Part 3
=Cercis=, (page 163).—This genus includes 7 species of small trees and shrubs distributed in parts of Europe, Asia and North America, 3 of which are found in the United States and one in West Virginia. The genus is of little commercial importance.
=Robinia=, (page 165).—- This is an American genus containing 7 species, 4 of which are shrubs, one tree species being found in West Virginia. Locusts have been introduced into Europe where they are widely planted. The Rose Acacia (_Robinia hispida_, L.) is occasionally planted for ornamental purposes.
The Kentucky Coffee tree (_Gymnocladus dioica_, (L.) Koch.) has been planted in many sections of the State, and is reported by Millspaugh as native in Randolph and Webster counties.
RUTACEAE—THE RUE FAMILY
This large family is confined chiefly to the Old World and the southern hemisphere, and is largely made up of herbs. Four genera have tree representatives in the United States. The species are not commercially valuable. _Ptelea_ (page 167) is the only genus native to West Virginia. Prickly Ash (_Zanthoxylum americanum_, Mill.) grows in Monongalia, Jefferson, and Taylor counties, probably as an introduced species.
SIMARUBACEAE—THE QUASSIA FAMILY
The Tree of Heaven (_Ailanthus glandulosa_, Desf.), introduced from Asia, has been extensively planted along streets and on lawns from which it has escaped in many places.
ANACARDIACEAE—THE CASHEW FAMILY
The Cashew or Sumach family is mainly tropical comprising about 50 genera with 500 species of trees, shrubs and woody vines. Its members are not valuable as wood producers but in many cases they have commercial importance on account of their acrid, milky, or resinous juice, used in medicine, tanning, and the manufacture of varnishes and resins, and on account of their attractive appearance when planted as ornaments. The genus _Rhus_, (pp. 169, 171, 173) is the only one native to Northeastern America. There are 120 known species of _Rhus_, about 16 of which are found in North America and 6 in West Virginia. Besides those described in this bulletin the following shrubby species grow wild in the State: Smooth Sumach (_Rhus glabra_, L.), Poison Ivy (_Rhus Toxicodendron_, L.) and Fragrant Sumach (_Rhus canadensis_, Marsh.)
The Smoke Tree (_Rhus Cotinus_, L.), an introduced tree, is planted on lawns.
AQUIFOLIACEAE—THE HOLLY FAMILY
The Holly family with 5 genera and nearly 300 species is distributed in temperate and tropical regions of both hemispheres. _Ilex_, (pp. 175, 177) which is represented in West Virginia by 4 species of small trees and shrubs, is the only genus of this family which is important in number of species or is widely distributed. Our hollies, not described herein, are Winterberry (_Ilex verticillata_, (L.) Gray), a low shrub common in high swamps; and a rare shrubby species with long-stalked fruits (_Ilex longipes_ Chapm.) recently collected in Randolph County. _Nemopanthus mucronata_, (L.) Trel., also a member of this family, is a common shrub growing at high altitudes in this State.
ACERACEAE—THE MAPLE FAMILY
This family includes only 2 genera, one of which (_Dipternia_) contains a single Chinese species. The genus _Acer_ comprises about 70 species distributed principally in the northern hemisphere. There are 13 species native to the United States, 6 of which are found in West Virginia.
The maples not only produce much valuable wood but are used more extensively than any other group for ornamental purposes. The principal exotic species are Norway Maple (_Acer platanoides_, L.), and Sycamore Maple (_Acer Pseudo-Platanus_, L.).
The following key will be of use in distinguishing the species:
KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ACER
a. Leaves simple.
b. Leaf sinuses acute at base.
Leaf-lobes long and narrow, leaves silvery white beneath; fruit in pairs, each key 1-2 inches long, falling in May =A. saccharinum, p. 187.=
Leaf-lobes short and broad, leaves white-downy beneath, 3-lobed; fruit small, several, persistent till fall, in long drooping clusters; a small tree or shrub =A. spicatum, p. 181.=
Leaves whitish and nearly glabrous beneath, 3-5 lobed, lobes broad and short; fruit in small clusters, falling in early summer =A. rubrum, p. 189.=
b. Leaf sinuses rounded at base, leaves 3-lobed, finely and evenly toothed; fruit several in drooping racemes; a small tree or shrub with striped bark =A. pennsylvanicum, p. 179.=
Leaves usually 5-lobed (or 3-lobed in variety nigrum, p. 185), the lobes sparingly wavy-toothed; fruit in small clusters, persisting until fall; a large tree =A. saccharum, p. 183.=
a. Leaves compound; twigs greenish; fruit in long drooping racemes =A. negundo, p. 191.=
SAPINDACEAE—THE SOAPBERRY FAMILY
This family embraces 100 genera and about 1000 species, chiefly tropical in the Old World. Six genera of trees occur in North America. The genus _Aesculus_, (pp. 193, 195) comprises 14 species, 10 of which are found in America and 2 in West Virginia. No other genus of this family is represented in the flora of the State. The Horse Chestnut (_Aesculus Hippocastanum_, L.) is a common introduced species.
