398 



BOTANICAL SURVEY OF DISMAL SWAMP REGION. 



of young hardwoods. In such cases it was usually impossible to 

 detect any corresponding difference in soil or drainage, and the result 

 appeared to be duo to what, for lack of a bet lei' word, we must term 

 accident. 1 



The characteristic pine of the region is P. tarda. P. echinata 

 (ttii/is) is not rare, but is comparatively an unimportant tree, seldom 

 forming even groves. P. jxdusfris (austral is) was not observed, 

 although it. is known to occur sparingly in the region. It was for- 

 merly more common, but has been so eagerly sought on account of its 

 valuable wood that to-day 

 it is no longer noteworthy 

 as an element of the forest 

 formation. 



The most important decid- 

 uous-leaved species in this 

 formation is the sweet gum 

 (Liquidambar styraeiflua), 

 a handsome tree always con- 

 spicuous because of its star- 

 shaped leaves and the corky 

 thickening of its branches 

 (figs. 74, 75). A number of 

 oaks are abundant, and con- 

 spicuous, notably the water 

 oak (Quercus nigra), the 

 white oak (Q. alba), the 

 cow oak (Q. michauxii), the 

 Spanish oak (Q. diijifata), 

 the post oak (Q. minor), 

 and the willow oak (Q. 

 plicltos). Less common are 

 the rod oak (Q. rubra), the 

 quercitron (Q. velufina), 

 and the laurel oak (Q. hiu- 

 ri folia). The beech (Far/us v .. ., ._. .. . . .,, . 



J ,' N ri(i. i4. — Sweet gum (Liquidambar styracijlua) near 



amerirana) most abounds Norfolk, Va. 



where the subsoil is particu- 

 larly rich in clay or silt and therefore retentive of moislure. The red 

 maple (Acer rubrum) is often abundant, but does not usually grow 

 to considerable size outside the swamps. The mocker-nut. hickory 

 (Hicoria alba) and the tulip tree (Liriodendron fulipifera), although 

 frequent, are less abundant than the preceding species. Dogwood 

 (Cornus Jlorida), sourwood (O.njdendrum arboreum), holly (Ilex 



1 In some instances tho seeding of pines in one field and not in a neighboring 

 one may be accounted for by tho position of the nearest pine forest and tho pre- 

 vailing direction of tho winds. But many cases can not be so explained. 



