Potomac River and its larger tributaries, Great Kanawha, New, Elk,
Little Coal, Big Sandy, Little Kanawha, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers.
=Habitat=.—Confined to river banks and swamp borders.
=Notes=.—This species, also known as White Maple, River Maple, and
Soft Maple, is one of the less valuable of the genus. Its lumber is
used principally for flooring, cheap furniture and paper pulp. Silver
Maple is extensively planted along streets and in parks. It grows
rapidly, often becoming too large, and has a less perfect crown than
some of the other maples.
[Illustration: RED MAPLE]
RED MAPLE
=Acer rubrum=, L.
=Form=.—Height 60-100 feet, diameter 1-3½ feet; trunk usually more or
less inclined or twisted; crown rather narrow and rounded.
=Leaves=.—Opposite, simple, 3-4 inches long, about as broad, lobes
3-5, coarsely toothed, green and glabrous above, whitish beneath.
=Flowers=.—March-April; polygamo-monoecious, or dioecious; in
few-flowered clusters on shoots of the previous year; petals
linear-oblong, red or orange.
=Fruit=.—May-June; paired samaras, small, smooth, wings about 1 inch
long on long, drooping pedicels.
=Bark=.—Thick, roughened by shaggy ridges, gray. The smooth bark of
young trees and limbs of large trees are silvery gray.
=Wood=.—Heavy, medium soft, close-grained, light brown, with whitish
sapwood.
=Range=.—Southern Canada to Florida and Texas.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Occurs in all parts of the State. Not
common east of the Alleghanies.
=Habitat=.—Thrives best in swamps or on stream borders, but is found
also on hillsides and ridges.
=Notes=.—The Red Maple is especially noticeable early in spring on
account of the red flowers and fruits, and in autumn when the leaves
turn bright scarlet. The wood is used for cheap furniture, turnery, and
paper pulp. It cannot be recommended highly for forestry purposes.
[Illustration: BOX ELDER]
BOX ELDER
=Acer negundo=, L.
=Form=.—Height 40-60 feet, diameter 1-2½ feet; trunk usually short
dividing into several large, spreading branches, forming an unequal,
open crown.
=Leaves=.—Opposite, compound, the 3-5 leaflets 2-4 inches long, ovate,
pointed, coarse-toothed above the middle, or sometimes slightly 3-lobed.
=Flowers=.—April; dioecious; small, yellow-green, the staminate on
slender drooping pedicels, the pistillate in narrow drooping racemes.
=Fruit=.—Matures in late summer and persists into the winter; paired
samaras hanging in racemose clusters.
=Bark=.—Somewhat roughened by narrow, close ridges, gray-brown; twigs
greenish.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, close-grained, not strong, creamy-white with
scarcely lighter colored sapwood.
=Range=.—Ontario and Vermont to Florida, Texas and Mexico.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common locally along streams at lower
elevations. Plentiful in some sections of the following counties:
Boone, Braxton, Doddridge, Fayette, Jefferson, Lewis, Monongalia, and
Tyler.
=Habitat=.—Deep moist soils of stream banks and swamp borders.
=Notes=.—Box Elder grows naturally along streams but thrives when
planted in drier soils. It is not important as a timber tree, nor very
desirable for ornamental uses. This tree is sometimes called Ash-leaved
Maple.
[Illustration: FETID BUCKEYE]
FETID BUCKEYE
=Aesculus glabra=, Willd.
=Form=.—Height 30-60 feet, diameter 12-20 inches; trunk short
supporting a deep, round-topped crown.
=Leaves=.—Opposite, digitately compound, leaflets usually 5, 3-6
inches long, oval, tapered at base, sharp-pointed, irregularly and
finely toothed, pale green above, paler beneath, smooth, when old. The
foliage is ill-smelling when bruised.
=Flowers=.—April-May; polygamo-monoecious or perfect; most of the
flowers with imperfect pistils; borne in downy terminal panicles 5-6
inches long; corolla yellow.
