Magnolia grandiflora L.
Magnolia is one of the best-known trees in the eastern part of the
state. No other tree excels it in the combined beauty of leaves and
flowers. Occurring naturally in rich moist soil on the borders of river
swamps and nearby uplands in the Coastal Plain to the valley of the
Brazos River, it has been widely cultivated for its ornamental value. In
its natural habitat, it attains heights generally of 60 to 80 feet and
trunk diameters up to 4 feet. The dense pyramidal head, or crown, is
made up of numerous small spreading branches and branchlets.
[Illustration: SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA (Leaf and flower, one-fourth natural
size; twig, one-half natural size)]
The LEAVES are evergreen, thick, leathery, elliptical or oval, dark
green and shiny above, rusty or silvery beneath, and mostly from 5 to 8
inches long, and 2 to 3 inches wide, with prominent midribs. They remain
on the tree for approximately 2 years.
The large FLOWERS are 6 to 8 inches broad, with pure white petals
surrounding a splash of bright purple in the center, and have a pleasing
fragrance.
The FRUIT is a rounded or oval aggregate 3 to 4 inches long containing
many seeds, each enclosed in a follicle. These open in the fall and
display the bright red seeds dangling on slender threads.
The WOOD is moderately heavy, hard, and of a creamy color. It is used
chiefly for furniture, Venetian blinds, and fuel.
SWEETBAY (Sweetbay Magnolia)
Magnolia virginiana L.
Sweetbay, better known locally as white or swampbay, is found in the
southern part of the Texas pine belt to western Montgomery County, in
swamps and rich, moist soils. Often appearing as a clump of sprouts in
open woods, in dense forests it grows as a tree 60 to 90 feet high, and
up to 3 feet in diameter.
The bark is light gray; the branchlets silky-white.
The LEAVES are simple, oblong, pale green above and hairy-white beneath,
4 to 6 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, remaining on sprout growth to
spring, usually dropping from older trees in the fall.
[Illustration: SWEETBAY (Leaf, one-third natural size; twig, two-thirds
natural size; fruit, one-fourth natural size)]
The fragrant FLOWERS, with 9 to 12 creamy-white petals on slender smooth
stems, measure 2 to 3 inches across. They continue to open during
several weeks of spring and early summer. The FRUIT aggregate or “bur”
is oval-shaped, dark red or brown, about 2 inches long, and contains
scarlet seeds which are usually oval, flattened, and less than ½ inch
long.
The WOOD is soft, creamy white to reddish, and is used for furniture,
boxes, woodenware, and venetian blinds.
PAWPAW
Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal
This odd and attractive tree does not grow abundantly in Texas and seems
to be little known. It is found near streams in the extreme east portion
of the state and in greater abundance in Harrison and Grayson Counties.
It is seldom over 30 feet high with a trunk 8 or 10 inches in diameter.
The BARK on young trees and branches is a smooth, clean brown; on older
trees becoming blotched with gray, and bearing a few small wart-like
excrescences.
The LEAVES are obovate—lanceolate, 8 to 12 inches long, light, bright
green above and paler below.
The FLOWERS are strikingly characteristic. The three light green, hairy
sepals are early deciduous. The outer three petals are a rich
brownish-purple and deeply veined. The inner three petals are pointed,
glandular, and erect.
The FRUIT is an oblong berry 3 to 6 inches long, and contains a number
of large, brown seeds. When ripe it falls to the ground, turning dark
brown. The deep yellow flesh is palatable, though some people do not
care for its unique flavor. The tree blooms and bears as a shrub or
tree.
The WOOD is light, weak, and spongy, yellow in color, and is of no known
value.
[Illustration: PAWPAW (Leaf, one-fourth natural size; twig, two-thirds
natural size)]
REDBAY
Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng.
Redbay is native to the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states from Virginia to
southeastern and southern Texas and is a member of the Laurel family. In
all, about 100 species of Persea are found in North and South America.
Redbay grows to 70 feet in height and 3 feet in diameter, with a
well-shaped head of erect, stout, dark green branches. It grows in
moist, rich soils along the streams and in swamps and sometimes in drier
soils along with longleaf pine, over the coastal region.
[Illustration: REDBAY (Illustrations, two-thirds natural size)]
The aromatic LEAVES are oblong, thick or leathery, up to 4 inches in
length and 1½ inches in width, bright green with the margin entire and
with a narrow, orange-colored midrib. They remain green over the first
winter. The yellowish-white FLOWERS are in small clusters.
The FRUIT is a nearly round, rather fleshy, shiny, dark blue or nearly
black drupe, about ½ inch long. It ripens in the autumn and contains a
large rounded stone.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, strong, bright red, with thin, lighter colored
sapwood. It is used for cabinet-making, and interior house finish, and
has been used for boat construction.
SILKBAY (Persea humilis Nash) is a dwarf or low growing shrub or tree 6
to 10 feet in height occurring in southern Texas.
SASSAFRAS
Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees
This small tree with aromatic leaves and twigs is usually not over 40
feet in height or a foot in diameter. It is common in Texas west to the
Brazos River on the drier soils, and is one of the first broad-leaved
trees to grow on abandoned fields, where the seeds are dropped by birds.
The species is closely related to the camphor tree of Japan. The BARK is
red-brown and deeply furrowed while the bark of the twigs is bright
green.
The LEAVES are unusual in that they vary widely in 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 a mitten; while still others are
divided at the outer end into 3 distinct lobes.
[Illustration: SASSAFRAS (Twig, one-half natural size; leaf and fruit,
one-third natural size)]
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
drupe surrounded at the base by what appears to be a small orange-red or
scarlet cup at the end of the scarlet peduncle.
The WOOD is light, soft, weak, brittle, and durable in the soil; the
heartwood is dull orange-brown. It is used for posts and crossties. The
bark of the roots yields the very aromatic oil of sassafras much used
for flavoring candies and various commercial products. The bark of the
root is sold in small bundles for making sassafras tea.
WITCH-HAZEL
Hamamelis virginiana L.
This tall-growing shrub which has the peculiar habit of blooming in the
late fall and ripening its fruit in early spring is native to the
extreme eastern portion of Texas, being found on rich soils of streams
or along the borders of the forest.
The BARK is smooth, white, gray, and mottled with light brown.
The LEAVES are usually obovate, 3 to 5 inches long, prominently veined,
with a wavy margin, very irregular at the base, bright green above and
slightly paler below. They are generally smooth.
The odd, yellow FLOWERS are borne in clusters along the branch, with
long, very narrow twisted petals. They develop during November,
December, and January, the time depending somewhat on the weather, and
possess a refreshing fragrance. The FRUIT is a hard, tough, two-celled
capsule, with two beaks. It divides in half, each half containing a
shiny black seed. In the late summer or early autumn the capsules pop
open, discharging the seeds.
[Illustration: WITCH-HAZEL (Leaf, one-half natural size; flower and
fruit, natural size)]
The WOOD is hard and close-grained. The trees do not grow large enough
to be of commercial value.
An analgesic extract used in lotions and balms is obtained from the
inner bark by distillation.
SWEETGUM (Redgum)
Liquidambar styraciflua L.
Sweetgum is a valuable and sometimes troublesome forest tree in East
Texas. It occurs on rich river bottoms and in swamps subject to frequent
overflow, as well as on the dried uplands, as far west as the San
Jacinto River Basin. The BARK is a light gray, roughened by corky
scales, later becoming deeply furrowed. After the second year the twigs
often develop corky projections of bark, which give them a winged
appearance.
The simple, alternate star-shaped LEAF with its 5 to 7 points or lobes,
is 5 to 7 inches across and aromatic. In the fall its coloring ranges
from pale yellow through orange and red to a deep bronze.
[Illustration: SWEETGUM (Leaf and fruit, one-third natural size; twig,
two-thirds natural size)]
The FLOWERS of both sexes appear on the same tree and open with the
leaves. The FRUIT, a head an inch or more in diameter, is made up of
many capsules with projecting spines. It hangs on the tree late into the
winter.
The WOOD is moderately hard, close-grained, and not durable on exposure.
The reddish-brown heartwood, which suggests the name red gum, is not
present to any appreciable extent in logs under 16 inches in diameter.
The wood is extensively used for flooring, interior finish, paper pulp,
and veneers for baskets of all kinds.
In the uplands, this species competes aggressively with the more
valuable Southern pines. The control of sweetgum is, therefore, a
problem. This attractive species should be more widely planted for
ornamental use.
