A. B. Brooks

“ The Japanese and Chinese species are more or less resistant to the chestnut bark disease and for this reason they and their hybrids with our native species are likely to receive much attention from nut-growers. The common Chestnut and the Chinquapin, both of which are natives of West Virginia, may be exterminated by the disease mentioned above.
Quercus.—The Oak genus comprises 300 known species in the world. Of these about 55 are indigenous to North America and 14 to West Virginia. ”

“ Castanea, (pp. 85, 87) .—Of the 5 or more species of chestnuts belonging to this genus, none is found in the western part of North America and 3 species are native to the eastern part of the United States. Castanea alnifolia, Nutt., is a shrub found in the southern Atlantic states. The European Chestnut (Castanea sativa) , the Japanese Chestnut (Castanea Japonica) and the Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) are all planted in this country for their nuts. ”

“ 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. ”

“ A shrubby species (Amelanchier oligocarpa, (Michx.) Roem.) is found in Tucker and Pocahontas counties.
Crataegus, (pp. 149, 151) .—A few species of this genus occur in Europe and Asia, but most of them are native to North America. About 700 species of Thorns have been described. According to some authorities there are fewer species than have been described, while others affirm there are many yet to be found. Millspaugh’s Flora of West Virginia lists 22 species, and the writer has collected several additional species that have been examined and identified by Eggleston and others. ”

“ Form.—A small tree 30-50 feet high, 1-21⁄2 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, 11⁄2-3 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, 2-31⁄2 inches long, hanging on for many years; scales with very stout, curved prickles. ”

“ Leaves 3-4 inches long, often serrate or lobed; fruit a sour yellowish pome about 1 inch in diameter Pyrus, p. 21. d.—Leaves lobed. e.—Margins of lobes entire. Leaves oval often without lobes or with 2-3 lobes, smooth, aromatic; fruit a dark blue drupe borne on a thickened red stem Sassafras, p. 21. Leaves broadly ovate, with truncate apex, 2 apical and 2-4 basal lobes; fruit a cone-like aggregate of dry, lance-shaped carpels Liriodendron, p. 20. Leaves variously lobed, some with bristle-tipped teeth; fruit an acorn Quercus, p. 17. e.—Margins of lobes not entire. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Because the Thorns are of little commercial importance and are very difficult to identify only 2 species are described in this bulletin.
Prunus.—This genus includes the Plums and Cherries. Of the 100 or more species distributed in Asia, Europe and America, about 30 are native in the United States, and 4 or 5 are found in West Virginia.
KEY TO THE SPECIES OF PRUNUS
a. Fruit in long racemose clusters. Leaves 2-5 inches long; fruit purplish-black P. serotina, p. 153. Leaves 2-4 inches long; fruit dark crimson P. virginiana, p. 155. a. Fruit in 4-5 fruited, umbel-like bunches. ”

“ Magnolia virginiana, a fragrant-flowered species growing farther east and south, is sometimes planted in West Virginia but is not hardy. Several shrubby and arborescent Chinese and Japanese species are also grown for ornamental use. ”

“ Leaves.—Opposite, digitately compound, leaflets usually 5, 3-6 inches long, oval, tapered at base, sharp-pointed, irregularly and finely toothed, pale green above, paler beneath, smooth, when old. The foliage is ill-smelling when bruised.
Flowers.—April-May; polygamo-monoecious or perfect; most of the flowers with imperfect pistils; borne in downy terminal panicles 5-6 inches long; corolla yellow.
Fruit.—Matures in October; a leathery round or pear-shaped prickly pod or capsule about 1 inch in diameter, containing a large, shining, brown nut.
Bark.—Roughened by even, scaly, broken gray ridges. ”

“ Notes.—This tree is only occasionally found in West Virginia and cannot be considered as an important species. When in leaf it is easily distinguished from the other Ashes by the leaflets which are sessile on the main petiole. ”

“ Form.—Height 25-80 feet, diameter up to 30 inches; trunk long when in close stands with other trees; crown spreading or round.
Leaves.—Alternate, simple, ovate, narrowed to sharp points, rounded oblique base, coarsely serrate, rough above, with prominent veins, light yellow-green. The leaves are soft hairy beneath and pilose above when young.
Flowers.—May, with the leaves; monoecious, or with some perfect flowers; the staminate on drooping pedicels at base of season’s growth; the pistillate, few-flowered in axils of the upper leaves, greenish and small. ”