=Fruit=.—Matures in October; a leathery round or pear-shaped prickly
pod or capsule about 1 inch in diameter, containing a large, shining,
brown nut.
=Bark=.—Roughened by even, scaly, broken gray ridges.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, weak, pale yellow.
=Range=.—Pennsylvania to Alabama and west to Iowa and Oklahoma.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common along the Ohio River at
Wheeling. Reported from Wirt, Gilmer and Monongalia counties and from
points along the Ohio River north of Wheeling.
=Habitat=.—Moist soils of river banks and ravines.
=Notes=.—The Fetid or Ohio Buckeye is an unimportant tree of stream
borders, confined in its distribution here principally to the western
part of the State. It can easily be distinguished when in fruit from
the common species, next described, by its prickly pods. This tree is
sometimes planted on lawns but is less desirable than its European
relative the Horse Chestnut (_Aesculus hippocastanum_).
[Illustration: SWEET BUCKEYE]
SWEET BUCKEYE
=Aesculus octandra=, Marsh.
=Form=.—Height 50-80 feet, diameter 1-2½ feet; trunk usually short;
crown conical or round-topped.
=Leaves=.—Opposite, digitately compound, leaflets 5-7, oval, 4-10
inches long, long-pointed, finely toothed, smooth and dark green above,
somewhat hairy and yellowish-green beneath.
=Flowers=.—April-May; polygamo-monoecious or perfect, borne in
terminal panicles 4-12 inches long; corolla yellow, with included
stamens.
=Fruit=.—October; a large smooth irregularly rounded or pear-shaped
pod or capsule, 1-2 inches thick, 3-celled but usually bearing only
one large irregularly rounded, glossy, brown nut, which is somewhat
poisonous.
=Bark=.—Evenly furrowed, the gray-brown ridges breaking up into
irregular scales.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, yellowish, or nearly white.
=Range=.—Pennsylvania to Georgia, west to Oklahoma and Texas.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common locally. Found in the
following counties: Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge,
Fayette, Kanawha, Lewis, Logan, Marshall, Mingo, Monongalia, Monroe,
Pocahontas, Putnam, Ritchie, Summers, Tyler, Upshur (rare), Webster
(rare), and Wyoming.
=Habitat=.—Rich soil, preferring river valleys.
=Notes=.—The wood of Sweet Buckeye is not important commercially,
but is used to some extent for veneer, cooperage, candy boxes, paper
pulp, etc. The tree is a rapid grower and is sometimes planted with
satisfactory results on lawns and in parks. Variety _hybrida_ (D. C.)
Sarg. with calyx and corolla tinged with purple has been found at
Weston and other points in the State.
[Illustration: BASSWOOD]
BASSWOOD
=Tilia americana=, L.
=Form=.—Height 60-100 feet, diameter 2½-4 feet; trunk straight and
free from limbs to a considerable height; crown dense, ovoid or
round-topped.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, 5-6 inches long, obliquely heart-shaped,
coarsely serrate, thick and firm, dark-green and shining above, pale
green and almost glabrous beneath.
=Flowers=.—June; perfect; yellowish-white, fragrant, 5-20, in drooping
cymes, the peduncle or flower stalk attached for half its length to a
flat narrow greenish bract.
=Fruit=.—October; a woody, globose, nut-like drupe, about the size of
a pea and borne in drooping clusters.
=Bark=.—On old trunks deeply furrowed and with broad, scaly, light
brown ridges.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, close-grained, tough, light brownish-red, with
thick scarcely lighter sapwood.
=Range=.—Manitoba to Georgia, and Texas.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common, especially in the mountainous
and high hilly parts of the State, though occurring less frequently
than the following species.
=Habitat=.—Rich, well-drained soil of bottoms and slopes.
=Notes=.—The wood of this species is used for paper pulp, wooden
ware, furniture, kegs, buckets, barrel heads, boxes, etc. It is one of
our valuable forest trees and should be encouraged to grow wherever
it is possible. Linden, Lynn, Beetree, and Lime Tree are others of
its common names. Its smooth leaves furnish the best distinguishing
characteristic.