AMERICAN SYCAMORE
Plantanus occidentalis L.
American sycamore, also called planetree and buttonwood, is considered
the largest hardwood tree in North America. It occurs throughout eastern
Texas to Zavalla County. It is most abundant and reaches its largest
size along streams and on rich bottomlands. It grows rapidly and
occasionally attains a height of 140 to 170 feet and a diameter of 10 to
11 feet.
The BARK of the sycamore is a characteristic feature; on the younger
trunk and large limbs it is smooth, greenish-gray in color. The outer
bark of limbs and upper trunk flakes off in large patches and exposes
the nearly white younger bark. Near the base of old trees, the bark
becomes thick, dark brown and divided by deep furrows.
[Illustration: AMERICAN SYCAMORE (Fruit and leaf, one-third natural
size)]
The LEAVES are simple, alternate, 4 to 7 inches long and about as broad;
light green and smooth above, and paler below. The base of the petiole
is hollow and in falling off exposes the winter bud. The multiple FRUIT
forms a ball about 1 inch in diameter, which hangs on its flexible
peduncle—3 to 5 inches long. During early spring the fruit ball breaks
up, and the small nutlets are scattered widely by the wind.
The WOOD is hard and moderately strong, but decays rapidly in the
ground. It is used for butchers’ blocks, tobacco boxes, furniture, and
interior finish.
HAWTHORN (Haw)
Crataegus L.
Hawthorn, as treated here, represents about 30 different species and
varieties distributed throughout the state. Members of the group occur
on the poorest and richest soils, on the shallowest and deepest, and on
the limestone hills as well as on the rich bottom and swamp lands. Most
of the forms have a common likeness in possessing thorns and bearing
white blossoms and red or yellow fruit. Some species are planted as
ornamental trees, but otherwise the group is of little commercial value.
[Illustration: HAWTHORN (Leaf and twig, two-thirds natural size; fruit,
one-half natural size)]
The BARK is generally thin, gray in color, and on the old stems broken
up into thin, narrow scales.
The LEAVES are simple, alternate, mostly oval or wedge-shaped, notched
on the edges, and usually from 2 to 3 inches long.
The FLOWERS are white, some fragrant and others with a slightly
unpleasant odor; they appear in early spring. The FRUIT varies from
globular to oblong, from ¼ to ¾ inch in diameter; some when ripe have a
pulpy, sweet, edible flesh, surrounding from 1 to 5 bony seeds.
The WOOD is strong, tough, heavy, hard, but rarely used for any purpose.
Many species of birds are attracted to these trees and bushes by the
fruit and for the protection offered for nesting. Blueberry hawthorn, C.
brachyacanthu, fruit ripens in the late summer and is valuable for deer
food. The fruit of most species ripens in the fall, and one or two
varieties yield a fruit highly prized for making jelly.
RIVERFLAT HAWTHORN (Mayhew)
Crataegus opaca Hook. and Arn.
This species is a native of East Texas, being found as far west as the
Trinity River. It grows along rivers at the edges of swamps and ponds,
where water stands a part of the year. These trees often form extensive
thickets. The FRUIT of this haw, unlike other Texas haws, matures in
late April or May. After the fruit is gone, it is more difficult to
distinguish it from other haws. It is of low, spreading habit, sometimes
becoming a tree 20 to 30 feet high and about a foot in diameter. It
usually bears a few thorns about 1 inch long on branches two years old.
[Illustration: RIVERFLAT HAWTHORN (Leaves, flowers, and fruit, one-half
natural size)]
On old trees the BARK is deeply fissured and divided into dark brown,
persistent scales. The wood has no commercial value.
The LEAVES are about 2 inches long, pointed, narrowing toward the stem,
finely toothed from the middle of the tip, sometimes slightly lobed,
dull green, and rather downy beneath.
The FLOWERS appearing in March are the largest of Crataegus, 1 inch in
diameter, white, and borne in clusters of only 2 or 3. The FRUIT, an
unusually large haw, is sometimes nearly an inch in diameter. When fully
ripe, these haws are scarlet, lustrous, mellow, and pleasantly acid. The
fruit is gathered in large quantities for making mayhaw jelly.
MEXICAN PLUM
Prunus mexicana S. Wats.
This common wild plum is a small tree reaching 20 to 25 feet in height
and 8 to 10 inches in diameter. Uncommonly it attains only large shrub
size.
The BARK is dark, varying from gray to nearly black. There are curling
scales on young branches but on old trunks the bark becomes rough and
deeply furrowed.
[Illustration: MEXICAN PLUM (Leaf, three-fourths natural size; flowers
and fruit, one-half natural size)]
The LEAVES, when mature, are alternate, oval, abruptly pointed, finely
and doubly toothed along the margin, dark yellow-green, smooth and
shiny, thick and firm, 2 to 3 inches long by 1 to 2 inches wide,
narrowed or rounded at the base and prominently veined on both surfaces.
The white FLOWERS appear in numerous small clusters in March before the
leaves. With a profusion of flowers, this tree is one of the delights of
early spring in the woods. The FRUIT, or plum, which ripens in late
summer, is dark purple-red color with a bluish “bloom”, about 1¼ inches
in diameter, and varies widely in its palatability. The stone is about ¾
inch long, and smooth. The dorsal edge is ridged; the ventral edge
grooved.
This species of plum does not sucker to form thickets, is drought
resistant, and has been used for grafting stock for the production of
commercial plums.
FLATWOODS PLUM (Black Sloe)
Prunus umbellata Ell.
This shrub or small tree with a short, often crooked, or inclining trunk
and a flat-topped head and slender branches is rarely over 20 feet high.
Branchlets at first covered with a dense, pale pubescence, soon become
smooth and bright red during the first year and dull dark brown the
second year. It occurs throughout the eastern portion of the state.
[Illustration: FLATWOODS PLUM (Two-thirds natural size)]
BARK ¼ inch thick, dark brown, almost black, and broken diagonally into
small, hard, appressed, persistent scales. LEAVES bright bronze-green
with red margins and petiole when they unfold; at maturity, usually less
than 2½ inches long, ovate-lanceolate to oblong with a rounded or
slightly cordate base; leaf thin, dark green above, paler below; usually
furnished with two large dark glands at the base; margins finely and
sharply serrate with incurved teeth.
Small white FLOWERS appearing in umbels of 3 or 4 flowers before the
leaves. Flowers ⅔ inch in diameter. FRUIT a drupe on a stem ½ to 1 inch
long, round, ½ inch in diameter, and with a tough, black, yellow, or
bright red skin covered with a glaucous bloom, and with thick, acid
flesh. Stone flattened, brittle-walled, and wrinkled. Dorsal edge
grooved; ventral edge with conspicuous ridge. The fruit is relished by
deer.
BLACK CHERRY
Prunus serotina Ehrh.
A medium-sized tree, up to about 70 feet high and 1 to 3 feet in
diameter, black cherry is found in eastern Texas and in the mountains of
West Texas. The forest-grown trees have long clear trunks with little
taper. Open-grown trees have short trunks with many branches and
irregular spreading crowns. The BARK on branches and young trunks is
smooth and bright reddish-brown, marked by conspicuous, narrow, white,
horizontal lines, and has a bitter almond taste. On the older trunks the
bark becomes rough and broken into thick, irregular plates.
[Illustration: BLACK CHERRY (Leaf and fruit, one-third natural size;
twig, two-thirds natural size)]
The LEAVES are alternate, simple, oval to lance-like in shape, 2 to 6
inches long and 1-1½ inches wide, with fine, incurved serrations, shiny
above, and paler beneath. Cattle eating wilted leaves may be fatally
poisoned.
The FRUIT is a dull purplish-black drupe, about as large as a pea, and
is borne in long hanging panicles. The fruit ripens in late summer, is
edible though slightly bitter, and is relished by wildlife.
The WOOD is reddish-brown with yellowish sapwood, moderately heavy,
hard, strong, fine-grained, and does not warp or split in seasoning.
With the exception of black walnut, cherry lumber has a greater unit
value than any other hardwood of the eastern United States. Cherry is
prized for furniture.
The SOUTHWESTERN BLACK CHERRY, Prunus serotina var. rufula (Woot. and
Standl.) McVaugh is found in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas. At
least five other cherry species are native to Texas. All have shrubby
growth.
CAROLINA LAURELCHERRY
Prunus caroliniana (Mill.) Ait.
