the white oak, sprouts in the autumn soon after falling to the ground. The wood is generally similar to that of the other upland white oaks, heavy, hard, strong, and durable in contact with the soil, It is extensively cut into crossties and heavy timbers for bridge, railroad, and other rough construction, and used for fence posts and fuel. CHESTNUT OAK One-third natural size. 38 . FOREST TREES RR KK mee ED SRR KKK HIKE PEK EE © FHREOKNYE SWAMP CHESTNUT OAK (Basket Oak, or Cow Oak) (Quercus prinus L., formerly Q. michauzii Nutt.) HIS tree occurs in its greatest abundance in the bottomlands of the eastern part of the State, and is found sparsely in other sections, outside of the mountains. In the appearance of its bark and branches it closely resembles the ordinary white oak, but may be distinguished by means of the leaf and acorn. The tree attains heights of about 100 feet and diameters of about 4 feet. The leaves are oval, broader towards the point and notched on the edge somewhat like the chestnut oak. They vary from 4 to 8 inches in length, are downy beneath and turn a rich crimson in the fall. The bark is a very light gray, and on old trees is broken into broad | flakes or divided into strips. The acorn, or fruit, attains a diameter of more than an inch and a length of 1144 inches. The acorn, which is a bright shiny brown and set in a rather shallow cup, is considerably larger than that of the white oak. It is frequently eaten by cows and this fact gives the tree one of its common names. SWAMP CHESTNUT OAK Leaf, one-third natural size. Twig, one-half natural size. The wood is heavy, hard, tough, strong, and takes an excellent polish. It is used in manufacturing Tumber, veneer, boards (shakes), tight cooperage; for fuel and fence posts; and extensively for mak- ing baskets. 89 FAREST TREES BOR AER D> BR KEE aE D> PORK AE 4D ORK aE Oo HIOKK LIVE OAK (Quercus virginiana Mill.) HE live oak extends from southeastern Vir- ginia through the lower Coastal Plain of North Carolina and southward. It is a tree of striking character from its wide-spreading habit, sometimes reaching more than 100 feet in spread; with a short, stout trunk, 3 to 4 feet in diameter, dividing in several large limbs with nearly horizontal branches, forming a low, dense, round-topped head. Its height is commonly from 40 to 50 feet. The bark on the trunk and large branches is dark brown tinged with red, and slightly furrowed. It grows to largest size on the rich hammocks and low ridges near the coast and only a few feet above the water level. It is one LIVE OAK of the most desirable Two-thirds natural size. trees for roadside and ornamental planting in the Coastal Plain. It is of moderately slow growth but long-lived and handsome. The leaves are simple, evergreen, thick, leathery, oblong, smooth above, pale and silvery white be- neath ; from 2 to 4 inches in length and 1 to 2 inches in breadth. The fruit is an acorn about an inch long and one- third inch wide, borne on a long stem or peduncle : it is oblong, dark brown and lustrous, and set in a top-shaped, downy cup of a light reddish-brown color. The wood is very heavy, hard, strong and tough, light brown or yellow, with nearly white, thin sap- wood. It was formerly largely used, and still is occasionally, for ships’ knees in building wooden ships. 40 FOREST TREES ROEM -SIEKKG HE ORE KS SE -O HEE D> “BRK NORTHERN RED OAK (Quercus borealis maxima Ashe, formerly Q. rubra L.) HE northern red oak occurs throughout the State, but is most common and of best quality in the higher mountains. It is not found in swamps. It usually attains a height of about 70 feet and a diameter ranging from 2 to 3 feet, but is sometimes much larger. The forest-grown tree is tall and straight with a clear trunk and narrow crown. The bark on young stems is smooth, gray to brown, on older trees thick and broken by shallow _ fis- sures into regular, flat, smooth - sur- faced plates. The leaves are simple, alternate, 5 to 9 inches long and 4 to NORTHERN RED OAK 6inches wide, Leaf, one-third natural size. broader _ to- Twig, one-half natural size. ward the tip, divided into 7 to 9 lobes, each lobe being somewhat coarsely toothed and bristle-tipped, and firm, dull green above, paler below, often turning a brilliant red after frost. The flowers, as in all the oaks, are of two kinds on the same tree, the male in long, droop- ing, clustered catkins, opening with the leaves, the female solitary or slightly clustered. The fruit is a large acorn maturing the second year. The nut is from three-fourths to 134 inches long, blunt- topped, flat at base, with only its base enclosed in the very shallow dark-brown cup. The wood is hard, strong, coarse-grained, with light reddish-brown heartwood and thin lighter-col- ored sapwood. It is used for cooperage, interior fin- ish, construction, furniture, and crossties. Because of its average rapid growth, high-grade wood, and general freedom from insect and fungus attack, it is widely planted in the higher portions of the State for timber production and as a shade tree, 41 FAREST TREES as Ka A> “ORK race “D> Hie Kr BROKE HE DEO SOUTHERN RED OAK (Quercus rubra Linn., formerly Q. digitata Sudw.) HE southern red oak, commonly known as red oak and referred to in books as Spanish oak, usually grows to a height of 70 to 80 feet and a di- ameter of 2 to 3 feet, though larger trees are not infrequently found. It is one of the most common southern upland oaks. Its large spreading branches form a broad, round, open top.. The bark is rough, though not deeply _ fur- rowed, and varies from light gray on gq younger trees S29 to dark gray or almost black on older ones. The leaves are of two dif- ferent types: (1) irregular- shaped lobes, SOUTHERN RED OAK mostly narrow, Leaf, one-third natural size. . . Twig, one-half natural size. bristle tipped, the central lobe often the longest; or (2) pear-shaped with 3 rounded lobes at the outer end. They are dark lustrous green above and gray downy beneath, the contrast being strikingly seen in a wind or rain storm. The flowers appear in April while the leaves are unfolding. The fruit ripens the second year. The small rounded acorn, about half an inch long, is set in a thin saucer-shaped cup which tapers to a short stem. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, and is less subject to defects than most other red oaks. It is used for rough lumber and for furni- ture, chairs, tables, etc. It is a desirable timber tree, especially on the poorer, drier soils. The bark is rich in tannin. The freedom of this tree from disease, its thrifty growth, large handsome form and long life make it very desirable for shade or ornamental use. 42 FOREST TREES ORG AEE DAUR KG RE -O USOHKG-~ SRR KK RE D> HEME SE > BROKE EE ED EROKEK SCARLET OAK (Qurcus coccinea Muench.) CARLET OAK, also known as pin, Spanish or S spotted oak, occurs usually on dry, rocky, or sandy soils, throughout the uplands of the lower mountains, but is nowhere very abundant or of first importance. It usually reaches a height of 60 or 80 feet, with a trunk diameter of 2 or 38 feet, and is sometimes larger. The branches droop at the ends and form a narrow, open crown and the trunk tapers rapidly. The bark on young stems is smooth and light brown. On old trunks it is di- vided into ridges not so rough as those of the black oak and not so flat- ; topped as SCARLET OAK Twigonehaf those of Leaf, one-third natural size. natural size. the north- ern red oak. The bark is often mottled or spotted with gray. The inner bark is reddish. The leaves are simple, alternate, somewhat oblong or oval, 3 to 6 inches long, 2144 to 4 inches wide, usually 7-lobed, the lobes bristle-pointed and sepa- rated by rounded openings extending at least two- thirds of the distance to the midrib, giving the leaves a very deeply “cut” appearance. The leaves turn a brilliant scarlet in the autumn before falling. The flowers are of two kinds on the same tree and ap- pear when the leaves are two-thirds or one-half grown. The fruit takes 2 years to mature. The acorn is one-half to 1 inch long, reddish brown, often striped, and about half-enclosed in the cup. The wood is heavy, hard, strong and coarse- grained . The lumber is sold as red oak and has the same uses. It is usually somewhat inferior in qual- ity and sometimes known as pin oak. Scarlet oak is used considerably in ornamental planting. 44 FOREST TRE BLACK JACK OAK (Quercus marilandica Muench.) HE occurrence of blackjack oak is said to indi- cate poor soil. It is certain that it often occurs on dry or poorly drained gravel, clay, or sandy up- land soils where few other forest trees thrive. This perhaps accounts chiefly for its slow rate of growth. It is found in all parts of the State except the high mountain regions, The tree sometimes reaches a BLACK JACK OAK Twig, two-thirds natural size. Leaf, one-third natural size. height of 50 or 60 feet and a diameter of 16 inches, but it is usually much smaller. Its hard, stiff, drooping branches form a dense crown which usually contains many persistent dead twigs. The bark is rough, very dark, often nearly black, and broken into small, hard scales or flakes. The leaves are of leathery texture, dark green on the upper surface, lighter underneath, broadly wedge-shaped, 4 to 10 inches long and about the same in width. The fruit is an acorn about three- quarters of an inch long, yellow-brown and often striped, inclosed for half its length or more in a thick light-brown cup. The wood is heavy, hard and strong; when used at all, it is used mostly as firewood. 45 FAREST TREES oath DRG OD Hoxie <= SO HEKE S D> CRORE WATER OAK (Quercus nigra L.) HE water oak is found native along the borders of swamps and streams and on rich bottomlands, over the Coastal Plain and somewhat farther inland. It has been considerably planted in the Southern States along streets and in parks as a shade tree. When fully grown this tree reaches a height of about 80 feet.and a diameter of from 1 to over 3 feet. The trunk is shapely. The bark is smooth, light brown winged with red, and has many smooth thin scales over the surface. The water oak can be most readily dis- + #. tinguished from WATER OAK : the ‘willow oak— Leaf, one-third natural size. a close associate, Twig, one-half natural size. but longer-lived— by the differences in the general shape and size of the leaves. LS aD Cah ee he The leaves are simple, quite variable: in shape; mostly oblong, broader near the point, and narrower at the base, giving a wedge-shaped effect. They -are usually slightly 3-lobéd at the outer end, thin, and of a dull bluish-green color, paler below than above; mostly smooth, and usually 2 to 3 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide; they remain green for some time and gradually fall from the tree during the winter. The flowers appear in April when the leaves are beginning to unfold. The fruit, or acorn, matures at the end of the second season. The acorn is from one-half to two-thirds of an inch in length and nearly