[Illustration: WHITE BASSWOOD]
WHITE BASSWOOD
=Tilia heterophylla=, Vent.
=Form=.—Height 60-90 feet, diameter 2-3 feet; trunk long, straight,
and slightly tapering; crown dense and rounded.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, oblong, ovate to orbicular-ovate, 5-8
inches long, firm, apex pointed, truncate or heart-shaped and usually
very unequal at base, upper surface bright green, under surface
silvery, whitened with a fine down.
=Flowers=.—June-July; perfect; regular, fragrant, yellow-white; 5-15
in drooping cymose clusters; peduncle attached for half its length to a
thin, oblong, greenish bract.
=Fruit=.—A spherical, woody, nut-like drupe about the size of a pea,
borne singly or in clusters on a common stalk attached to the bract.
=Bark=.—Deeply furrowed, grayish-brown.
=Wood=.—Similar to and used for the same purposes as that of the
preceding species.
=Range=.—New York to Florida, west to Alabama and Illinois.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—A common tree in Upshur, Randolph,
Tucker, Hampshire, Hardy, Grant, Braxton, Lewis, Webster, Nicholas,
Roane, Fayette, Kanawha, Gilmer, Monongalia, Marshall, and in several
other counties. It is more abundant than the foregoing species of
_Tilia_.
=Habitat=.—With other hardwoods in rich soil of mountains and high
hills.
=Notes=.—The White Basswood is a valuable forest tree in West
Virginia, though the commercial size is now becoming rare in most
sections. It is a rapid grower and is easily propagated. This tree
is highly recommended for timber and for ornamental use. The most
noticeable difference between this species and the foregoing is found
in the leaf surface.
[Illustration: HERCULES CLUB]
HERCULES CLUB
=Aralia spinosa=, L.
=Form=.—A small tree or shrub sometimes attaining a height of 20-30
feet and a diameter of 6-8 inches. The trunk is usually without
branches for two-thirds of its length. Branches horizontal, stout, and
stubby. The trunk and branches are armed with large prickles.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, compound or doubly compound, often 3 feet long
and 2-2½ feet across; leaflets ovate, pointed, serrate; pale beneath.
=Flowers=.—June-August; polygamous; cream white, arranged in large,
spreading panicles made up of numerous small umbels.
=Fruit=.—Matures in autumn; an ovoid black berry about ¼ inch long
each terminated with a black persistent style.
=Bark=.—Smooth, except on old trunks which are roughened by shallow
furrows; brown outside, yellow inside, covered with stout prickles.
=Wood=.—Soft, brittle, weak, brown with yellow streaks.
=Range=.—New York to Missouri and southward.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common locally west of the
Alleghanies.
=Habitat=.—Often associated with grape vines in thickets on burnt
hillsides, and in rich soil of bottom lands and swamp borders.
=Notes=.—Hercules Club or Angelica-tree is often erroneously called
Prickly Ash. It has no commercial importance except as an ornament.
Whether in bloom or in fruit the tree is very attractive and should be
seen more often on the lawn. The fruit is eagerly eaten by birds.
[Illustration: FLOWERING DOGWOOD]
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
=Cornus florida=, L.
=Form=.—Height 15-35 feet, diameter 4-12 inches; trunk short, not
often straight; crown broad and round-topped.
=Leaves=.—Opposite, simple, ovate, 3-5 inches long, tapered to an
acute apex, wedge-shaped at the base, wavy or entire on margin, bright
green above, paler beneath, smooth; mid-rib and primary veins prominent.
=Flowers=.—May; perfect; greenish, small, arranged in a dense cluster
and surrounded by a showy, white (or rarely pinkish), 4-bracted
corolla-like involucre. The white involucre and the cluster of small
flowers which it surrounds are frequently mistaken for a single flower.
=Fruit=.—Ripens in September or October; a scarlet ovoid drupe, with
a grooved stone, borne solitary or in clusters of 2-5 on a stalk.