Called by many local names such as cherry laurel, wild peach, and mock
orange, this species is native to the eastern portion of the state to
the valley of the Guadalupe River, where it is found on deep rich moist
bottomlands. It is apparently free from disease and quite adaptable for
landscape planting. It is usually a small tree but sometimes reaches a
height of 50 to 60 feet and 18 inches in diameter when cultivated. The
partially withered leaves and young branches can be fatal to animals
browsing upon them, owing to presence of poisonous hydrocyanic acid.
[Illustration: CAROLINA LAURELCHERRY (Two-thirds natural size)]
The BARK is rather smooth, gray, and marked by almost black blotches.
The LEAVES are persistent, oblong-lanceolate, with a few tiny sharp
teeth along the margins, dark lustrous green above, paler below. They
cling until the second year.
The small white FLOWERS come in clusters, in early spring. The FRUIT, a
lustrous black drupe, ripens in autumn, and clings until the following
spring. The fruit is eaten by some birds.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, rich brown in color,
with a thick, lighter colored sapwood.
EBONY BLACKBEAD (Texas Ebony)
Pithecellobium flexicaule (Benth.) Coult.
This beautiful evergreen occurs as a small tree or shrub in South Texas
from Matagorda Bay and south into Mexico. Its short spreading branches,
forming a wide, round head, carry stout zigzag brachlets, dark
reddish-brown or light gray, armed with persistent stipular spines ¼ to
½ inch long.
The LEAVES, about 2 inches long, are feather-like (twice pinnate) with
sessile, leathery leaflets that are dark green and shiny on the upper
surface, paler on the lower surface, and ¼ to ⅓ inch long.
[Illustration: EBONY BLACKBEAD (Leaf and fruit, two-thirds natural size)]
The FLOWERS are light yellow or cream colored, fragrant, and bloom from
June to August in dense cylindric or interrupted spikes 1½ inches long.
The FRUIT ripens in the fall and remains on the branches until after the
flowering season the following year. It is a flattened, curved, hairy
pod, 4 to 6 inches long, and about 1 inch wide.
The WOOD is very heavy, hard, close-grained, dark red-brown tinged with
purple, almost indestructible when used for fence posts, and valued for
cabinet work.
The tree is considered the most valuable species in the lower Rio Grande
Valley. Mexicans use the seed as a substitute for coffee.
CATCLAW ACACIA (Una de Gato)
Acacia greggii A. Gray
Found on dry gravelly mesas, the sides of low canyons and the banks of
mountain streams in the Rio Grande Valley and westward, this small tree
rarely reaches a height of 30 feet, and has a trunk up to 12 inches in
diameter. The top or head consists of numerous spreading branches and
smooth pale brown or red branchlets, armed with stout curved spines.
[Illustration: CATCLAW ACACIA (Fruit and leaves, one-half natural size)]
The small, bipinnately compound LEAVES with 1 to 3 pinnae, the leaflets
of which are about ¼ inch long.
The fragrant yellow FLOWERS appear during the summer in dense, oblong,
pubescent spikes, usually 2 to 3 in a cluster at the end of a branch.
The FRUIT matures by midsummer into a twisted or distorted pod, 2 to 4
inches long by about ¾ inch wide. The pod is smaller between each of the
6 to 8 seeds, which are nearly round, flattened, dark brown and shiny.
The pods hang unopened on the branches until the winter or the following
spring.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, durable, and clear brown
or red in color.
GREGG LEADTREE
Leucaena greggii S. Wats.
This small, beautiful tree grows wild in western Texas from the upper
San Saba River to Devil’s River. It grows along the banks of streams and
in moist ravines, and reaches a size of 15 to 20 feet in height and 4 to
5 inches in diameter.
[Illustration: GREGG LEADTREE (Leaf and fruit, two-thirds natural size)]
The LEAVES are finely and doubly compound; with 10 to 14 feather-like
pinnae, each containing from 30 to 60 small leaflets, arranged along
opposite sides of the rachis. Each leaflet is elliptical, grayish-green
or bluish-green, smooth, and about ⅓ inch long.
The white FLOWERS are clustered in dense round heads, about 1 inch in
diameter, borne on a long peduncle. Each tiny flower has protruding
hairs which give the head a fuzzy appearance.
The pods, or FRUIT, are 6 to 8 inches long and about ½ inch wide, flat,
and with narrow wing-like edges.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, close-grained, clear brown streaked with red,
with thin, clear sapwood.
Two other species of mimosa are found in Texas: L. pulverulenta
(Schlect.) Benth., found above the mouth of the Rio Grande; and L.
retusa Benth., in Jeff Davis, Kimble, Real, Uvalde, and Valverde
Counties.
HONEY MESQUITE
Prosopis juliflora var. glandulosa (Torr.) Cockerell
This well-known small tree is found in the central and western part of
the state. The short trunk, usually only 6 to 8 inches in diameter,
divides into many branches forming a loose, open top or crown.
The root system is very large, consisting of a thick taproot sometimes
extending downward to a depth of 30 to 40 feet, with many radiating
roots.
[Illustration: HONEY MESQUITE (One-fourth natural size)]
The LEAVES are pinnately compound, consisting of 12 to 20 leaflets
attached along a central rachis, or “stem”, 8 to 10 inches long. The
leaflets are often 2 inches long, smooth, dark green, and pointed. Near
their bases are small spines.
The fragrant FLOWERS are tiny and in clusters (spikes) from 2 to 4
inches long. The FRUIT is a pod about 4 to 9 inches, narrowed between
each of the 10 to 20 seeds enclosed in a thick sweet pulp, used by the
natives as food and eagerly sought by wildlife and livestock.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, and dark reddish-brown in color. It is much
used for fuel and, because it is durable in the ground, for fence posts.
Mesquite has long been designated as P. juliflora (Sw.) D.C., with the
varieties glandulosa (Torr.) Cockerell and velutina (Woot.) Sarg. found
in Texas.
WESTERN HONEY MESQUITE (P. juliflora var. torreyana L. Benson) occurs in
southern and Trans-Pecos regions of Texas. This species is usually a
shrub or sometimes a small tree.
EASTERN REDBUD
Cercis canadensis L.
Eastern Redbud, sometimes called Judas-tree from its oriental relative
of that name, is a small tree scattered through the woods of East Texas
to the Brazos River. It attains a height of 25 to 50 feet and a diameter
of 6 to 12 inches. Its stout branches usually form a wide flat head.
[Illustration: EASTERN REDBUD (Twig, two-thirds natural size; fruit and
leaf, one-third natural size)]
The BARK of the trunk is divided into long narrow plates, the bright
red-brown surface separating into thin scales.
The LEAVES are alternate, heart-shaped, entire, 3 to 5 inches long and
wide, glossy green, turning a bright clear yellow in autumn.
The conspicuous, bright purplish-red FLOWERS are in clusters along the
twigs and small branches, and appear before or with the leaves in early
spring.
The FRUIT is an oblong, flattened, many-seeded pod, 2 to 4 inches long,
reddish during the summer and often hanging on the tree through the
following summer.
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 more generally planted in this state.
Several varieties of Cercis canadensis have been described in Texas.
HONEYLOCUST
Gleditsia triacanthos L.
Honeylocust occurs naturally in the eastern part of the state to the
Brazos River. It grows under a wide variety of soil and moisture
conditions and is a popular tree for planting in the drier portions of
Texas. It reaches a diameter of 30 inches and a height of 75 feet. The
BARK on old trees is dark gray and is divided into thin, tight scales.
The strong, straight or branched, brown, sharp and shiny thorns, which
grow on the 1-year-old wood and remain for many years, are sufficient to
identify the honeylocust.
The LEAF is pinnate or feather-like, with 18 to 28 leaflets; or it is
bi-pinnate, consisting of 4 to 7 pairs of pinnae, each 6 to 8 inches
long.
[Illustration: HONEYLOCUST (Twig, three-quarters natural size; leaves
and fruit, one-quarter natural size)]
The FRUIT, a 10 to 18 inch pod, is often twisted, 1 to 1½ inches wide,
flat, dark brown or black when ripe, and contains a yellow sweetish pulp
and dark brown seeds. The seeds are hard and separated by pulp. The pods
are eaten by many animals, and as the seeds are hard to digest, many are
widely scattered from the parent tree.
The WOOD is coarse-grained, hard, strong, and moderately durable in
contact with the ground.
Honeylocust is a good tree to substitute for the black locust which has
been almost exterminated in West Texas by the locust borer.