as broad, light brown or yellowish brown and often striped, enclosed at the base only in a thin saucer-shaped cup. The wood is heavy, hard, and strong, light brown in color, with lighter-colored sapwood. It is not used to a great extent as lumber, but the trees are cut and utilized for piling, crossties and fuel. 46 FOREST TREES WILLOW OAK (Quercus phellos -L.) HE willow: oak,. often called water oak, occurs generally over the State, except on the. higher slopes and mcuntains. It is most often found in lowlands and along. the borders of rivers and swamps, but often also on rich sandy uplands. It is a beautiful and long-lived ‘tree,;' and desirable for roadside, lawns and parks, for which it has been widely planted. The slender willow like leaves, on a ses whose habit — of growth is muainifestly that: of an: ‘oak, make the tree easy to identify in the forest. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and: one half to 1 .inch wide, with smooth or slightly cwavy margin, bristle- pointed, smooth, light green and shiny above, but dull and Nyittow oak usually smooth below; alter- i Twig, nate in arrangement;..on. the sone: a aoe a twig and borne on a short stout one-third natural size. stem The bark is ‘generally: smooth and of a reddish brown color; with age, the bark becomes slightly moueHened and aad by narrow ridges. © eS The small acorns, closely set, along the stem, ma- ture at the end of the second year. The nut isa light-brown hemisphere, about one- -half: an inch-in diameter, its base scarcely enclosed ‘in -the' shallow, reddish-brown cup. The nuts are eaten as food by bluejays, grackles (“black birds”), and several other species of birds, as well as by rodents. The wood is not Cepamated: commercially from other species in the red oak group. It is heavy, strong, rather coarse-grained, light brown tinged with red, and not durable when exposed to the weather. It is: used locally for crossties, bridge planks, barn sills, and general construction. 47 FAaREST TREES Rosen KD SRO KKG ac HEM SES LED BROKE EE DRO. WHITE ELM (American Elm) (Ulmus americana L.) HE famous shade tree of New England, whose range, however, extends to the Rocky Mountains and southward to Texas. Within this vast area, it is generally common except in the high mountains and wet bottom lands. It reaches an average height of 60 to 70 feet and a diameter of 4 to 5 feet. The bark is dark gray, divided into irregular, flat-topped, thick ridges, and is generally firm, though on old trees it tends to come off in flakes. An incision into the inner bark will show alternate layers of brown and white. The leaves are alternate, simple, 4 to 6 yy inches long, rath- er thick, Somewhat one- sided, doubly toothed on the mar- gin, and generally Twig one-half WHITE ELM smooth natural size. Leaf, one-third natural size. above and downy below. The leaf veins are very pronounced and run in parallel lines from the midrib to leaf- edge. The flowers are small, perfect, greenish, on slen- der stalks sometimes an inch long, appearing before the leaves in very early spring. The fruit is a light green, oval shaped samara (winged fruit) with the seed portion in the center and surrounded entirely by a wing. A deep notch in the end of the wing is distinctive of the species. The seed ripens in the spring and by its wing is widely disseminated by the wind. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, tough, and diffi- cut to split. It is used for hubs of wheels, saddle trees, boats and ships, barrel hoops, and veneer for baskets and crates. Because of its spreading fan-shaped form, grace- ful pendulous branches, and long life, the white elm justly holds its place as one of the most desirable shade trees, 48 FOREST TREES (oR ED FRG AE SD HRI RE OE KG OHS WINGED ELM (Ulmus alata Michx.) HE winged elm gets its common name from the thin corky growth, or “wings,” usually found on the smaller branches. It occurs scattered generally over the State except in the mountains, usually on dry, gravelly uplands, but often in moist soils and in waste places. It grows rapidly in moist situa- tions, and at the same time is one of the best trees for planting along road- sides in dry poor loca- tions. It is compara- tively free from disease, though not notably long-lived. This elm is a medium-sized tree of 40 to 50 feet in height and rarely as large as 2 feet in diameter. It forms a rather open, round-topped head. The bark is light brown, tinged with red, and WINGED ELM we is _ Two-thirds natural size. divided into irregular flat ridges and fissures. The leaves are simple, alternate, 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 2 inches broad, coarsely double-toothed, thick, dark green and smooth above, and pale and softly downy below. They are smaller than those of any other elm native in the State. The flowers appear in early spring, long before the leaves unfold. The fruit ripens in the spring about the time the leaves appear; it is winged, tipped with 2 small in- curved awns, or beaks, oblong, reddish brown, about one-third of an inch long, with a long slender stalk at the base, and covered with white hairs, The wood is very similar to that of the other elms—heavy, hard, strong and difficult to split. It is occasionally used for hubs and mauls. Formerly, rope made of the inner bark was used for binding the covers to cotton bales. 