Undeveloped pistillate flowers often persist at base of fruit.
=Bark=.—On old trunks broken into quadrangular scales, reddish-brown
to blackish.
=Wood=.—Hard, heavy, strong, tough, pale red-brown or pinkish, with
lighter sapwood.
=Range=.—Ontario, Michigan and Massachusetts to Florida, west to Texas
and Missouri.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common in all parts of the State.
=Habitat=.—Prefers moist, well-drained soils of slopes and bottoms.
=Notes=.—This well-known tree is prized for its wood which is used for
many purposes about the farm and is also manufactured into shuttles,
wedges, golf-stick heads, engravers’ blocks, brush blocks, tool handles
and for turnery. As an ornamental tree it beautifies the native woods
or the lawn by its clusters of white-bracted flowers, and later in the
season by its scarlet fruits.
[Illustration: ALTERNATE-LEAVED DOGWOOD]
ALTERNATE-LEAVED DOGWOOD
=Cornus alternifolia=, L.
=Form=.—A small tree or shrub sometimes 20-30 feet high with a
diameter of 6-8 inches; trunk short; crown broad, flat-topped and
rather dense.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, or sometimes opposite, clustered at the ends of
the limbs, ovate, taper-pointed, acute at base, entire, whitish and
minutely pubescent beneath.
=Flowers=.—April-May; cream-colored, small, borne in broad open cymes.
=Fruit=.—Matures in autumn; a deep blue spherical drupe, about
one-third inch in diameter, on reddish stalks, in cymose clusters.
=Bark=.—Smooth or slightly roughened by longitudinal fissures on old
trunks. The smooth bark of branches is greenish.
=Wood=.—Hard, heavy, tough, close-grained, brown tinged with red.
=Range=.—Nova Scotia to Alabama, west to Minnesota.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Found principally along the
Alleghanies and westward. Not common in the eastern part of the State.
=Habitat=.—Prefers stream borders, cool ravines, and moist rich soils
of hillsides.
=Notes=.—No uses are reported for the wood of the Alternate-leaved
Dogwood. Whether in bloom or in fruit the tree is very attractive in
appearance.
[Illustration: BLACK GUM]
BLACK GUM
=Nyssa sylvatica=, Marsh.
=Form=.—Height 40-100 feet, diameter 2-4 feet; trunk usually long,
clear and straight when in close stands; crown cylindrical or rounded,
of numerous horizontal and ascending slender branches.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, 2-5 inches long, oval-obovate; acuminate,
entire, firm, dark green and shining above, paler beneath, often hairy
when young.
=Flowers=.—April-May; polygamo-dioecious; greenish, the staminate
borne in many-flowered small heads on slender pedicels, the pistillate
sessile in several-flowered clusters.
=Fruit=.—Matures in autumn; an ovoid, blue-black, fleshy drupe, about
½ inch long and borne on long stalks in clusters of 1-3.
=Bark=.—Deeply furrowed, on old trunks, the ridges broken into
rectangular or hexagonal blocks; light brown to gray-black.
=Wood=.—Heavy, soft, strong, tough, difficult to split, not durable in
the soil, light yellow, with thick whitish sapwood.
=Range=.—Maine and Ontario to Florida and Texas.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—A common tree throughout the State.
Least common at high elevations and east of the Alleghanies.
=Habitat=.—Thrives best on low ground and borders of swamps, but is
common on dry slopes and ridges.
=Notes=.—Black Gum, also called Tupelo, Pepperidge, and Sour Gum, is
one of the less valuable of our forest trees, but its tough, light wood
is gaining in value and is used extensively for wheel hubs, boxes,
broom handles, wagon beds, ladders, ironing boards, rolling pins,
excelsior, baskets, and berry crates.
[Illustration: GREAT LAUREL]
GREAT LAUREL
=Rhododendron maximum=, L.