TILIACEAE—THE LINDEN FAMILY
The Linden family with about 35 genera and over 300 species is chiefly tropical, having more representatives in the southern than in the northern hemisphere. Of the 3 North American genera only one (_Tilia_) is arborescent. Of the 8 species of _Tilia_ (pp. 197, 199) found in North America 2 are native to West Virginia. The European Linden (_Tilia Europea_, L.) is occasionally planted.
ARALIACEAE—THE GINSENG FAMILY
This family having about 50 genera with over 400 species is chiefly tropical, though widely distributed in other parts of the world. The genus _Aralia_ (page 201) contains the only tree species in North America. This is common in West Virginia.
CORNACEAE—THE DOGWOOD FAMILY
The Dogwood family, with 15 genera, is widely distributed in temperate regions. _Cornus_ (pp. 203, 205) and _Nyssa_ (page 207) are the only genera having tree representatives in North America. Of the 40 known species of _Cornus_ 15 are native to North America and 7 to West Virginia. The shrubby species are listed on page 234. _Nyssa_ comprises 7 known species, 5 of which are found in North America and 1 in this State.
ERICACEAE—THE HEATH FAMILY
The Heath family with its 90 genera and 1,400 species is widely distributed in tropical and temperate regions. Of the 40 genera found in the United States 7 have tree representatives. The flora of West Virginia comprises about 22 genera and 40 species belonging to this family. Many of these are shrubs, the names of which are given in the list of native shrubs beginning on page 232.
Three small trees belonging to the following genera are described herein.
=Rhododendron=, (page 209).—This genus embraces about 100 species of shrubs and small trees in the Northern hemisphere besides a large number in the southern. Of the 17 or more species native to North America only 1 reaches tree size. In addition to the species described herein the flora of the State embraces the Mountain Rose Bay (_R. catawbiense_, Michx.) and several species of Azaleas.
=Kalmia=, (page 211).—The genus _Kalmia_ includes about 5 species in North America, 2 of which are found in West Virginia. _Kalmia angustifolia_, L. is a rare shrub reported from several counties in the State.
=Oxydendrum=, (page 213).—This genus contains a single species, the Sour-wood, described in this bulletin.
EBENACEAE—THE EBONY FAMILY
The Ebony family with 6 genera and many species is distributed chiefly in tropical regions of both hemispheres. The genus _Diospyros_ (page 215) is the only representative of this family in the United States and includes 2 species one of which is native to West Virginia.
STYRACACEAE—THE STORAX FAMILY
This family embracing about 7 genera and comparatively few species is distributed principally in North and South America and in eastern Asia. Of the 3 North American genera only _Halesia_ (page 217) is found in West Virginia.
OLEACEAE—THE OLIVE FAMILY
The Olive family comprises about 20 genera with 500 species distributed principally in the northern hemisphere. In North America there are 5 genera with 20 species and in West Virginia 2 genera with 4 species. The Olive Tree (_Olea Europaea_, L.), which produces the olives used for food, belongs to this family. This tree has been introduced into the southwestern part of the United States. The _Syringas_, (Lilacs), _Forsythias_, and _Ligustrums_ (Privets) are extensively planted in this State for ornamental purposes and for hedges. The two genera described below have representatives in West Virginia.
=Fraxinus=, (pp. 219, 221, 223).—The _Ashes_, numbering about 40 species, are distributed chiefly in the north temperate zone. Of this number 16 occur in North America and 3 in West Virginia. The European Ash, (_F. excelsior_, L.) is occasionally planted.
=Chionanthus=, (page 225).—This genus embraces only 2 species one of which is found in West Virginia. The other is native to northern and central China.
CAPRIFOLIACEAE—THE HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY
The Honeysuckle family, comprising about 10 genera with 275 species, is represented in North America by 8 genera and in West Virginia by 7 genera and about 18 species. Of this number 15 are shrubs or small trees. The species not described herein belonging to the genera _Viburnum_ (pp. 227, 229), _Diervilla_, _Lonicera_, and _Sambucus_, are given in the list of native shrubs.
