Part 39

=Magnolia Fraseri=, Walt.

=Form=.—Height, 30-50 feet, diameter 12-18 inches; trunk straight or inclining, undivided for half its length, or separating near the ground into several stems.

=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, oblong-obovate or spatulate, eared at the base, bluntly pointed at the apex, glabrous 10-24 inches long, often crowded in whorls.

=Flowers=.—May; perfect, solitary, 8-10 inches in diameter, creamy white, sweet-scented.

=Fruit=.—Matures in early autumn; an oblong cone-like aggregate of fleshy, rose-colored follicles, with sharp-pointed tips; seeds obovoid, compressed, ⅝ inch long.

=Bark=.—Smooth, or on old trunks roughened by irregular excrescences or scales, dark brown.

=Wood=.—Light, soft, not strong, close-grained, brown with light sapwood.

=Range=.—West Virginia to northern Georgia and Alabama, west to northern Mississippi and eastern Tennessee.

=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Infrequent, found scattered through the mountainous parts of Clay, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and Webster counties; growing at 3,500 feet elevation on the head of Cherry River.

=Habitat=.—Borders of streams and rich mountain-sides.

=Notes=.—Like the Umbrella Tree this species is of little value for forestry purposes, but is highly ornamental. Its chief distinguishing mark in summer is the leaf base which is prominently eared.

TULIP TREE

=Liriodendron tulipifera=, L.

=Form=.—Height 80-150 feet; diameter 3-10 feet; trunk long, clear and straight; crown open, conical, of slender branches.

=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, 5-6 inches long, and about as broad, usually with four lobes, two at the truncate apex and one on each side, smooth, bright green above, paler beneath; petioles angled, slender, 5-6 inches long.

=Flowers=.—May-June; solitary, terminal, perfect, tulip-shaped 1½-2 inches long, greenish yellow with orange spots; petals 6, in two rows; sepals greenish, early falling.

=Fruit=.—Matures in early autumn; oblong, cone-like, composed of numerous brown flat pointed carpels, each bearing a 1-2-seeded nutlet at its base.

=Bark=.—Rough on old trunks, with prominent parallel connected ridges, and deep fissures, light grayish-brown.

=Wood=.—Light, soft, not strong, easily worked, light yellow with creamy white sapwood.

=Range=.—Rhode Island and Michigan, south to Florida and Arkansas, not of commercial size at the extremes of its range.

=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Found throughout the State below the Spruce belt, rare on the Potomac waters.

=Habitat=.—Prefers rich, moist soil of stream valleys and coves, but adapts itself to less favorable situations.

=Notes=.—This tree, commonly known as Yellow Poplar, is of first importance for forestry purposes; it reproduces readily from the seed, is a rapid grower, and its wood is easily worked and desirable for many purposes.

COMMON PAWPAW

=Asimina triloba=, Dual.

=Form=.—Height 10-50 feet, diameter 8-12 inches; trunk usually straight and slender, bearing a broad or restricted crown of straight branches.

=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, thin, obovate-lanceolate, pointed, 4-12 inches long, margin entire, smooth except when young, dark green above, paler beneath.

=Flowers=.—April-May, with the leaves; scattered along the twigs, perfect, 1-1½ inches wide, dark reddish purple, borne on stout hairy stalks.