=Form=.—A shrub or small tree sometimes reaching a height of 20-25
feet; trunk short and usually twisted and bent, with contorted blanches
forming a flat irregular top.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, evergreen, mostly clustered at the ends
of branches, elliptical-oblong, 4-10 inches long, very thick, acute
apex, narrowed base, entire, smooth, dark green above, light green
beneath.
=Flowers=.—June; perfect; pale rose to white, upper petals marked with
yellow-green dots, flowers arranged in umbel-like heads 4-5 inches in
diameter.
=Fruit=.—Matures in late summer and persists through the winter;
a reddish-brown, 5-celled, many-seeded capsule, about ½ inch long,
terminated by a long persistent style.
=Bark=.—Roughened by thin, flaky scales, dark red-brown.
=Wood=.—Hard, strong, brittle, close-grained, light brown with lighter
sapwood.
=Range=.—Nova Scotia and Lake Erie south along the mountains to
Georgia.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common locally throughout the State,
most abundant in the mountainous sections.
=Habitat=.—Rich soil of stream banks, rocky mountainsides and flats.
=Notes=.—The wood of Rhododendron is only occasionally used for tool
handles, engraving blocks, and other small articles, and is excellent
for fuel. On account of its small size the tree is not commercially
important. It is one of the most beautiful of our native species and
has been appropriately selected as the State flower.
[Illustration: MOUNTAIN LAUREL]
MOUNTAIN LAUREL
=Kalmia latifolia=, L.
=Form=.—A shrub or small tree occasionally attaining a height of 15-25
feet; trunk stout, usually forked and bearing stiff, divergent branches
which form an irregular, compact, rounded head.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, evergreen, oblong or ovate-lanceolate,
3-4 inches long, acute at both ends, entire, green above and below,
persistent for two seasons.
=Flowers=.—May-June; perfect, pink or white, in many-flowered terminal
corymbs.
=Fruit=.—Matures in early autumn; a globose, 5-valved, many-seeded
capsule, covered with viscid hairs and with persistent style and calyx.
=Bark=.—Roughened by narrow, thin scales which peel off, exposing
brownish inner bark.
=Wood=.—Heavy, hard, strong, rather brittle, reddish-brown with
lighter sapwood.
=Range=.—New Brunswick, south to Florida and west to Arkansas.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Found locally in all parts of the
State.
=Habitat=.—Growing usually in thickets, sometimes with Great Laurel,
on high mountain flats and rocky slopes. Common on thin hillsides.
=Notes=.—Mountain Laurel does not grow large enough to be of much
importance as a wood producer. Occasionally small articles, such as
bucket handles, penholders, pipes, etc. are made from it. Its rich
evergreen foliage and its copious pink and white flowers are scarcely
less attractive than those of _Rhododendron Maximum_.
[Illustration: SOURWOOD]
SOURWOOD
=Oxydendrum arboreum=, (L.) D. C.
=Form=.—Height 30-60 feet, diameter 12-18 inches; trunk medium long
and slender; crown narrow and round-topped.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, oblong-lanceolate, pointed, serrate,
smooth and shining, 5-7 inches long.
=Flowers=.—July; perfect; small, white, in long, one-sided racemes
clustered in an open, terminal panicle.
=Fruit=.—Matures in early autumn; a 5-valved capsule, often persistent
into the winter.
=Bark=.—Thick, roughened by fissures and broken, grayish ridges.
=Wood=.—Hard, heavy, close-grained reddish-brown with lighter sapwood.
=Range=.—Pennsylvania and Indiana southward mostly along the mountains
to Florida and Louisiana.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Found in all sections west of the
Alleghanies, rare in the eastern part of the State.
=Habitat=.—Light, well-drained soils of hillsides and bottoms.
=Notes=.—Sour-wood, or Sour Gum, although quite common in most parts
of West Virginia, is not often used except for unimportant domestic
purposes. The tree is very ornamental when in bloom but is infrequently
planted.
[Illustration: COMMON PERSIMMON]
COMMON PERSIMMON
=Diospyros virginiana=, L.
