Part 15

The members of this family are aromatic trees and shrubs, none of which is important as a wood producer. Some of them possess medicinal properties and all have ornamental value.

=HAMAMELIDACEAE—THE WITCH HAZEL FAMILY=

The Witch Hazel family comprises about 18 genera with 50 species most of which are native in Asia, South Africa and North America. Of the 3 North American genera 2 are arborescent. The genus Hamamelis (page 137) has 2 species in Asia and 1 herein described. Liquidambar (page 139) also comprises 2 Asiatic and 1 North American species, the latter being found in West Virginia.

The species produce hard, dark-colored and handsome wood.

PLATANACEAE—THE PLANE TREE FAMILY

The Plane Tree family has a single genus. Platanus, (page 141) with about 7 species, 3 of which are native to North America and 1 to West Virginia. Of the exotic species the Old World Platanus orientalis, L. is frequently planted along streets for shade.

ROSACEAE—THE ROSE FAMILY

The Rose family with about 90 genera and 1,500 species is one of the largest and most important families of plants, including the apple, pear, cherry, plum, quince, raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry. About 90 species, 30 or more of which are trees, are found in West Virginia. The genera which include our tree species are given below:

=Pyrus=, (pp. 143, 145).—This genus comprises about 40 species of trees and shrubs, 10 of which are native to North America and 2 or more to West Virginia. The apple and pear, introduced from Europe, are placed by some authors under the genus Malus, and Mountain Ash under the genus Sorbus. The latter is included under Pyrus in this bulletin. The European Mountain Ash (Pyrus aucuparia, (L.) Ehrh.) is often planted for ornamental purposes.

=Amelanchier=, (page 147).—The Juneberry species number about 30. About 23 of these are found in North America, 6 of which attain tree size. Besides the species described herein, variety botryapium has been reported from Preston County and a specimen collected in Tucker County has been pronounced by Dr. C. S. Sargent as the recently-named Amelanchier laeris. 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. 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.

Leaves lanceolate, thin, 3-5 inches long; fruit ¼ inch in diameter, light red =P. pennsylvanica, p. 157.=

Leaves obovate, thick, rough above, 1½-4 inches long; fruit 1 inch in diameter, red or yellow =P. americana, p. 159.=

LEGUMINOSAE—THE PULSE FAMILY

The Pulse family embraces over 400 genera with about 7,350 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs. Out of this number 100 genera with about 1,400 species are found in North America, and about 25 genera with 65 species are recorded for West Virginia. Only 3 genera with 3 species in this State can be classified as trees.

=Gleditsia=, (page 161).—About 11 species belonging to this genus are distributed throughout the temperate regions of Asia and eastern North America, 3 of which are native to the south-central and eastern parts of the United States. One is found in West Virginia.

=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