49 FAREST TREE OO Orne ED SRK Gace KD $hRoKKG E -~O H HZ DKK HACKBERRY (Celtis occidentalis L.) HE hackberry is found sparsely throughout the State, except in the high mountains. It occurs most abundantly and of greatest size in the rich alluvial lands in the lower part of the State, but thrives, however, on various types of soil, from the poorest to the richest. It is usually a small or medium-sized tree from 30 to 50 feet high and 10 Leaf, one-third natural size. Twig, one-half natural size. to 20 inches in diameter. Its limbs are often crooked and angular and bear a head made of slender, pendant branches or short, bristly, stubby twigs. In the open the crown is generally very symmetrical. It makes an excellent shade tree. The bark is grayish and generally rough with scale-like or warty projections of dead bark. In some instances the bark is smooth enough on the limbs to resemble that of the beech. The leaves are simple, ovate, alternate, one-sided, 2 to 4 inches long, the edges toothed towards the long point. The flowers are inconspicuous, and the two kinds are borne on the same tree. They appear in April or May, and are of a creamy greenish color. The fruit is a round, somewhat oblong drupe, or berry, from one-quarter to one-third of an inch in diameter. It has a thin, purplish skin, and sweet, yellowish flesh. From this characteristic it is sometimes called sugarberry. The berries frequently hang on the tree most of the winter. The wood is heavy, rather soft, weak, and decays readily when exposed. It is used chiefly for fuel, but occasionally for lumber. 50 FOREST TREES PEGS DAO MIG RE DHEA SD HEKGHE -O HOIS- RED MULBERRY (Morus rubra L.) Tie red mulberry occurs throughout the State. It prefers the rich soils of the lower and middle districts, but is nowhere abundant. It is commonly called mulberry as there are no other native species. The white mulberry and paper mulberry, which are sometimes found in waste places, are introduced species which have to some extent become natural- RED MULBERRY Twig, two-thirds natural size. Leaf, one-third natural size. ized. The red mulberry is a small tree, rarely 50 feet high and 2 feet in diameter, often growing in the shade of larger trees. The bark is rather thin, dark grayish brown, peel- ing off in long narrow flakes. The leaves are alternate, thin, rounded or some- what heart-shaped, toothed, pointed, 3 to 5 inches long, rough hairy above and soft hairy beneath. Often some of the leaves, especially on young trees and thrifty shoots, are mitten-shaped or variously lobed. The flowers are of two kinds, on the same or dif- ferent trees, in long drooping catkins, the female catkins shorter, appearing with the leaves. The fruit is dark red or black, and resembles a black- berry; however, a stalk extends through it centrally, and it is longer and narrower. The fruit is sweet and edible and greatly relished by birds and various animals, The wood is rather light, soft, not strong, light orange-yellow, very durable in contact with the soil. It is chiefly used for fence posts. The tree might be planted for this purpose and to furnish food for birds. 51 FAREST TREES oA D> $OROKEIPRE DUSK ES HEME SE OD HOLS CUCUMBER TREE (Magnolia acuminata L.) HE cucumber tree attains an average height of Tl to 80 feet and a diameter of 2 to 4 feet. It oceurs singly among other hardwood trees through- out the richer, cooler slopes and coves of our moun- tains, and extends somewhat into the nearby regions. This is the only one of our magnolias which has rough bark and a small leaf. The bark is aromatic and bitter ; that of the young twigs is a lustrous red-brown, while the bark of the trunk is rather thin, dark brown, ip furrowed y 4. 3 and broken CUCUMBER TREE into thin , one-third natural size. ae ee natural size. scales. The leaves are alternate, oblong, short-pointed, rounded at the base, silky hairy when unfolding, later smooth or slightly silky, 6 to 10 inches long, 4 to 6 inches wide, often with wavy edges, dark green above, lighter beneath. ‘ The flowers are single, large—though smaller than those of the other magnolias—21,% to 3 inches long. The 6 upright petals are whitish green, tinged with yellow. The fruit is a smooth, dark-red, often crooked “cone,” 24% to 3 inches long, somewhat resembling a small cucumber. The seeds are one- half inch long, and covered with a pulpy scarlet coat, which attracts the birds, particularly as the seeds hang by thin cords from the opening “cones.” The wood is light, soft, close-grained, durable, of a light yellow-brown color. It is cut and used extensively along with yellow poplar for cabinet and carriage making, and other similar uses. Be- sides being a valuable timber tree, it is quite de- sirable for roadside and ornamental planting. 52 FOREST TREES EKA DALE KG HE -D HONG YR ac KD PMG EE PHIRI EE HS MOUNTAIN MAGNOLIA (Magnolia fraseri Walt.) HE mountain. magnolia, sometimes locally known as wahoo, is a small tree, 30 to 40 feet high, with a straight, leaning, or divided trunk, 9 to 18 inches in diameter and has wide-spreading, rather brittle branches. It is found in the rich coves and on the cool slopes of the southern Appa- lachian Mountains at elevations from 2,000 to 4,000 feet. The bark is usually smooth and grayish brown. The terminal win- ter buds are smooth, purple, 114 to 2 inches long. T he leaves are distinctive, being oblong with the lower end narrowed and “auricled” (4. ¢., having lobes like ears) at the _ base. —™ They are smooth, 10 to 12 inches long, crowded at the ends of the twigs, and drop MOUNTAIN MAGNOLIA off in the Leaf, one-third natural size. autumn. The Twig, two-thirds natural size. flowers are white, fragrant, 8 to 10 inches wide, and “perfect” (7. ¢., having stamens and pistils in the same flower. ) The fruit at maturity is red and shaped like a cucumber, 4 to 5 inches long, bearing many scar- let seeds, each in a carpel, or cell, on which is a long stiff point. The wood is light, soft, weak and easily worked. It is only occasionally used for lumber or pulp- wood, in places where practically all species are being cut. The tree is occasionally planted for ornamental purposes, but it is said to be less hardy than the other magnolias. 