WHITE PINE
=Pinus strobus=, L.
=Form=.—Height 50-100 feet, diameter 2-4 feet; trunk when in close stands long, straight, and free from limbs; limbs arranged in whorls.
=Leaves=.—Arranged in clusters of 5, slender, 3-sided mucronate, 3-5 inches long, blue-green when mature.
=Flowers=.—May; monoecious; the staminate oval, light brown one-third inch long, clustered at base of new growth; the pistillate catkins in small groups or solitary along the new growth, cylindrical, about ¼ inch long, pink.
=Fruit=.—Cones maturing in autumn of second year, drooping, cylindrical, often curved, 4-6 inches long, scales thin without spines; seeds red-brown mottled with black spots, ¼ inch long with wings 1 inch long.
=Bark=.—On young branches smooth, green, often with red tinge; on old trunks thick, divided by shallow fissures into wide flat-topped ridges covered with purplish scales.
=Wood=.—Soft, weak, straight-grained, easily worked, not durable in contact with the ground, light brown with whitish sapwood.
=Range=.—Newfoundland and Manitoba to Pennsylvania, Indiana and Iowa, and south along the Alleghany mountains to northern Georgia.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Originally abundant in parts of Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Raleigh, and Tucker counties, and sparingly distributed in all the counties east of the Alleghanies, and in Gilmer, Jackson, Monongalia, Preston, Ritchie, Tyler, Wetzel, and Wirt counties. Now becoming rare.
=Habitat=.—Prefers fertile, well-drained soil, but will grow in all soils and situations excepting swamps and dry wind-swept ridges.
=Notes=.—White Pine is easily distinguished from all other native species by the leaves which are in clusters of five. This tree is one of the most valuable and beautiful of the conifers. Its wood is extensively used for shingles, construction, cabinet work, woodenware, matches, etc. As an ornamental tree it is especially attractive. A fungous disease, the white pine blister rust, threatens to destroy the species.
PITCH PINE
=Pinus rigida=, Mill.
=Form=.—Usually 50-60 feet high, 1-2½ feet in diameter; trunk not straight, tapering; crown rounded, usually open; limbs coarse, gnarled, with thick bark, and persistent old cones.
=Leaves=.—In clusters of three; stout, rigid, somewhat twisted, often standing at right angles with the branches; yellow-green.
=Flowers=.—Appear April-May; monoecious; the staminate in crowded spikes, at base of new growth, yellow; the pistillate short-stalked, nearly round, green tinged with rose.
=Fruit=.—Cones maturing autumn of second year; ovoid, often clustered, divergent from stem, 1-3 inches long, adhering for several years; scales thin, armed with stiff recurved prickles; triangular seeds ¼ inch long with wing ¾ inch long, one-third inch wide, dark brown to black, sometimes spotted with gray or red dots.
=Bark=.—Twigs green becoming dull orange and then gray-brown with age; trunk with rough, thick, deeply-and irregularly-furrowed, red-brown bark.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, brittle, coarse-grained, durable, resinous; with thick yellowish sapwood.
=Range=.—New Brunswick and Lake Ontario, south to Georgia, and west to the Alleghany foothills of West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Found locally in the following counties: Boone, Braxton, Berkeley, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Kanawha, Logan, Mercer, Monroe, Mingo, Nicholas, Preston, Pocahontas, Randolph, Roane, Summers, Tyler and Wayne. Rare in McDowell, Wyoming, and Webster.
=Habitat=.—Prefers dry sandy soils of hillsides, sometimes found in swamps.
=Notes=.—This is our only native pine having all the leaves in bundles of three. It is of much less value than the White Pine but wall often grow where other pines will not. and is resistant to fire. Wood used chiefly for mine props, fuel, charcoal, boxes, crates, and construction. Tar is sometimes made from this wood, and the resin-filled knots and wood are excellent for kindling fires.
TABLE MOUNTAIN PINE
=Pinus pungens=, Lamb.
=Form=.—A small tree 30-50 feet high, 1-2½ feet in diameter; trunk sometimes with limbs almost to the ground, the lower drooping, the upper ascending; often bearing cones when only a few feet tall.
=Leaves=.—Two in a bundle, stiff, usually twisted, sharp-pointed, 1½-3 inches long; dark blue-green.
=Flowers=.—April-May; monoecious; staminate in long, loose spikes, anthers yellow; pistillate clustered on sides of new growth.
=Fruit=.—Cones large, oblong-conical, oblique at base, 2-3½ inches long, hanging on for many years; scales with very stout, curved prickles.