=Form=.—Height 25-50 feet, diameter 8-14 inches; trunk usually short;
crown broad and rounded when not too much crowded.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, ovate-oblong, 4-6 inches long, smooth,
entire, dark-green and shining above, often somewhat hairy beneath.
=Flowers=.—May-June; polygamous, white or pale yellow; the staminate
in 2-3-flowered cymes; the pistillate solitary and borne on short
stalks.
=Fruit=.—Matures after frost in autumn; a spherical yellowish,
plum-like berry, containing from 1-8 large seeds, and with large,
persistent calyx; astringent when green, sweet and edible when fully
ripe.
=Bark=.—Rough on old trunks, with dark gray ridges which are broken
into somewhat rectangular sections.
=Wood=.—Hard, heavy, close-grained, taking a high polish, brown to
black with yellowish sapwood, sometimes streaked with black.
=Range=.—Connecticut to Florida and west to Texas and Iowa.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Not abundant but common locally
in scattered clumps throughout the State, most common east of the
Alleghanies. Not found at high elevations.
=Habitat=.—Thrives best in light sandy soils of bottoms and hillsides.
=Notes=.—This tree is not important as a wood-producer on account of
its small size and scattered distribution. It is well known because of
its peculiar fruit.
[Illustration: OPOSSUM WOOD]
OPOSSUM WOOD
=Halesia Carolina=, L.
=Form=.—A small tree, reaching a height in this State of 30-50 feet
with a diameter up to 10 or 12 inches. Farther south it reaches a much
larger size.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, 4-6 inches long, oblong-ovate, finely
serrate, smooth above when old, slightly pubescent beneath.
=Flowers=.—Early spring with the leaves; perfect, white, about 1 inch
long, bell-shaped, drooping on slender pedicels in crowded fascicles or
short racemes.
=Fruit=.—Matures in autumn and persistent into the winter; a 4-celled,
4-winged, dry, drupaceous fruit, 1½-2 inches long, 1 inch wide;
greenish turning brown when mature.
=Bark=.—Somewhat roughened by shallow fissures and narrow ridges.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, close-grained, light brown, with thick lighter
colored sapwood.
=Range=.—Southern West Virginia to Florida, west to Texas, Arkansas
and Illinois.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common along the Great Kanawha and
New rivers from the eastern part of Kanawha County through Fayette and
Summers counties.
=Habitat=.—Rich slopes and banks of streams.
=Notes=.—The Opossum Wood has two other common names, Snowdrop,
and Silver-bell Tree, both names referring to the white bell-shaped
flowers. The tree is of no commercial importance here, but is very
attractive when planted as an ornament. Variety _monticola_, with
longer leaves and fruit, also occurs with this species.
[Illustration: WHITE ASH]
WHITE ASH
=Fraxinus americana=, L.
=Form=.—Height 50-100 feet, diameter 2-4 feet; trunk usually long and
free from branches for many feet; crown pyramidal and open.
=Leaves=.—Opposite, pinnately compound, 8-12 inches long; the 7-9
leaflets 3-5 inches long, ovate or lance-oblong, pointed, nearly or
quite entire, glabrous, dark green above, pale and either smooth or
pubescent beneath.
=Flowers=.—May; dioecious; the staminate in dense red-purple clusters;
the pistillate in loose panicles.
=Fruit=.—Matures in early autumn, and persists into the winter;
samaras 1-2 inches long in drooping paniculate clusters.
=Bark=.—Furrowed deeply, the ridges firm, narrow, flattened,
brownish-gray.
=Wood=.—Heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, tough and elastic, brown
with thick sapwood.
=Range=.—Nova Scotia to Minnesota, southward to Florida and Texas.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common throughout the State.
=Habitat=.—Grows in many situations, but prefers rich moist loamy soil.
=Notes=.—The White Ash is one of our valuable timber trees, producing
wood which is manufactured into agricultural implements, wagons,
furniture, tool handles, and interior finish. It is by far the most
common Ash but is nowhere abundant.
[Illustration: RED ASH]
RED ASH