54 FOREST TREE OK AE DEKE AE OH KE ie D> CROK BROKE RE SE HES SASSAFRAS (Sassafras officinale N. and E.) HE sassafras is a small, aromatic tree, usually not over 40 feet in height or a foot in diameter. It is common throughout the State on dry soils, except in the higher mountains, and is one of the first broad-leaf trees to come up on abandoned fields, where the seeds are dropped by birds. It is closely related to the camphor tree of Japan. The bark of SASSAFRAS Twig, one-half natural size. Leaf, one-third natural sise. the trunk is thick, red-brown and deeply furrowed and that of the twigs is bright green. The leaves are very characteristic. It is one of the few trees having leaves of widely different shape on the same tree, or even on the same twig. Some are oval and entire, 4 to 6 inches long; others have one lobe, resembling the thumb on a mitten; while still others are divided at the outer end into 3 distinct lobes. The young leaves and twigs are quite mu- cilaginous. The flowers are clustered, greenish yellow, and open with the first unfolding of the leaves. The male and female flowers are usually on different trees. The fruit is an oblong, dark blue or black, lustrous berry, containing one seed and surrounded at the base by what appears to be a small orange-red or scarlet cup at the end of a scarlet stalk. The wood is light, soft, weak, brittle, and durable in the soil; the heartwood is dull orange-brown. It is used for posts, rails, boat-building, cooperage and for ox-yokes. The bark of the roots yields the very aromatic oil of sassafras much used for flavoring candies and various commercial products, 56 FOREST TREES OE DIO HAG RE SD HOKE-~ ARR EE PUREE ED FEROKKG EE E> FRO REDBUD (Cercis canadensis L.) HE redbud, sometimes called Judas-tree from its oriental relative of that name, is a small tree occurring under taller trees or on the borders of fields on hillsides and in valleys throughout the State, except in the mountains, though it is more abundant in the middle district. It ordinarily at- tains a height of 25 to 50 feet and a diameter of REDBUD Leaf, one-fifth natural size. Twig, two-thirds natural size. 6 to 12 inches. Its stout branches usually form a wide flat head. The bark is bright red-brown, the long narrow plates separating into thin scales. The leaves are alternate, heart-shaped, entire, 3 to 5 inches long and wide, glossy green turning in autumn to a bright clear yellow. The conspicuous, bright purplish red, pea-shaped flowers are in clusters along the twigs and small branches and appear before or with the leaves in early spring. With the redbud in its full glory, a drive through the country is likely to be one long remembered. The fruit is an oblong, flattened, many-seeded pod, 2 to 4 inches long, reddish during the summer, and often hanging on the tree most of the winter. 'The wood is heavy, hard, not strong, rich dark brown in color, and of little commercial importance. The redbud is cultivated as an ornamental tree and for that purpose might be planted more generally in this State. 61 FAREST TREES POO CR ea LED BORK AEE D> “PROMS SE > BROKE DRO HONEY LOCUST (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) HE honey locust occurs scattered throughout A ae State except high in the mountains. It grows under a wide variety of soil and moisture condi- tions. It sometimes occurs in the forest, but more commonly in corners and waste places beside roads and fields. It reaches a diameter of 30 inches and a height of 75 feet. The bark on old trees 1s dark gray and is divided into thin tight scales. The strong thorns — straight, brow ny, branched, sharp and shiny which grow on the 1 - year - old wood and re- main for many years —are suffi- cient to iden- tify the honey locust. Twig, three-quarters natural size. _The leaf 1s Leaf, one-quarter natural size. pinnate, or feather - like, with 18 to 28 leaflets; or it is twice-pinnate, con- sisting of 4 to 7 pairs of pinnate or secondary leaf- lets, each 6 to 8 inches long and somewhat resem- bling the leaf of the black locust. HONEY LOCUST The fruit is a pod, 10 to 18 inches long, often twisted, 1 to 114 inches wide, flat, dark brown or black when ripe and containing yellow sweetish pulp and seeds. The seeds are very hard and each is separated from the others by the pulp. The pods are eaten by many animals, and as the seeds are hard to digest, many are thus widely scattered from the parent tree. The wood is coarse-grained, hard, strong and moderately durable in contact with the ground. It is used for fence posts and crossties. It should not be confused with the very durable wood of the black locust. 