TEXAS HONEYLOCUST (G. texana Sarg.), found in the Brazos River
bottomlands, is reported to be a hybrid between G. triacanthos and G.
aquatica.
WATERLOCUST
Gleditsia aquatica Marsh.
In river bottoms and swamps along the Gulf Coast to the Brazos River and
north to Arkansas is found the waterlocust, a close relative of the
well-known black locust. It can be distinguished by the small pod having
one seed, rarely two or three.
[Illustration: WATERLOCUST (One-half natural size)]
The waterlocust reaches a height of 60 feet and diameter up to 3 feet.
The trunk is usually short, dividing into several spreading, and often
distorted, branches. The branchlets have sharp spines from 3 to 5 inches
in length, dark red and shiny.
The pinnately compound LEAVES are 5 to 8 inches long with 12 to 20
leaflets arranged on opposite sides of the leaf rachis. Each leaflet is
an inch or so in length, oblong, sometimes slightly toothed on the edge,
dull green or yellow-green above and dark green on the lower surface.
The FLOWERS appear in small clusters of green flowers on purple pedicels
in a raceme 3 to 4 inches long, and grow from the axil of the leaf
rachis and twig. The flowers bloom well after the leaves are out. The
FRUIT pods hang in graceful racemes. The pods are 1 inch wide and 1 to 2
inches long, thin walled, tough, papery, chestnut brown, and shiny. The
SEEDS are flattened, nearly round, about ½ inch wide, and orange-brown.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, strong, light reddish-brown, and surrounded by
a wide band of clear yellow sapwood.
BLACK LOCUST (Yellow Locust)
Robinia pseudoacacia L.
Black locust is not native to Texas, so far as known, but has been
widely planted here and has escaped from cultivation. Black locust
requires deep, well-drained, moist soil for good growth. It grows
indifferently to poorly on well-drained, dry sites. Of late years it has
been severely damaged by the locust borer and is no longer recommended
for planting in pure stands.
[Illustration: BLACK LOCUST (Leaf and fruit, one-third natural size;
twig, two-thirds natural size)]
The twigs and branchlets are armed with paired, straight or slightly
curved, sharp, strong spines, sometimes as much as 1 inch in length,
which remain attached to the outer bark for many years.
The LEAVES are pinnate, or feather-like, from 6 to 10 inches long, with
7 to 19 oblong, thin leaflets.
The FLOWERS are fragrant, white or cream-colored, and appear in graceful
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 most of the seeds. Some seeds usually remain
attached to each half of the pod.
The WOOD is yellow, coarse-grained, heavy, very hard, strong, and
durable in contact with the soil. It is used extensively for fence
posts, poles, tree nails, insulator pins, and occasionally for lumber
and fuel.
HERCULES-CLUB (Prickly-Ash)
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis L.
This tree is a native of East Texas and ranges westerly to the valley of
the Colorado River and northward to Dallas and Tarrant Counties, and to
some extent to the Rio Grande Valley. It is a small tree, seldom over 30
feet in height, with a short trunk usually under 1 foot in diameter. It
seems to prefer a well-drained, light, sandy soil, and is often found
growing on bluffs near rivers.
[Illustration: HERCULES-CLUB (Leaf and fruit, one-half natural size;
spines natural size)]
The BARK is the most characteristic feature of this tree. It is gray,
and with numerous corky tubercles. The aromatic inner bark, with its
strong pungent juice, has given this tree a number of local names, such
as “tingle-tongue”, and “toothache tree.” The inner bark was a favorite
in old-time home remedies for the relief of toothache.
The LEAVES are compound, 5 to 8 inches long, with 7 to 17 ovate,
toothed, bright green leaflets.
The small, pale green FLOWERS, borne in loose, wide-branched cymes, 4 to
5 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide, bloom in early spring when the
leaves are almost half grown. The small FRUIT, a one-seeded carpel,
ripens in early summer. The seeds hang outside the carpels and are eaten
by birds.
The soft, light brown WOOD has no special known value.
A variety, fruiticosum (A. Gray) S. Wats., is a shrubby form found in
West Texas. It has short, often 3-foliate, pubescent leaves and blunt,
leathery leaflets.
COMMON HOPTREE (Wafer-Ash)
Ptelea trifoliata L.
This small tree or large shrub is found scattered over the eastern
portion of the state. The bark and leaves are bitter and strong-scented
and possess tonic qualities.
The hoptree has a straight, slender trunk 6 to 8 inches in diameter and
seldom reaches a height of more than 20 feet.
[Illustration: COMMON HOPTREE (Fruit, three-fourths natural size; leaf,
one-third natural size)]
The LEAVES are composed of 3 leaflets, sometimes 5, each of which is
oval or pear-shaped and pointed, about 4 to 6 inches long and 2 to 3
inches wide, and dark green on the upper surface. The central leaflet is
the largest.
The FRUIT consists of a small, round, 2-seeded, winged “key” or
“samara”, resembling somewhat the familiar paper caps for toy pistols.
The seeds occur in dense drooping clusters and hang on the tree over
winter.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, yellowish-brown, and close-grained. The shrub
is often planted as an ornamental.
SHINING SUMAC (Dwarf or Flameleaf Sumac)
Rhus copallina L.
Shining sumac is found growing naturally west to the San Antonio River.
It is more commonly a shrub than a tree and grows in clumps and thickets
around the edges of the fields and in other open places. The leaves turn
crimson in the fall and add a vivid note to the autumn coloring. The
tree spreads by means of shallow root-runners.
The BARK is almost smooth, with horizontal splashes of light and dark
gray, and many small excrescences. This papery outer bark cracks at
irregular intervals, exposing spots of reddish-brown beneath.
[Illustration: SHINING SUMAC (Leaf and fruit one-half natural size)]
The compound LEAVES are alternate, 6 to 8 inches long, with 9 to 21
small ovate-lanceolate leaflets, glossy green above, downy beneath. This
sumac is easily distinguished from others by the fact that the leaf
rachis is winged. The leaves are rich in tannin, and are used in large
quantities for curing leather, and for the manufacture of dyes.
The tiny, pale green FLOWERS are borne in compact conical, panicles in
July. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. The small
FRUIT is red, covered with short hairs, and has an acid taste. The
fruits cling, and are eaten by birds in late winter.
The reddish-brown WOOD is soft, light, and coarse-grained.
PRAIRIE SUMAC (R. lanceolata [A. Gray] Britton) is found on the prairies
of eastern Texas to the valley of the Rio Grande, often forming thickets
on the banks of small streams. This species is distinguished by its
narrow, acute leaflets and its larger flowers and fruit.
POISON-SUMAC
Toxicodendron vernix (L.) Kountze
All parts of this beautiful plant give off toxic oils that may irritate
and blister the skin like the oils of poison ivy. Poison-sumac may grow
as a shrub with several clustered stems, or as a tree occasionally 25
feet high with a trunk 5 to 6 inches in diameter. The slender, smooth
branchlets are at first reddish-brown with orange-colored lenticels,
later becoming light gray and marked with elevated and conspicuous
leaf-scars.
[Illustration: POISON-SUMAC (Leaf, one-half natural size; fruit often
larger)]
The compound, alternate LEAVES are quite different from those of other
sumacs, shaped more like those of ash, for which reason it is often
called “poison ash.” The leaf-stems are always reddish, and usually
quite conspicuous. The leaves are 7 to 14 inches long, with 7 to 13
ovate-oblong leaflets, 3 to 4 inches long. The leaflets are bright green
above, paler beneath, usually with a red midrib.
The small FLOWERS are borne in panicles much less compact than those of
other sumacs. The FRUIT is a lustrous white drupe, born in slender,
drooping panicles. The fruit matures in September and is eaten by birds
and rabbits. The sap can be used to make a black, durable varnish.
AMERICAN HOLLY
Ilex opaca Ait.
American holly is found on rich, moist soils of bottomlands in East
Texas and westward to Wilson County. A tree often 50 feet high,
frequently attains heights of 80 to 100 feet and diameters up to 4 feet.
A large specimen may be seen at the Texas Forest Service’s Indian Mound
Nursery near Alto.
[Illustration: AMERICAN HOLLY (Leaf and fruit, two-thirds natural size)]
The BARK is light gray and roughened by wart-like growths. The numerous,
short, slender branches form a dense pyramidal head of striking dark
green color which is more pronounced when the conspicuous red drupes are
present.
