Part 5

The tamarack, or American larch, Larix laricina K. Koch, resembles the bald cypress in growing in swamps and in shedding its leaves in autumn. This tree is found in Illinois growing in bogs in Lake and McHenry counties. The leaves are flat, soft, slender, about one inch long and borne in clusters. The cones are only 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. The European larch, Larix decidua Mill., may be distinguished from the native species by having slightly longer leaves and larger cones that are more than an inch long.

+RED CEDAR+ Juniperus virginiana L.

RED cedar, the most plentiful coniferous tree in the State, is very valuable, growing on a great variety of soils, seeming to thrive on hills where few other trees are found. It is more common in the southern counties.

Natural size.]

There are two kinds of leaves, often both kinds being found on the same tree. The commoner kind is dark green, minute and scale-like, clasping the stem in four ranks, so that the stems appear square. The other kind, often appearing on young growth or vigorous shoots, is awl-shaped, quite sharp-pointed, spreading and whitened beneath. The two kinds of flowers, appearing in February or March, are at the ends of the twigs on separate trees. The staminate trees assume a golden color from the small catkins, which, when shaken, shed clouds of yellow pollen. The fruit, ripening the first season, is pale blue with a white bloom, 1/4 inch in diameter, berry-like with sweet flesh. It is a favorite winter food for birds.

The bark is very thin, reddish-brown, peeling off in long, shred-like strips. The tree is extremely irregular in its growth, so that the trunk is usually more or less grooved.

The heartwood is distinctly red, and the sapwood white, this color combination making very striking effects when finished for cedar chests, closets, and interior woodwork. The wood is aromatic, soft, strong, and of even texture, and these qualities make it most desirable for lead pencils. It is very durable in contact with the soil, and on that account is in great demand for posts, poles and rustic work.

The arbor vitae or northern white cedar, Thuja occidentalis L., is found occasionally on the bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, on the cliffs of Starved Rock, in Elgin City Park, and in bogs in Lake County. The leaves are aromatic, scale-like, 1/8 inch long, arranged to give small flat branches. The fruit is a cone 1/2 inch long. The wood is light, soft, durable, fragrant, and pale brown.

+QUAKING ASPEN+ Populus tremuloides Michx.

THIS is one of the most widely distributed trees in North America. Its range goes from Labrador to British Columbia and from New England and New York far south in the Rocky Mountains to Arizona. In Illinois it is common in the north, but of infrequent occurrence in the south.

Three-fourths natural size.]

The aspen is a small tree, reaching heights of 40 to 60 feet and diameters of 10 to 20 inches. The young branches are reddish-brown soon turning gray. The winter buds are about 1/4 inch long, pointed and shining. The bark is thin, smooth, light gray tinged with green.

The leaves are on slender flat petioles, arranged alternately on the twigs, and broadly oval, short pointed and shallowly toothed. They are green, shiny above and dull below, ranging from 2 to 4 inches long and about the same in breadth.

The flowers are in catkins and appear before the leaves begin to expand. The two kinds are borne on separate trees, the staminate catkins are about 2 inches long, but the seed-producing flowers form a long slender cluster 4 inches in length. The fruit is a conical capsule filled with tiny cottony seeds which ripen in late spring before the leaves are fully expanded.

The wood is light brown, almost white. It is light, weak and not durable, and is used for pulpwood, fruit-crates and berry boxes.

The large-tooth aspen, Populus grandidentata Michx., is found in the northern half of Illinois and frequently grows alongside the quaking aspen. Its leaves are larger than those of the quaking aspen and the edges are coarsely and irregularly toothed. The winter buds have dull chestnut-brown scales and are somewhat downy. The bark is light gray tinged with reddish-brown.

+COTTONWOOD+ Populus deltoides Marsh.

THE cottonwood, or Carolina poplar, is one of the largest trees in Illinois, growing on flood plains along small streams and in depressions in the prairie. It is one of the best trees for forestry purposes for planting where quick shade is desired. The wood is soft, light, weak, fine-grained but tough. It is good for pulp, boxes and berry baskets.

Leaf, one-third natural size. Twig, one-third natural size.]

The leaves are simple, alternate, broadly triangular, pointed and coarse toothed on the edges, 3 to 5 inches across, thick and firm supported by flattened slender petioles, 2 to 3 inches long. The winter buds are large and covered with chestnut-brown shining resinous scales.

The flowers are in catkins, of two kinds, on different trees and appear before the leaves. The fruit ripens in late spring, appearing as long drooping strings of ovoid capsules filled with small seeds. These strings of fruit, 5 to 8 inches long, give to the tree the name of "necklace poplar." The seeds are covered with white cottony hairs.

The swamp cottonwood, Populus heterophylla L., occurs in swamps in the southern part of Illinois, and may be known by its broadly ovate leaves, 3 to 5 inches wide and 4 to 7 inches long with blunt-apex and cordate base. A few trees of the balsam poplar, Populus tacamahaca Mill., are found in Lake County near the shores of Lake Michigan. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate, pointed, and cordate. The large buds are covered with fragrant resin.

The European white poplar, Populus alba L., with light gray bark and leaves, white wooly beneath, is often found near old houses and along roadsides. The Lombardy poplar, a tall narrow form of the European black poplar, Populus nigra var. italica Du Roi, is often planted and is a striking tree for the roadside.

+BLACK WILLOW+ Salix nigra Marsh.

THE black willow is not only a denizen of the forest but it is at home on the prairies and on the plains and even invades the desert. It grows singly or in clumps along the water courses, a tree 40 to 60 feet in height with a short trunk.

Two-thirds natural size.]

The bark is deeply divided into broad flat ridges, often becoming shaggy. The twigs, brittle at the base, are glabrous or pubescent, bright red-brown becoming darker with age. The winter buds are 1/8 inch long, covered with a single smooth scale. The wood is soft, light, close-grained, light brown and weak. It is often used in the manufacture of artificial limbs.

The alternate simple leaves are 3 to 6 inches long, and one-half inch wide on very short petioles; the tips are much tapered and the margins are finely toothed. They are bright green on both sides, turning pale yellow in the early autumn. The flowers are in catkins, appearing with the leaves, borne on separate trees. The staminate flowers of the black willow have 3 to 5 stamens each, while the white willow has flowers with 2 stamens.