Part 17

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