Part 41

=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Found throughout the State.

=Habitat=.—Prefers moist rocky soils but thrives in a variety of situations.

=Notes=.—This small abundant tree is interesting in that it blossoms in the fall at the same time its fruit is maturing. It is not important for forestry uses, and is seldom planted for any purpose.

SWEET GUM

=Liquidambar styraciflua=, L.

=Form=.—Height 50-100 feet, diameter, 2-4 feet; trunk usually tall and straight with narrow crown, except when grown in the open.

=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, irregularly star-shaped, with five unequal pointed lobes, broader than long, margins of lobes serrate, bright shining green above, paler beneath, petioles long and round.

=Flowers=.—April-May; usually monoecious; the staminate green, borne in terminal racemes; the pistillate in heads on long axillary stalks.

=Fruit=.—A long-stalked spherical head, 1-1½ inches in diameter, composed of numerous capsules, covered with curved, blunt, spine-like appendages.

=Bark=.—On old trunks gray with deep furrows and scaly ridges. Corky bark is often present on limbs and twigs.

=Wood=.—Heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, reddish-brown with whitish sapwood.

=Range=.—Southern Connecticut to Florida, west to Missouri and Texas.

=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Found locally along the Great Kanawha, New, Gauley, Elk, Tug Fork, and for short distances up several of the tributaries of these rivers.

=Habitat=.—Prefers deep rich soils along streams.

=Notes=.—Sweet Gum cannot be classed as a valuable forest tree in West Virginia, though in other states its wood is extensively used for boxes, interior finish, etc. It is very desirable for planting in parks or on lawns and is especially attractive when the leaves change color in the fall.

SYCAMORE

=Platanus occidentalis=, L.

=Form=.—Height 100-150 feet, diameter 4-10 feet; trunk massive, usually short, often inclined; crown open, irregular, of large limbs and irregular branches.

=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, broadly oval, 4-10 inches long, 3-5-sinuate lobed, the short lobes sharp-pointed, bright green above, pale and somewhat pubescent or woolly beneath.

=Flowers=.—May; monoecious; the staminate dark red on short axillary stalks, the pistillate greenish on long, slender terminal stalks.

=Fruit=.—October, persisting through the winter, in brown heads about 1 inch in diameter and suspended on long slender stalks. The chaffy achenes which compose the head are about ¾ of an inch long.

=Bark=.—Covered with broad curling scales which are shed off exposing the smooth greenish-white surface beneath.

=Wood=.—Heavy, hard, difficult to split, reddish-brown with light sapwood.

=Range=.—Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Minnesota.

=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common throughout the State along streams below 3,000 feet elevation.

=Habitat=.—Moist soil of stream borders.

=Notes=.—The wood of Sycamore is considered valuable for interior finish, furniture, crates and tobacco boxes. Its growth should be encouraged whenever possible both as a forest and shade tree.

AMERICAN CRAB APPLE