Part 56

=Distribution in West Virginia=.—A common tree throughout the State. Least common at high elevations and east of the Alleghanies.

=Habitat=.—Thrives best on low ground and borders of swamps, but is common on dry slopes and ridges.

=Notes=.—Black Gum, also called Tupelo, Pepperidge, and Sour Gum, is one of the less valuable of our forest trees, but its tough, light wood is gaining in value and is used extensively for wheel hubs, boxes, broom handles, wagon beds, ladders, ironing boards, rolling pins, excelsior, baskets, and berry crates.

GREAT LAUREL

=Rhododendron maximum=, L.

=Form=.—A shrub or small tree sometimes reaching a height of 20-25 feet; trunk short and usually twisted and bent, with contorted blanches forming a flat irregular top.

=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, evergreen, mostly clustered at the ends of branches, elliptical-oblong, 4-10 inches long, very thick, acute apex, narrowed base, entire, smooth, dark green above, light green beneath.

=Flowers=.—June; perfect; pale rose to white, upper petals marked with yellow-green dots, flowers arranged in umbel-like heads 4-5 inches in diameter.

=Fruit=.—Matures in late summer and persists through the winter; a reddish-brown, 5-celled, many-seeded capsule, about ½ inch long, terminated by a long persistent style.

=Bark=.—Roughened by thin, flaky scales, dark red-brown.

=Wood=.—Hard, strong, brittle, close-grained, light brown with lighter sapwood.

=Range=.—Nova Scotia and Lake Erie south along the mountains to Georgia.

=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common locally throughout the State, most abundant in the mountainous sections.

=Habitat=.—Rich soil of stream banks, rocky mountainsides and flats.

=Notes=.—The wood of Rhododendron is only occasionally used for tool handles, engraving blocks, and other small articles, and is excellent for fuel. On account of its small size the tree is not commercially important. It is one of the most beautiful of our native species and has been appropriately selected as the State flower.

MOUNTAIN LAUREL

=Kalmia latifolia=, L.

=Form=.—A shrub or small tree occasionally attaining a height of 15-25 feet; trunk stout, usually forked and bearing stiff, divergent branches which form an irregular, compact, rounded head.

=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, evergreen, oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 inches long, acute at both ends, entire, green above and below, persistent for two seasons.

=Flowers=.—May-June; perfect, pink or white, in many-flowered terminal corymbs.

=Fruit=.—Matures in early autumn; a globose, 5-valved, many-seeded capsule, covered with viscid hairs and with persistent style and calyx.

=Bark=.—Roughened by narrow, thin scales which peel off, exposing brownish inner bark.

=Wood=.—Heavy, hard, strong, rather brittle, reddish-brown with lighter sapwood.

=Range=.—New Brunswick, south to Florida and west to Arkansas.

=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Found locally in all parts of the State.

=Habitat=.—Growing usually in thickets, sometimes with Great Laurel, on high mountain flats and rocky slopes. Common on thin hillsides.

=Notes=.—Mountain Laurel does not grow large enough to be of much importance as a wood producer. Occasionally small articles, such as bucket handles, penholders, pipes, etc. are made from it. Its rich evergreen foliage and its copious pink and white flowers are scarcely less attractive than those of Rhododendron Maximum.

SOURWOOD