The LEAVES are simple, alternate, rather oval, thick and leathery, 2 to
4 inches long and usually armed with spiny teeth. They remain on the
branches three years, dropping off in the spring.
The FLOWERS are small and whitish; male and female flowers are usually
borne on separate trees. The FRUIT, ripening late in the fall on the
trees bearing female flowers, is dull red or sometimes yellow, round or
somewhat oval-shaped berry-like drupe about ¼ inch in diameter and with
4 to 6 grooved, ribbed nutlets.
The WOOD is light, tough, not strong, white when cut, turning brown when
aged. Valued and much used for cabinet making, interior finish, and
turnery. Many of the largest and best holly trees have been cut and
marketed.
Holly is a highly desirable Christmas decoration and a desirable
ornamental tree for yards. Wild holly is becoming scarce. Excessive
cuttings should be avoided.
YAUPON
Ilex vomitoria Ait.
This close relative of the American holly is found in East Texas to
Matagorda Bay, Rio Blanco and the Guadalupe River, and north to southern
Arkansas. On the rich bottomlands of eastern Texas, yaupon is a small
tree, 20 to 25 feet high with a trunk rarely over 6 inches in diameter;
elsewhere it is a shrub.
The LEAVES are 1 to 2 inches long, ¼ to 1 inch wide, thick, glossy green
above, paler below, and persistent for 2 or 3 years.
[Illustration: YAUPON (Two-thirds natural size)]
The FLOWERS, male and female, are borne on separate plants. The FRUIT, a
scarlet berry-like drupe, is produced in great abundance by the female
plant.
The WOOD is of little value except for fuel.
Yaupon is used in the South as a hedge plant, and is much prized for
Christmas decorations. A tea made from leaves was once popular with the
Indians. The plant is now grown on the Atlantic Coast for the commercial
production of yaupon tea for medicinal purposes.
I. decidua Walt. known as POSSUM HAW (WINTER BERRY) is similar to
yaupon, but the leaves shed in the fall; the fruits, which remain over
winter, are orange to orange-scarlet in color.
SILVER MAPLE
Acer saccharinum L.
Silver, or soft, maple is found on moist land and along streams in the
extreme eastern part of the state. In its best region of growth, the
valley of the lower Ohio River, it attains heights of 100 feet or more
and diameters of 3 feet or over.
[Illustration: SILVER MAPLE (Twig and fruit, one-half natural size;
leaf, one-third natural size)]
The BARK on old trunks is dark gray and broken into long flakes or
scales. The twigs are slender, brittle, reddish-brown, and shiny.
The buds are rounded, red or reddish-brown, blunt-pointed, generally
like those of red maple.
The simple, opposite LEAVES have from 3 to 5 lobes ending in long points
with toothed margins and separated by deep angular sinuses or openings;
the leaves are pale green on the upper surface, silvery-white
underneath, and have a red petiole.
The FLOWERS arising from the large prominent flower buds are a
greenish-yellow color and appear in clusters in the spring before the
leaves. The FRUIT ripens in the spring and consists of a pair of wing
samaras or “keys” with wings 1 to 2 inches long on a slender, flexible,
thread-like peduncle about an inch long.
The WOOD is soft, weak, even-textured, rather brittle, easily worked,
and decays readily when exposed. It is occasionally used for flooring,
furniture and fuel.
The silver maple grows rapidly and has been planted in Texas as a shade
tree. It is somewhat undesirable because of its brittleness and
susceptibility to insects and fungus diseases.
RED MAPLE
Acer rubrum L.
Red maple is abundant in low moist areas in the eastern part of the
state. It is usually a medium-sized tree, quick-growing, and relatively
short-lived. It is used as a shade tree, though of inferior quality for
this purpose. The BARK is smooth and light gray on young limbs and
trunks, and dark gray and rough on old limbs and trunks.
The LEAVES are 2 to 5 inches long and have from 3 to 5 pointed,
saw-toothed lobes separated by sharp angular sinuses or openings. The
upper leaf surface when mature is light green, the lower surface whitish
and partly covered with pale down. In autumn the leaves turn to
brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
[Illustration: RED MAPLE (Leaf and fruit, one-third natural size; twig,
one-half natural size)]
The red FLOWERS appear in dense clusters in early spring before the
leaves, the buds turning a deep red sometimes before they open. The
winter buds are small, red, and round or blunt-pointed. The FRUIT ripens
in the late spring or early summer. It consists of pairs of winged
samaras, or keys, ½ to 1 inch in length, on a long drooping peduncle
(fruit stem), red, reddish-brown, or yellow in color.
The WOOD, known commercially as soft maple, is heavy, close-grained,
rather weak, and of a light brown color. It is used in the manufacture
of furniture, and for turnery, woodenware, and fuel.
BOXELDER
Acer negundo L.
Boxelder, the only Texas maple with compound leaves, is a native of
eastern and southern Texas to the lower Rio Blanco River. It is
generally found on the banks of streams and lakes and the borders of
swamps. It grows rapidly, making a quick shade, and is quite shapely.
The branches are brittle and break easily. The tree is short-lived and
rather subject to disease. It sometimes attains a height of 50 to 60
feet, with a trunk 2 feet in diameter, but is usually smaller.
[Illustration: BOXELDER (Leaf and fruit, one-third natural size; twig,
two-thirds natural size)]
The BARK of the twigs is green; of the trunk grayish-brown, divided into
broad, rounded ridges, and separating on the surface into short, thick
scales.
The LEAVES are opposite, compound, usually with 5 leaflets, occasionally
3 or 7. The leaflets are 2 to 4 inches long, coarsely and irregularly
toothed, light green above, paler beneath.
The tiny FLOWERS are borne in drooping clusters. The FRUIT is like that
of the other maples, green, turning light tan when mature. Unlike the
seeds of other maples, they cling until after the leaves are shed.
The WOOD is creamy-white, light, and soft and weak but close-grained. It
is sometimes used in other states for the manufacture of low grade
furniture and interior finish; it is also used for woodenware,
cooperage, and paper pulp.
OHIO BUCKEYE
Aesculus glabra Willd.
Ohio buckeye occurs as far west as eastern Texas along streams in rich
soils. Though often only a shrub, it becomes a medium-sized tree in rich
alluvial bottoms. Its leaves and fruit are poisonous to stock.
The BARK is white and, on old trees, divided or broken into light brown
flat scales, which make the stems of the tree rough; the bark is
ill-smelling when bruised.
[Illustration: OHIO BUCKEYE (Twig, two-thirds natural size; nut,
one-third natural size; leaf, one-fourth natural size)]
The LEAVES are opposite, palmately compounded, with 5 to 7 smooth, pale
green leaflets, ill-smelling when bruised. The leaves usually turn
yellow during the summer.
The FLOWERS are cream-colored and appear in clusters, 5 to 8 inches
long, in April or May.
The FRUIT is generally rounded, pale brown, generally thin-walled,
roughened with blunt prickles or warts, and breaking into 2 to 3 valves,
disclosing the bright shiny seeds 1 to 1½ inches wide.
The WOOD is light, soft and weak, and decays rapidly when exposed. It is
used for woodenware, artificial limbs, paper pulp, lumber, and fuel.
Aesculus pavia L., the RED BUCKEYE, is found as a shrub in Comal and
Wilson Counties and is common through eastern Texas to Bexar and Kendall
Counties, as a shrub 9 to 12 inches high. This species was formerly
classified as A. discolor Parsh and A.d. var. Mollis (Raf.) Sarg.
WESTERN SOAPBERRY (Wild China-Tree)
Sapindus drummondii Hook. Arn.
This species, sometimes called Indian soap plant, grows on moist clay
soils or dry limestone uplands. It ranges through eastern Texas to New
Mexico and the Rio Grande, becoming a tree 40 to 50 feet high and 1 to 2
feet in diameter, with usually erect branches, and branchlets at first
slightly many-angled.
[Illustration: WESTERN SOAPBERRY (Leaf, two-fifths natural size; fruit,
one-third natural size)]
The BARK is broken by deep fissures into long narrow plates which in
turn are broken on the surface into small red-brown scales.
The LEAVES appearing in March or April, bear 4 to 9 pairs of alternate,
opposite or both, lance-shaped leaflets which are pale, yellow-green,
about 2½ inches long and ½ to ⅔ inch wide. The leaves fall in autumn or
early winter.
The FLOWERS are whitish, in large, dense panicles.
The FRUIT, round yellow berries, ½ inch in diameter, and containing dark
brown seeds, ripen in September and October and fall in the spring.