=Bark=.—On the trunk broken by fissures into irregular plates with loose red-brown scales.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, brittle, coarse-grained, resinous, brown with yellowish sapwood.
=Range=.—Pennsylvania and New Jersey to northern Georgia, in the Appalachian mountains.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Scattered sparingly in the counties along the Alleghany Mountains.
=Habitat=.—Usually found on dry gravelly slopes and ridges.
=Notes=.—This species is most easily distinguished from the other pines of the State by the very large and prickly cones and by the bundles of two stiff, short leaves. The yellow pine which has some of its leaves grouped in twos has very small and nearly smooth cones. Not valuable for lumber; used chiefly for fuel and charcoal.
YELLOW PINE
=Pinus echinata=, Mill.
=Form=.—From 80-100 feet high, 2-3½ feet in diameter; trunk straight, slightly tapering; crown pyramidal or rounded; limbs not tolerant of shade and in dense stands dropping off early leaving a long, clean trunk.
=Leaves=.—In clusters of 2 and 3, the leaves in threes more often near the ends of twigs; slender, flexible, 3-5 inches long, blue-green.
=Flowers=.—April-May; monoecious, pale purple, staminate flowers in clusters at base of new growth; pistillate flowers 2-4 in a whorl near end of new growth, pale rose-colored.
=Fruit=.—Cones maturing at end of second year; ovoid, 1½-2½ inches long; flat scales, armed with weak, often deciduous prickles; seeds triangular, winged, brown mottled with black.
=Bark=.—On the trunk broken into large more or less rectangular plates the scales of which readily peel off.
=Wood=.—Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, yellowish.
=Range=.—New York to Florida and west to Missouri and Texas.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—A scattered growth in the hilly counties lying east of the Ohio river and in the counties along the Alleghany Mountains.
=Habitat=.—Usually found with hardwoods and other pines on clay or gravelly soil, on hills or stony slopes.
=Notes=.—The Yellow-Pine can be distinguished from the other pines by its clusters of two and three slender leaves and its small cones. It furnishes excellent lumber for commerce and is extensively used for many purposes in buildings.
JERSEY OR SCRUB PINE
=Pinus virginiana=, Mill.
=Form=.—A small tree usually 30-50 feet high, diameter 1-2 feet; trunk short and often crooked; crown pyramidal to flat-topped.
=Leaves=.—Clustered in twos, 1½-3 inches long, twisted, rather stout, sharp-pointed, gray-green.
=Flowers=.—April-May; monoecious; staminate in clusters at base of new growth, yellow-brown; pistillate near middle of season’s growth, pale green, the scale tips rose-colored.
=Fruit=.—Ovoid when open, sometimes slightly curved; scales thin, nearly flat, bright brown, with persistent prickles.
=Bark=.—With shallow fissures, and dark brown loose scales.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, brittle, pale orange with whitish sapwood.
=Range=.—Southern New York to Georgia, west to Kentucky and southern Indiana.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common in Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan, Grant, Mercer and other counties southward along the mountains; less common in Barbour, Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Logan, Monongalia, Randolph, Ritchie, Wayne and Wyoming counties.
=Habitat=.—Prefers light sandy and thin rocky soils; often found on exhausted farm lands.
=Notes=.—This species is most easily confused with yellow pine, but can be distinguished by its uniform 2-leaf clusters, small prickly cones and comparatively smooth bark. The leaves are twisted and divergent, giving the twigs a disheveled appearance. Of little value as a timber tree; wood used chiefly for boxes, crates, fencing, ties, and fuel.
TAMARACK
=Larix laricina=, (DuRoi) Koch.
=Form=.—A tree usually 30-60 feet high, 1-2 feet in diameter; trunk straight, tapering, and having numerous slender, upward-curving branches; crown narrowly pyramidal.
=Leaves=.—Scattered singly or clustered in dense fascicles on short lateral spurs; linear, triangular in cross-section, ¾-1¼ inches long, light green, falling each year in autumn.
=Flowers=.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; staminate sessile, sub-globose, yellow; pistillate oblong with light-colored bracts and nearly orbicular rose-colored scales.
=Fruit=.—Cones mature autumn of first season; ovoid, obtuse, ½-¾ inch long with few light brown rounded scales.
=Bark=.—Thin, roughened with small rounded red-brown scales.
=Wood=.—Heavy, hard, slightly resinous, very strong, durable in soil, light brown.
=Range=.—Newfoundland south to Maryland and West Virginia, west to Minnesota and the Rocky Mountains, through British Columbia to Alaska.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—A few trees near Cranesville, Preston County, growing in a swamp.
