Part 13

=Ostrya=, (page 73).—Four species of Hop Hornbeam or Ironwood are known, 2 being found in North America. One of these is limited in its range to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, in Arizona; the other is widely distributed and is common locally in West Virginia.

=Carpinus=, (page 75).—Eleven species of Hornbeams are native to Asia and Europe and only 1 species is found in North America. This is abundant in most parts of West Virginia.

=Betula=.—This genus comprises 25 known species of trees and 10 species of shrubs. About 15 of these are native to North America and 3 to West Virginia. Besides our native species the Gray Birch (Betula populifolia, Marsh.) and varieties of White Birch (Betula alba, L.) are often planted for ornamental purposes.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BETULA

Bark of the trunk light-colored with thin layers curling or peeling off.

Outer bark yellowish, fruits usually sessile; leaves usually rounded at base; twigs with slight wintergreen taste =B. lutea, p. 79.=

Outer bark reddish-brown, inner bark tinged with red; fruits on slender stalks; leaves usually wedge-shaped at base; not aromatic =B. nigra, p. 81.=

Bark of trunk rough, dark gray, without thin outer layers; bark of twigs with wintergreen taste =B. lenta, p. 77.=

FAGACEAE—THE BEECH FAMILY

There are 6 genera and about 400 species of trees and shrubs belonging to the Beech family of which 5 genera and about 60 species are native to North America. Fourteen species of Oaks, 2 species of Chestnuts, and 1 species of Beech occur in West Virginia.

This large family is second in importance only to the Pine family and in some respects surpasses it. Nearly all its members, especially the various kinds of oaks, produce wood of superior quality and adapted to a great variety of uses.

=Fagus=, (page 83).—This genus comprises, in the world, 5 species, only 1 of which is found native in America. The others are Asiatic and European species. The European Beech (Fagus sylvatica, L.), and its varieties having purple leaves, cut leaves or pendent branches are often planted for ornamental purposes.

=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 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. The Oaks belong to two classes, namely, those that mature their acorns in one season and those that mature them in two. The West Virginia species are grouped below according to their classes:

White Oak Class:

1.—White Oak (Quercus alba). 2.—Post Oak (Quercus stellata). 3.—Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa). 4.—Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor). 5.—Yellow Oak (Quercus Muhlenbergii). 6.—Chestnut Oak (Quercus Prinus).

Black Oak Class:

1.—Red Oak (Quercus rubra). 2.—Pin Oak (Quercus palustris). 3.—Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea). 4.—Black Oak (Quercus velutina). 5.—Spanish Oak (Quercus falcata). 6.—Scrub Oak (Quercus ilicifolia). 7.—Black Jack Oak (Quercus marilandica). 8.—Laurel Oak (Quercus imbricaria).

The following key will assist in distinguishing the species.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF QUERCUS

a. Apex of leaves or their lobes sharp-pointed, usually bristle tipped; acorn maturing at end of second season.

b. Leaves entire, not lobed.

Leaves often pubescent beneath =Q. imbricaria, p. 115.=

b. Leaves lobed.

Leaves very broad toward apex, with shallow lobes, brownish tomentose beneath =Q. marilandica, p. 113.=

Leaves not uniform, lobes usually long and lanceolate, often scythe-shaped =Q. falcata, p. 109.=

Leaves 2-5 inches long, densely white pubescent beneath; tree small, often a shrub =Q. ilicifolia, p. 111.=

Leaves with sinuses extending not over half way to the mid-rib, dull green above; inner bark pinkish; acorn cup saucer-shaped =Q. rubra, p. 101.=