62 FOREST TREES RO EGS SHIEH AE DO HOKE SHER SO HERE BLACK LOCUST (Yellow Locust) (Robinia pseudacacia L.) ena black locust occurs throughout the entire State and in all soils and conditions of moisture except in swamps. It is found as a forest tree only in the mountains, where it attains a height of 80 to 100 feet and a diameter of 30 inches. Throughout the other sections of the State it occurs generally in thickets on clay banks or waste places, or singly along fence rows. The twigs and branchlets are armed with straight or slightly curved sharp, strong spines, some- times as much as 1 inch in length which remain attached to the outer bark for Many years. The bark is dark brown and divides into strips as the tree grows older. The leaves are pin- nate, or feather-like, from 6 to 10 inches in length, consisting of from 7 to 19 ob- long thin leaflets. The flowers are fragrant, white or cream-colored, and BLACK LOCUST appear in early Leaf, one-third natural size. spring in graceful Twig, two-thirds natural size. pendant racemes. The fruit is a pod from 3 to 5 inches long containing 4 to 8 small hard seeds which ripen late in the fall. The pod splits open during the winter, discharging the seeds. Some seeds usually remain attached to each half of the pod, and this acts as a wing upon which the seeds are borne to considerable distances before the strong spring winds. The wood is yellow in color, coarse-grained, very heavy, very hard, strong, and very durable in con- tact with the soil. It is used extensively for fence posts, poles, tree nails, insulator pins and occasion- ally for lumber and fuel. 6 FAREST TREES Reha ee LD RoR xX ac D> PURO KK EE EIR KG EE HRY HOLLY (Ilex opaca Ait.) HE holly occurs sparingly scattered throughout the State. It prefers a rich moist soil, but is also found on the higher and drier situations. It is much less abundant now than formerly, due to the large amount gathered and shipped to the cities for Christmas decorations. It is a small evergreen tree, seldom exceeding 30 feet in height and 12 inches in diameter. The bark is light gray and roughened by wart-like growths. The numerous short, slender branches form a dense, narrow pyramidal head of strik- ing dark-green color effect, especially when well laden with the conspicuous red ) berries. The leaves are simple, alternate, oval, thick and leathery, 2 to 4 inches long, and armed with spiny teeth; they persist HOLLY on the branches for about Two-thirds natural size. three years, then they drop off in the spring. The flowers are small, whitish and inconspicuous; the male and female flowers are usually borne on separate trees. The fruit, which ripens late in the fall and per- sists on the branches over the winter, is a dull red or sometimes yellow, nearly round berry, about one-quarter of an inch in diameter containing 4 to 6 ribbed nutlets. The wood is light, tough, not strong, and nearly white. It is valued and much used for cabinet work and wood-turning. For this purpose many of the larger, finer trees have been cut and mar- keted. 64 FOREST TREES SOE SHIEK AED HOHE SE OHO OHMS SUGAR MAPLE (Acer saccharum Marsh.) HE sugar maple, often called sugar tree, is common only on the cool slopes of our higher mountains. It is generally a rather slow-growing tree, but in the open it grows faster and has a very symmetrical, dense crown, affording heavy shade. It is therefore quite extensively planted as a shade tree, The bark on young trees is light gray to brown and rather smooth, but as the tree grows older it breaks up into long, irregular plates or scales, which vary from light gray to almost black. The twigs are smooth and red- dish brown, and the winter buds sharp-pointed. The tree attains a height of more than 100 feet and a diameter of 3 feet or more, The sap yields maple sugar and maple syrup. SUGAR MAPLB Leaf, one-third natural size. Twig, one-half natural size. The leaves are 3 to 5 inches across, simple, oppo- site, with 3 to 5 pointed and sparsely toothed lobes, the divisions between the lobes being rounded. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface, lighter green beneath, turning in autumn to brilliant shades of dark red, scarlet, orange and clear yellow. The flowers are yellowish green, on long thread- like stalks, appearing with the leaves, the two kinds in separate clusters. The fruit, which ripens in the fall, consists of a two-winged “samara,” or “key,” the two wings nearly parallel, about 1 inch in length and containing a seed. It is easily carried by the wind. The wood is hard, heavy, strong, close-grained and light brown in color. It is known commercially as hard maple, and is used in the manufacture of flooring, furniture, shoe-lasts and a great variety of novelties, 65 FAREST TREES $0 Bac D> $Reo boinc KD HR KHG EE ~“HOKKG EE OHO SOURWOOD (Oaydendrum arboreum DC.) HE sourwood is found scattered throughout the State on both rich and poor soil, but is least abundant in the low alluvial parts of the State. It is a tree of small dimensions, 8 to 12 inches in diame- ter and 30 to 40 feet high, rarely larger. The bark is thin, light gray and divided into nar- row shallow ridges. On the strong, straight, first- year shoots it is often a bright red. SOURWOOD Leaf, one-half natural size. Twig, two-thirds natural size. The leaves are from. 2 to 5 inches long, simple, alternate, decidedly acid to the taste, often rough with solitary stiff hairs. They are a lustrous green on the upper surface, generally turning a deep crim- son in the fall. The flowers are small, white or cream-colored, borne in panicles from 5 to 10 inches long on the ends of the twigs, and appear in late summer, They provide storehouses of nectar from which bees make excellent honey. The fruit is a conical, dry capsule, one-third to one-half an inch in length, containing numerous small