=Habitat=.—Prefers swamps and lake borders, but thrives in many other places.
=Notes=.—Tamarack is our only native cone-bearer with deciduous leaves. This tree has been transplanted in several places in the State where it makes a good appearance on the lawn.
RED SPRUCE
=Picea rubra=, (DuRoi) Deitr.
=Form=.—Height 70-80 feet, diameter 2-3 feet; trunk straight, continuous, free from limbs to a considerable height when in close stands; crown conical; limbs somewhat drooping below, horizontal in the middle, ascending above.
=Leaves=.—Crowded and diverging in all directions from the twig; rounded or acute points, ½-⅝ inch long, dark yellow-green.
=Flowers=.—April-May; monoecious; staminate oval, almost sessile, red; pistillate oblong, with thin rounded scales.
=Fruit=.—Cones ovate-oblong, narrowed from middle to acute apex; 1¼-2 inches long; scales reddish-brown with entire margins.
=Bark=.—Roughened by thin, irregular-shaped brown scales.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, close-grained, not strong, pale in color, with whitish sapwood.
=Range=.—Newfoundland to West Virginia and southward along the Alleghany Mountains to northern Georgia, west to Minnesota.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Growing at high elevation in Grant, Tucker, Randolph, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Webster, Nicholas and Greenbrier counties. Now largely removed by lumbermen.
=Habitat=.—Well-drained uplands; also on mountain tops and occasionally on borders of swamps.
=Notes=.—Since this species is the only native spruce in West Virginia there is no cause for confusing it with anything else. Norway spruce has much larger cones. Originally red spruce was one of our principal lumber trees, but when it is removed there is but little natural reproduction. Often planted for shade. Wood used for construction, musical instruments, furniture, aeroplanes and paper pulp.
HEMLOCK
=Tsuga canadensis=, (L.) Carr.
=Form=.—Height 60-100 feet, diameter 2-4 feet; trunk with limbs nearly to the ground when in the open but free from them to a considerable height when in dense stands; slender horizontal branches form a pyramidal crown which is often irregular.
=Leaves=.—Arranged on all sides of the branch, but appearing as if in two ranks, flat, thin, rounded or slightly notched at the tip, about ½ inch long, dark green above, pale beneath.
=Flowers=.—April-May; monoecious; staminate in the axils, globose, yellow; pistillate terminal, pale green, oblong, with broad bracts and short pinkish scales.
=Fruit=.—Cones mature each autumn; borne on slender stalks; ovate, about ¾ of an inch long; scales rounded, about as broad as long; seeds about ⅛ inch long, half as long as their wings.
=Bark=.—With deep fissures on old trunks and prominent rounded ridges; inner bark cinnamon-red.
=Wood=.—Light, medium hard, brittle, coarse-grained, not easily worked, not durable when exposed to the weather; red-brown with lighter sapwood.
=Range=.—Nova Scotia, south to Alabama and west to Minnesota.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common in nearly all parts of the State, reaching high elevations in the mountain counties, and confined to ravines and rough stony ground in most of the hilly sections.
=Habitat=.—Prefers damp stony northern exposures, deep stream gorges, river banks, and swamp borders.
=Notes=.—The hemlock ranks as one of the most useful trees. The wood is used for construction, paper pulp, and lath; the bark is used in tanning; and the trees are often planted on lawns and in hedges.
BALSAM FIR
=Abies fraseri=, (Pursh) Poir.
=Form=.—Height 30-70 feet, diameter 1-2½ feet; trunk continuous, tapering; crown pyramidal; rigid horizontal or ascending branches.
=Leaves=.—Linear, arranged around the stem, ½-¾ of an inch long, dark silvery green.
=Flowers=.—Monoecious; staminate yellow with red tinge; pistillate with rounded scales and pale yellow-green bracts.
=Fruit=.—Cones oblong-ovate, about 2½ inches long; width of scales twice their length, dark purple; bracts reflexed covering at maturity about half the scale.
=Bark=.—Roughened by cinnamon or gray scales.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, not strong, coarse-grained, pale brown with whitish sapwood.
=Range=.—From Virginia and West Virginia south to North Carolina and Tennessee.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Growing near Cheat Bridge, Randolph County; on the head of the Greenbrier River, Pocahontas County; and near the head of Blackwater fork of Cheat River in Tucker County.
=Habitat=.—Grows at high elevations and seems to prefer swampy soil in West Virginia.
=Notes=.—This species, which reaches the northern limit of its restricted range in Tucker County, is not commercially important. The trunks are occasionally sawed into lumber, and the tree has been widely transplanted on lawns.