The WOOD is heavy, strong, close-grained, light brown tinged with
yellow. It splits easily into thin strips and is used for cotton basket
and the frames of pack saddles.
AMERICAN BASSWOOD (American Linden)
Tilia americana L.
Three species of basswood are reported to grow in Texas from the
Arkansas line to the Brazos River and westward to Uvalde, Kerr and
Bandera Counties, usually on rich, moist soils. They are rarely over 50
feet tall and 12 inches in diameter.
The BARK is light brown and deeply furrowed.
[Illustration: AMERICAN BASSWOOD (Leaf and fruit, one-third natural
size; twig, one-half natural size)]
The LEAVES are more or less heart-shaped, 3 to 6 inches long, thin,
saw-toothed, smooth on both sides in some species, but woolly on the
under surface of others.
The fragrant FLOWERS, a favorite of bees, are yellowish-white, in
drooping clusters opening in early summer, and the flower-stem is united
to the middle of a long, narrow, leaf-like bract.
The FRUIT, a dry, 1 to 2-seeded nut-like drupe, ¼ to ½ inch in diameter,
is covered with short, thick, gray-brown wool. It remains attached in
clusters to the leafy bract, which later acts as a wing to bear the
fruit away in the wind.
The WOOD is light, soft, tough, not durable, and light brown in color.
It is used in states where the growth is better for the manufacture of
pulp, woodenware, furniture, trunks, excelsior, and many other articles.
The principal use of basswoods in Texas is for shade and ornament.
DEVILS-WALKINGSTICK (Hercules-Club)
Aralia spinosa L.
This tree, a native of Northeast Texas, is armed from the ground up with
many sharp spines, a characteristic that has given the tree many names
such as Hercules-club, prickly-elder, and prickly-ash. The last name
properly belongs to another tree. Devils-walkingstick possesses
sufficient beauty to compensate for its spitefulness. The tree is
usually small, but occasionally attains a height of 30 feet, the leaves
forming a flat-topped, spreading crown.
[Illustration: DEVILS-WALKINGSTICK (Branch, one-half natural size; leaf
and fruit greatly reduced)]
The brown BARK is divided by broad shallow fissures into circular,
horizontal ridges. The sharp spines along its trunk best identify this
tree.
The LEAVES are doubly compounded, or bi-pinnate, the main rachis
(leaf-stem) 3 or 4 feet long, clasping the stem with an enlarged base,
and leaving conspicuous scars when they fall. The oval leaflets are
toothed, pointed, dark green above and paler beneath. They turn yellow
in autumn.
In mid-summer each plant bears one immense panicle of small, white
FLOWERS, which rises well above the leaves. The tree presents its most
striking appearance in autumn when the small black FRUIT ripens, for the
fruit-stems turn a rich wine-red. Birds eat the juicy drupes. The WOOD
is of no commercial importance.
BLACK TUPELO (Blackgum)
Nyssa sylvatica Marsh.
Black gum, often called sour gum, is found in eastern Texas to the
valley of the Brazos River; usually in swampy wet soil, but sometimes on
dry slopes with the oaks.
The BARK on younger trees is furrowed between flat ridges, and gradually
develops into quadrangular blocks that are dense, hard, and nearly
black.
[Illustration: BLACK TUPELO (Twig, leaf, and fruit one-half natural
size)]
The LEAVES are simple, 2 to 3 inches long, entire, obovate to elliptic,
shiny, and dark green in color. In the fall the leaves turn brilliant
red.
The greenish FLOWERS on long, slender peduncles appear 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 or
several-flowered clusters on different trees. The FRUIT is drupe-like,
dark blue ⅔ inch long, containing a single hard-shelled stone, and is
borne 2 to 3 in a cluster on 1 to 2½-inch peduncles.
The WOOD is very tough, cross-grained, not durable in contact with the
soil, hard to work, and warps easily. Once considered a weed tree, the
species is now valuable for basket veneer, box boards, and paper pulp.
In the old days, the hollow trunks were used for “bee-gums.”
Swamp tupelo (N. s. var. biflora [Walt.] Sarg.), found mainly on the
Coastal Plain, has narrowly obovate to narrowly oblanceolate leaves and
fruiting peduncles ⅜ to 1⅜ inches long. The base of the trunk is swollen
when submerged.
WATER TUPELO (Cotton-Gum or Tupelo-Gum)
Nyssa aquatica L.
Water tupelo is found only in deep river swamps or coastal swamps which
are often flooded. The commonly enlarged base, large-sized fruit,
hanging on a long peduncle (stem), and the brittleness of the twigs,
serve to distinguish this species from the black gum. It forms a tall,
often slowly tapering somewhat crooked trunk 50 to 75 feet in height and
2 to 3 feet in diameter. The spreading small branches form a narrow,
oblong or pyramidal head. The branches are generally smooth and light
brown in color. The BARK of the trunk is thin, dark brown and furrowed
up and down the trunk.
[Illustration: WATER TUPELO (Leaf and fruit, one-third natural size;
twig, two-thirds natural size)]
The LEAVES are simple, ovate or oblong in shape, acute and often
long-pointed. When mature they are thick, dark green and lustrous on the
upper side, pale and somewhat downy on the lower side, 5 to 7 inches
long and 2 to 4 inches wide, wedge-shaped at the base, and entire or
irregularly toothed on the margin. The petiole 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 flowers in dense round clusters, and
the female flowers solitary.
The FRUIT, ripening in early fall, is a dark purple drupe, oblong or
obovate in shape, about 1 inch long, with a thick, tough skin enclosing
a flattened stone, and borne on a slender peduncle 3 to 4 inches long.
The WOOD is light, soft, and not strong. It is used for woodenware,
broom handles, fruit and vegetable baskets, marketed as tupelo or bay
poplar lumber, and paper pulp.
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
Cornus florida L.
Dogwood grows in the forests of eastern Texas, usually under the larger
forest trees. It is a small tree, up to 30 feet high and 12 inches in
diameter, occasionally larger, with a rather flat and spreading crown
and short, often crooked trunk.
[Illustration: FLOWERING DOGWOOD (Leaf and fruit, one-half natural
size; twig, two-thirds natural size)]
The BARK is reddish-brown to black and broken up into small 4-sided,
scaly blocks.
The LEAVES are opposite, ovate, 3 to 5 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide,
pointed, entire or wavy on the margin, prominently veined, bright green
above, pale green or grayish beneath.
The FLOWERS, which unfold from the conspicuous, round, grayish, winter
flower buds before the leaves come out, are small, greenish-yellow,
arranged in dense heads surrounded by large white or pinkish petal-like
bracts, which appear like large spreading flowers 2 to 4 inches across.
The FRUIT is a bright scarlet drupe one-half an inch long and containing
a hard, two-celled nutlet containing 1 or 2 seeds. Usually several
fruits are contained in one head, and are relished by birds, squirrels,
and other animals.
The WOOD is hard, heavy, strong, close-grained, and brown to red in
color. It is in demand for cotton-mill machinery, turnery, handles, and
forms.
With its masses of early spring flowers, its dark red autumn foliage,
and bright red berries, dogwood is probably our most ornamental native
tree. It should be used more extensively in eastern Texas for ornamental
planting.
TREE SPARKLEBERRY (Farkleberry)
Vaccinium arboreum Marsh.
In the coastal belt of eastern Texas as far as Matagorda Bay,
farkleberry, or tree huckleberry, grows in moist sandy soil along the
banks of ponds and streams. Although it is found from Virginia to
Missouri and southward, it reaches its largest size, 20 to 30 feet, near
the Gulf Coast of Texas. The crooked trunk may attain a diameter of 8 to
10 inches. Further inland it is a large shrub.
[Illustration: TREE SPARKLEBERRY (Nearly natural size)]
The LEAVES are oval and glossy green, varying up to 2 inches in length
and 1 inch in width. They are mostly evergreen, or at least persist on
the twigs during the winter.
The FLOWERS are small, white, and bell-shaped, and appear in long open
clusters on racemes.
The FRUIT consist of small, round, shiny, nearly black berries which
ripen in the fall and, unless eaten by birds or animals, remain until
spring. They have a slightly puckering but pleasing flavor.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, close-grained, and light reddish-brown. It is
sometimes used for tool handles.
GUM BUMELIA (Woolly Buckthorn—Gum-Elastic)
Bumelia lanuginosa (Michx.) Pers.