seeds. These capsules hang in drooping clus- a sometimes a foot in length, often late into the all. The wood is heavy, hard, very close-grained, com- pact, brown in color, sometimes tinged with red. It is used to some extent for turnery, handles, and for some other uses. 70 FOREST TREE KOCK HOKE > SOOKE Sy ays SD $RKKE BLACK GUM (Nyssa sylvatica Marsh.) HE black gum, often called sour gum, has been considered a weed in the forest. Weed-like, it finds footing in many types of soil and conditions of soil moisture throughout the State. In the lowlands it is occasionally found in year-round swamps with cypress, and in the hills and mountains on dry slopes with oaks and hickories. The leaves are simple, 2 to 3 inches long, entire, often broader near the apex, shiny, and dark green in color. In the fall the leaves turn a most bril- liant red. T he bark on younger trees is furrowed between flat ridges, BLACK GUM and grad- One-half natural size. ually de- velops into quadrangular blocks that are dense, hard and nearly black. The greenish flowers on long slender stems ap- pear in early spring when the leaves are about one-third grown. They are usually of two kinds, the male in many-flowered heads and the female in two to several-flowered clusters on different trees. The fruit is a dark blue, fleshy berry, two-thirds of an inch long, containing a single hard-shelled seed, and is borne on long stems, 2 to 3 in a cluster. The wood is very tough, cross-grained, not dur- able in contact with the soil, hard to work, and warps easily. It is used for crate and basket veneers, box shooks, rollers, mallets, rough floors, mine trams, pulpwood, and fuel. In the old days, the hollow trunks were used for “bee gums.” Zi FAREST TREES $6 BEE DOOR SO HENGE SO HEME SE ONES TUPELO GUM (Cotton Gum) (Nyssa aquatica Marsh.) HE tupelo gum, or cotton gum, inhabits only the deep river swamps or coastal swamps which are usually inundated during a part of the year. The commonly enlarged base, large-sized fruit, or “plum,” hanging on a long stem, together with the brittleness of the twigs, serves to distinguish it from the black gum. It forms a tall, often slowly tapering, somewhat crooked trunk, 50 to 75 feet in height and 2 to 8 feet in diameter. The spreading, rather small branches form a narrow, ob- long or pyramidal head. The branches are generally smooth and light brown in color. The bark of the trunk is thin, dark brown, and fur- rowed up and down the trunk. The leaves are sim- ple, ovate or oblong in shape, acute and often long - pointed. When mature, they ) are thick, dark green uy and lustrous on the TUPELO GUM upper side, pale and Leaf, one-third natural size. Twig, two-thirds natural size. somewhat downy on the lower side, 5 to 7 inches long and 2 to 4 inches at the top, wedge- shaped at the base, irregular and slightly notched or toothed on the margin. The leaf-stem is stout, 1 to 2 inches long, grooved and enlarged at the base. The flowers, which appear in March or April, are of two kinds, usually borne on separate trees, the male in dense round clusters, and the female solitary on long slender stems. The fruit, ripening in early fall, is a so-called “plum,” oblong or obovate in shape, about an inch long, dark purple, and has a thick, tough skin en- closing a flattened stone, borne on a slender stalk 3 to 4 inches long. The wood is light, soft, and not strong. It is used for woodenware, broom handles, fruit and vegetable packages. As lumber it is marketed as tupelo or bay poplar. The root-wood is often ex- tremely light in weight and is sometimes used for floats for fish nets. 72 . FQREST TREES / KK ~D> RRR KKK mec ED PHURKKIS EE = $RRo Kae HES $Ro KE PERSIMMON (Diospyros virginiana L.) HE persimmon, often called “simmon,” is well known throughout its range. It is a small tree, rarely exceeding 50 feet in height and 18 inches in diameter, occurring throughout the State, except in the high mountains. It seems to prefer dry, open situations, and is most abundant in old fields, though it occurs on rich bottomlands. The bark of old trees is almost black and sepa- rated into thick nearly square blocks, much like the black gum. The leaves are alternate, oval, entire, 4 to 6 inches long, dark green and shining above, paler _ be- neath. The small flow- ers, which appear in May, are yel- lowish or cream- PERSIMMON white, somewhat Leaf, one-half natural size. bell-shaped, the Twig, three-quarters natural size. two kinds occur- ring on separate trees; the male in clusters of 2 or 8, the female solitary. They are visited by many insects. The fruit is a pulpy, round, orange-colored ot brown berry, an inch or more in diameter and con- taining several flattened, hard, smooth seeds. It is strongly astringent while green, but often quite sweet and delicious when thoroughly ripe. It is much relished by children, and by dogs, ’possums and other animals. The wood is hard, dense, heavy, strong, the heart- wood brown or black, the wide sapwood white or yel- lowish. It is particularly valued for shuttles, golf- stick heads, and similar special uses, but is not of sufficient commercial use to warrant its general en- couragement as a timber tree. 73 FAREST TREES > “$a cE ED PRK DEMS SE OHSS DS HK SILVERBELL (Halesia carolina L.) HIS tree occurs in its best development in the Great Smoky Mountains, but extends through- out the whole mountainous region. It attains a height of about 100 feet and a diameter of 30 inches or more, but only in favorable localities does it grow large enough for commercial use. It is commonly found along the upper watercourses. It is occasion- ally planted, as it makes a desirable ornamental tree. The leaves are simple, opposite, oval, pointed, thin, finely toothed, and vary in length from 4 to 6 inches. The bark ranges in color from very light gray in young trees to a very dark reddish brown in old trees. It separates into » scales and strips as the tree grows older. The flowers are white or sometimes tinged with Leaf, one-half natural size. ‘ ‘ Twig, one-third natural size. Pink, nearly an inch long, and appear in early spring with the unfolding of the leaves. The pendent, bell-like flowers suggest the names silverbell and snowdrop tree. The fruit is from 1 to 2 inches long and nearly an inch wide, with a corky, four-winged covering. The solitary seed is a bony stone. SILVERBELL The wood is soft, light cherry-colored streaked with white; the sapwood is white or creamy. Where large enough, it is cut for lumber and used as a sub- stitute for cherry. The large commercial tree is by some considered a separate species, Halesia monticola Sarg. 74 FOREST TREES WHITE ASH (Fravinus americana L.) HE white ash is found throughout the State, but eee to best advantage in the rich moist soils of mountain coves and river bottomlands. It reaches an average height of 50 to 80 feet and a diameter of 2 to 3 feet, though much larger trees are found in virgin forest. The bark varies in color from a light gray toa gray-brown. The rather narrow ridges are WHITE ASH Twig, one-half natural size. Leaf, one-third natural size. separated with marked regularity by deep, diamond- shaped fissures. The leaves of the white ash are from 8 to 12 inches long and have from 5 to 9 plainly stalked, sharp- pointed leaflets, dark green and smooth above, pale green beneath. The ashes form the only group of trees in ea‘tern America that have opposite, com- pound leaves with 5 or more leaflets. This fact in itself provides a ready means of identifying the group. The flowers are of two kinds on different trees, the male in dense reddish purple clusters and the female in more open bunches, The fruit of the ash is winged, 1 to 114 inches long, resembling the blade of a canoe paddle in outline, with the seed at the handle end. The fruits mature in late summer and are distributed effectively by the winds. The wood of the white ash is extremely valuable on account of its toughness and elasticity. It is preferred to all other native woods for small tool handles, such athletic implements as rackets, bats and oars, and agricultural implements. It is also used extensively for furniture and interior finish. % FAREST TREES PER REA D> “$UROKIGRE O> HEME SE OHMS SE OME TABLE OF CONTENTS ADIOS: ~chesesieet ec ioiiempecinis COD: sistem cercenessicnthteiiens Aesculus ...... Amelanchier ... Ash, White....... Bald CyPTIes8...........2:006 16 Balsam, Mountain............. 15 She ......... Southern .... Basswood ..........0 “i Bay, Pine... Sweet oo... White Beech Betula Birch, Black .....0....0. 30 Cherry ounce 30 Bitternut Hickory............. 21 Buckeye, Sweet.................. 67 Yellow wc... 67 Butternut ............ Buttonball .... Buttonwood . Carpinus Carya Castanea .... Cedar, Red.... White woo, 17 Celtis isis cers iss cient 50 OOLCIS recs ccssiisesssszeveteorasece 61 Chamaecyparis 00.0.0... 17 Cherry, Black ..0.....c... 60 Wild .. . 60 Chestnut ........... . B4 Cornus... .. 69 Cottonwo0d oo... 27 Cottonwood, Swamp......... 26 Cucumber Tree... 52 Cypress, Bald... Diospyros ..... Dogwood .........c00 Page Elm, American........0.00.... 48 White ... Winged Fagus: scsciiiciiadcincanii Fir, Fraser. Fraxinus Gleditsia 0.0... Gum, Black..... Cotton Red Tupelo Hackberry Halesia Hemlock ou... Hemlock, Carolina Hemlock Spruce................ Hickory, Bitternut............ Mockernut Pale-leaved Pignut oo... Scaly-bark Shagbark Shellbark 24 White Holly Tlex Judas-tree ... Juglans FUMIPEL cesses. Juniperus . Linden Linn wo. Liquidambar Liriodendron Locust, Black... Honey Yellow TABLE OF CONTENTS—Continued Page Maple, Hard...........-1scee 65 Red Soft Sugar Swamp Mockernut Hickory Morus Mulberry, Red... 51 NYSSA eesesscesseeeesstscusnesens 71-72 Oak, Basket....... 89 Black .......... .. 43 Black jack.. . 45 Chestnut ....... 38 COW? ccicdicccesee: 39 Live: sicisinenisccenses 40 Mountain ........0... 388 Northern red.. Overcup ...... Post ..... .. 86 REG} eiissccasvanccxe 42 FROCK: eossiesiccednsnsencnavae 38 Scarlet .... w. 44 Spanish .... 42, 44 Southern red............ 42 Swamp chestnut... 39 Swamp post.............. 37 Water White Willow . Yellow .... Ostrya wo. Oxydendrum Persimmon Picea ........... Pine, Bay.... Black ‘ Black-bark. ............ 11 Loblolly q Longleaf . 8 Mountain ........ 4 12 Old field... 6, 7 Pitch .. 9 Pocosin wes LD PON saree cutetatd 11 Rosemary ........:00+ 6 Scrub Shortleaf Spruce Table mountain....... 12 White Yellow . Pinus ........... sd Plane tree@.....ccccseeeseeeees PlAtanuss ssecevevesiacesrssereseceee Poplar, Black............000.. 26 Carolina ............ 27 Tulip White .. Yellow . Populus Prunus Quercus ... Redbud .... Robinia ... Balik vie gue Oa NALVAG! chased. nahovenw ees Sassalras : coecicsrvecuseesiis Scaly-bark hickory............ 22 Service-berry Service tree.......... Silverbell .......... SimM0n oe ceeee Snowdrop tree...............00. 74 Sourwood ...... . 70 Spruce, Red... . 10 Sugarberry .... . 50 SYCAMOTE oo... 58 Sycamore, European......... 58 Taxodium Walnut, Black..... White . Water beech