Gum bumelia, often called false buckthorn or chittamwood, occurs along
streams in sandy woods in eastern Texas to the San Antonio River and
over the Edwards Plateau to Palo Pinto County. It reaches its largest
development probably in Central Texas where it occasionally grows as a
tree 80 feet high and 3 feet in diameter.
[Illustration: GUM BUMELIA (Three-fourths natural size)]
The branches are short, stout, and stiff, and often armed with straight
or curved spines.
The LEAVES are oblong, more or less grouped near the ends of short
spurs; rounded at the apex, narrowed at the base; thick, firm, dark
green and shiny above, and rusty-woolly beneath. They are from 1 to more
than 2 inches long and up to ¾ inch wide.
The FLOWERS are small and open in summer, each borne on a hairy
flower-stem (pedicel) about ⅛ inch long. They are borne in fascicles of
15 to 18, near the axils of the new leaves or near the leaf-scars of old
leaves. The petals are white and lobed. The fruit is fleshy, black,
oblong, about ½ inch in length, borne singly or in a cluster of 2 or 3,
and usually dry and firm on the outside and contain a light brown, firm
rounded seed. The ripe fruit falls from the tree in autumn.
The WOOD is light brown streaked with white and surrounded by a band of
lighter colored sapwood. It is heavy, hard, and close-grained.
B. lanuginosa var. Rigida A. Gray, is found in western and southern
Texas, while B. lycioides L. Pers., is found in eastern Texas to Milam
County.
COMMON PERSIMMON
Diospyros virginiana L.
Persimmon is a well known tree throughout its range. It is small, rarely
exceeding 50 feet in height and 18 inches in diameter, occurring in the
state as far west as the Colorado River. It prefers dry, open
situations, and is most abundant in old fields, though it occurs on rich
bottomlands.
[Illustration: COMMON PERSIMMON (Leaf and fruit, one-half natural size;
twig, three-fourths natural size)]
The BARK of old trees is almost black and separated into thick, nearly
square blocks.
The LEAVES are alternate, oval, entire, 4 to 6 inches long, dark green
and shining above, paler beneath.
The small FLOWERS, which appear in May, are yellowish or cream-white,
somewhat bell-shaped, the male and female flowers occurring on separate
trees; the male in clusters of 2 or 3, the female solitary. They are
visited by many insects.
The FRUIT is a pulpy, round, orange-colored or brown berry, an inch or
more in diameter and containing several flattened, hard, smooth seeds.
The fruit is strongly astringent while green, but often quite sweet and
delicious when thoroughly ripe. It is relished by both man and animals,
especially after a few frosty nights.
The WOOD is hard, dense, strong, the heartwood brown or black, the wide
sapwood white or yellowish. It is particularly valued for shuttles, golf
club heads, and similar special uses, but is not of sufficient
commercial use to warrant its growth as a timber tree.
The TEXAS or BLACK PERSIMMON (D. texana Scheele) is described on page
127.
COMMON SWEETLEAF (Horse-Sugar)
Symplocos tinctoria (L.) L’Hér.
Sweetleaf is usually found along the borders of streams and swamps,
chiefly in East Texas. It seldom grows to a height of more than 30 feet
or a diameter of more than 8 inches. The slender upright branches,
forming an open head, are bluish or grayish, and decidedly roughened by
elevated leaf-scars, or places of attachment of the last crop of leaves.
[Illustration: COMMON SWEETLEAF (Fruit and flowers about natural size;
leaf, one-half natural size)]
The thick, shiny, dark green LEAVES, arranged alternately along the
stem, vary from 5 to 6 inches in length and 1 to 2 inches in width. They
remain on the twigs until spring. The leaves are sweet and eagerly
sought for food by livestock.
The tiny, pale yellow fragrant FLOWERS are produced in close clusters at
intervals along the branchlets. The FRUIT, a small, one-seeded drupe,
has a thin dark orange or brown skin. The fruit is eaten to some extent
by deer.
The WOOD is light, soft and pale red or brown, and has no commercial
value. Both leaves and bark yield a yellow dye. The bitter aromatic
roots have been used as a tonic.
TWO-WING SILVERBELL (Snowdrop Tree)
Halesia diptera Ellis
This attractive tree or shrub, may grow as a small tree, sometimes as
much as 30 feet high, with a trunk 6 to 10 inches in diameter. It occurs
in rich, wet woods and on the borders of swamps and streams, but is
adaptable to many sites. It is found in the southeastern portion of
Texas, being a native of the Gulf Region.
[Illustration: TWO-WING SILVERBELL (Twig, leaf, and flower one-half
natural size; fruit about one-sixth natural size)]
The BARK of the trunk is brown, divided by irregular longitudinal
fissures, and separating on the surface into thin scales. The bark on
the twigs forms long, loose, brown fibers, which makes it easy to
identify during the winter.
The alternate, ovate to obovate LEAVES are bright green above, paler and
downy underneath, 3 to 4 inches long, and 2 to 2½ inches wide. They are
much larger on young shoots. The leaves have minute callous teeth.
The white FLOWERS, usually about 1 inch long, come before the leaves and
are borne in clusters of 3 to 5. The tree is charming when thickly hung
with its “silver bells.” The FRUIT is about 2 inches long with two wide,
thin wings, and two (rarely three) narrow wings in between.
The WOOD is light, soft, strong, close-grained, and light brown, with
thick, lighter-colored sapwood. It is not of commercial importance.
CAROLINA ASH (Water Ash)
Fraxinus caroliniana Mill.
Water ash is common in shaded swamps, westward to the valley of the
Neches River. It forms a tree, rarely more than 40 feet high, with a
trunk sometimes 12 inches in diameter, and has small branches, making a
narrow, often round-topped head.
[Illustration: CAROLINA ASH (Leaflet and fruit, three-fourths natural
size; leaf, one-fourth natural size)]
The BARK is thin, light gray, and marked by large irregularly shaped
round patches which separate into small, thin, close scales.
The LEAVES are compounded, 7 to 12 inches long, thick and firm when
mature, with 5 to 7, ovate to oblong, finely to coarsely toothed
leaflets, 3 to 6 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, dark green above, and
paler below.
The small male and female FLOWERS appear on separate trees, in February
or March. The FRUIT is elliptic to oblong-ovate, frequently
three-winged, 2 inches long, ⅓ to ¾ inch wide. The wing extends below
the body of the fruit and narrows into a stipitate (stalk-like) base.
The WOOD is light, soft, weak, close-grained, nearly white, sometimes
yellowish, with thick, lighter-colored sapwood. It is used chiefly for
fuel.
WHITE ASH
Fraxinus americana L.
White ash is found in East Texas to the valley of the Trinity River. It
grows best in the rich moist soils of upper bottomlands. The bark is
gray and furrowed, the branchlets smooth and gray with rust-colored
winter buds.
[Illustration: WHITE ASH (Twig and fruit, one-half natural size; leaf,
one-third natural size)]
The compound opposite LEAVES are generally straight, 8 to 12 inches
long, with 5 to 9 (usually 7) sharp pointed leaflets, dark green above
and paler and whitish beneath.
The male and female FLOWERS appear on separate trees, the male in dense
reddish-purple clusters and the female in more open branches. The FRUIT
is a samara, 1 to 1½ inches long, resembling the blade of a canoe paddle
in outline, with the smooth, terete body at the handle end. The fruit
matures in late summer and is distributed effectively by the winds.
The WOOD of white ash is extremely valuable because of its toughness and
elasticity. It is preferred for small tool handles, athletic equipment,
and agricultural implements, and is used extensively for furniture and
interior finish.
The ashes comprise the only group of trees in eastern America that have
opposite, pinnately compound leaves with 5 or more leaflets. This fact
provides a ready means of identifying the group. There are at least
seven other species of ash in Texas.
GREEN ASH
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.
Green ash is a common tree along streams as far west as the Guadalupe
River. It attains a height of 50 feet or more, has spreading branches
and a trunk ranging up to 2 feet in diameter. The TWIGS are smooth,
round, and ashy gray, marked by pale lenticels and rusty bud-scales.
[Illustration: GREEN ASH (Fruit, two-thirds natural size; leaf,
one-third natural size; twig, three-fourths natural size)]
The BARK is ½ inch or more thick; brown, tinged with red, and slightly
furrowed or ridged. The LEAVES are opposite compound, 10 to 12 inches
long, with 5 to 9 pointed leaflets slightly toothed on the margin. They
differ from those of white ash in being lustrous green on both sides or
slightly paler beneath. The terminal leaflet is frequently askew from
the main axis of the rachis.
The small, male and female FLOWERS occur on separate trees.
The FRUIT is flat, winged, 1 to 1½ inches long, ¼ to ⅓ inch wide, the
wing portion extending well down past the middle of the terete,
many-rayed body. The wing is sometimes square or slightly notched at the
outer end.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, rather strong, brittle, and coarse-grained. It
is used for the same purposes as white ash but is not as desirable.
SWAMP PRIVET (Common Adelia)
Forestiera acuminata (Michx.) Poir.
Swamp privet or forestiera is found along river banks, lakes, and
standing water over eastern Texas to the Colorado River. It is usually a
large shrub but often becomes a small tree, less than 30 feet high, with
a short trunk usually less than 8 inches in diameter. Its youngest
branches are slender, somewhat hairy, slightly angular, and vary in
color from yellowish-green to brown. They become darker and more rounded
the second season.
[Illustration: SWAMP PRIVET (Leaves, one-fifth natural size; fruit,
one-half natural size)]
The BARK is thin, dark brown to brownish-gray, close, and slightly
ridged.
The LEAVES are thin, simple, opposite, 2½ to 4 inches long, 1 to 1½
inches wide, pointed at both ends, yellowish-green on the upper surface,
paler on the lower surface, and slightly toothed above the middle.
The FLOWERS appear in April before the leaves. They are of two kinds,
borne separately on the same tree, rather small and in clusters.
The FRUIT, a drupe, falls when ripe in May or June. It is about 1 inch
long and ¼ inch wide, oblong, and tipped with a point. The ripe fruit is
deep purple, and contains a tough, dry pulp and a one-seeded stone.
The WOOD is close-grained, yellowish-brown, weak, and rather soft. It
has no economic use.
FRINGETREE (White Fringetree)
Chionanthus virginicus L.
Children give this tree, with its drooping, fringy, white flowers, such
names as “grancy-gray beard” and “old-man’s beard.” Beautiful both in
flower and fruit, it is a desirable tree for ornamental planting. It
occurs naturally in loamy soil over the eastern part of the state to the
valley of the Brazos River and generally grows in the shade of other
trees.
[Illustration: FRINGETREE (Flower, three-fourths natural size; leaf and
fruit, one-half natural size)]
The BARK is similar to that of a young ash, but is rougher and whiter.
It has tonic properties, and is used in domestic remedies.
The rather large, ovate LEAVES are 4 to 8 inches long, and ½ to 4 inches
wide, dark green on the upper surface, paler underneath, and turning a
clear bright yellow in autumn. The leaves are opposite, and leave
conspicuous scars when they fall.
The odd white FLOWERS, which appear with the very young leaves, are
borne in long, loose drooping panicles. The petals are very narrow and
long, giving the effect of fringe.
The FRUIT is a dark blue-purple drupe, sometimes as much as an inch
long, with a glaucous bloom, and borne in loose, drooping panicles. It
is an excellent deer and bird food.
NORTHERN CATALPA (Western Catalpa)
Catalpa speciosa Warder
Catalpa, often miscalled “catawba”, is found naturalized in eastern
Texas and occurs on various qualities of soil, most frequently on rich,
moist bottoms. It is a medium-sized tree, rarely exceeding 50 feet in
height and 15 inches in diameter. The trunk is usually short and the
head broad with spreading branches.
[Illustration: NORTHERN CATALPA (Leaf, one-third natural size; twig and
seed, two-thirds natural size; pod, one-fourth natural size)]
The BARK varies from dark gray to brown, and is slightly rough, being
divided into narrow, shallow strips or flakes.
The LEAVES are simple, opposite, cordate-based, long-pointed, 6 to 10
inches long, and softly pubescent beneath.
The FLOWERS appear in clusters or panicles in April or May, and are 1 to
2 inches long, trumpet-shaped, the wavy and spreading corolla irregular,
two-lobed, and with a narrow notch on the margin; corolla white with
purple and yellow markings.
The FRUIT consists of a bean-like capsule 8 to 16 inches long and from ⅜
to ½ inch in diameter. It hangs on the tree over winter and gradually
splits into two parts, or valves. The seeds are about 1 inch long and
terminate in wings that are rounded and short-fringed at the ends.
The WOOD is rather soft, light, coarse-grained, and durable, in contact
with the soil. It is used for fence posts, poles and fuel, and
occasionally for railroad ties. It is a mistake to attempt to grow
catalpa for fence posts or other uses except on good agricultural soil.
SOUTHERN CATALPA (C. bignonioides Walt.) has a thin, scaly bark,
abruptly short-acuminate leaf, fetid when crushed. Margin of lower lobe
of flower entire. The valves of the capsule flatten after dehiscence.
The terminal tuft on the seed forms a point.
DESERTWILLOW
Chilopsis linearis (Cav.) Sweet
This interesting tree, so named because of its willow-like leaves, is
closely related to the catalpa. Often reaching a height of 25 feet and a
diameter of 10 to 12 inches, it is found usually in dry, gravelly,
porous soils in the valley of the lower Rio Grande and through West
Texas.
The LEAVES are less than ½ inch wide and from 6 to 12 inches long, light
green, and pointed. Their arrangement on the twig is either opposite or
alternate.
[Illustration: DESERTWILLOW (Leaf, one-third natural size; fruit and
flowers, one-half natural size)]
The white FLOWERS shade into pale purple and are blotched in their
“throats” with pale purple. They occur in an elongated cluster, or
raceme, opening successively toward the end of the flower stalk.
The FRUIT “pods” are capsules 7 to 12 inches long, hard or woody, very
slender, and contain numerous small seeds.
The soft, weak, close-grained WOOD is brown streaked with yellow. The
sapwood turns to heartwood in 2 or 3 years.
COMMON BUTTONBUSH
Cephalanthus occidentalis L.
Buttonbush of Texas is a small tree or large shrub up to 18 feet high,
with a straight, tapering trunk up to 12 inches in diameter. Attaining
its largest size in moist rich soil of eastern Texas, it is also found
to the valley of the Rio Grande. The branches are generally upright, the
spreading branchlets with pithy in the centers, often occurring in
whorls of three from one place on the stem.
[Illustration: COMMON BUTTONBUSH (Leaf, one-third natural size; fruit
and flowers, two-thirds natural size)]
The LEAVES occur in pairs or whorls of 3 (occasionally more) each oval
or elliptical, pointed, rounded at the base, from 2 to 7 inches long by
1 to 3 inches wide. They are thin, dark green above, with a large
central midrib, and somewhat hairy beneath. They fall in autumn or
remain on branchlets over winter.
The FLOWERS form a creamy white or yellow round head about 1 inch in
diameter and are borne in clusters. The many small flowers in the head
are fragrant and nectar-bearing. The long thread-like projecting styles
are conspicuous on the flowering heads.
The FRUIT consists of a mass of nuts in a globular head forming an
aggregate fruit ¾ inch in diameter. The red-brown nutlets have 2 to 4
closed, 1-seeded portions. The WOOD is of little value.
RUSTY BLACKHAW (Viburnum)
Viburnum rufidulum Raf.
Rusty blackhaw is found in woods and thickets over East Texas. It forms
a tree, sometimes 35 feet high, with a trunk over a foot in diameter,
but is usually much smaller, often flowering as a shrub. The twigs are
ashy-gray, becoming dark dull reddish-brown after one to several years.
The winter buds are densely covered with rusty brown hairs which persist
for some weeks at the base of the leaf-stalks.
The BARK is ¼ to ½ inch thick, becoming roughened into small plate-like,
dark brown scales tinged with red.
[Illustration: RUSTY BLACKHAW (Fruit and twig, three-quarters natural
size; leaf, two-thirds natural size)]
The simple LEAVES are opposite or whorled, elliptic to obovate or oval,
pointed or blunt at the apex, wedge-shaped or rounded at the base, and
with fine teeth on the margin. They are leathery in texture, lustrous
dark green above, pale and dull below, about 3 inches long, and 1 to 1½
inches wide.
The FLOWERS are small and white; each has five petals and five stamens,
and appear in the spring in dense clusters at the tips of branches.
The FRUIT ripens in the fall. It is a bright blue, oval drupe, over ½
inch long, covered with a glaucous bloom, and containing a stony seed ¼
inch long and ⅓ inch wide.
The bad smelling WOOD has no economic use.