FEATURES OF BLACK GUM FOREST. 419 



known as papaw gum, is plentiful, but is not nearly so large a tree as 

 N. bifiora. It is a very characteristic plant, however, with its large 

 leaves ami fruits, and is one of the first trees of the swamp to lose 

 its leaves in auluinn. Seedlings of both species of Nyssa are abun- 

 dant about. Lake Drummond. Pinus taeda is occasional, especially on 

 higher lands near the eastern border of the swamp. One tree observed 

 in the heart of the morass, however, was growing where it was sur- 

 rounded by water 3 decimeters (1 foot) deep, which almost touched 

 its base, yet it was perfectly healthy and of good size, about 25 metiers 

 (80 feet) high and nearly 5 decimeters (H feet) in diameter. 1 The 

 water ash (Fra.rimts earoliniana) is rather abundant as a slender 

 tree, the largest specimen seen being about 25 meters (80 feet) high 

 and (J decimeters (2 feet) in diameter near the base. 



Among the less important of the larger trees should be mentioned 

 the willow oak (Quercus phellos), which is occasional in the wettest 

 parts. One fine specimen observed was about 23 meters (75 feet) high. 



Among small trees Magnolia virgin iana and Per sea piibescens, both 

 locally known as "bay," are abundant, especially about Lake Drum- 

 mond, at the edges of clearings. The two species are much alike in 

 habit, having usually slender crooked stems <i to 9 meters (20 to 30 

 feet) high. The largest magnolia observed was about 18 meters (60 

 feet) high and 4.1 decimeters (U feet) in diameter, with the stocky 

 habit often assumed by Ilex opaca. Blue beech ( Carpinus carolini- 

 ana), black willow (Salix nigra), and black alder (Alnus rugosa) are 

 rather common near Lake Drummond, but hardly attain the size of 

 trees. The same may be said of Populus heterophylla, which is fre- 

 quent in the smaller swamps along streams, and rarely grows to be 

 more than 5 meters (Ki feet) high. 



Near the eastern border of the Dismal Swamp, where Pinus taeda 

 is most abundant, the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) and the 

 sweet gum (Liquuhunbar styraciflua), occur in the deciduous-forested 

 swamp, and are often of considerable size. 



In typical areas of this deciduous or "black gum" forest the trees 

 stand closely together and the shade is dense. This, and the usual 

 presence of standing water, accounts for the absence or scarcity in many 

 places of the smaller forms of terrestrial vegetation, which often find 

 a substratum suitable to their growth only in the limited accumula- 

 tions of humus about tree stumps and old logs. The trunks of most 

 of the trees are very straight, usually small in diameter, and of almost 

 uniform girth and destitute of branches for two-thirds or more of their 



'The adaptability of this species is somewhat remarkable. It seems equally at 

 heme in almost every soil of the region, ma .ing a good growth even among the 

 open dunes. According to Shaler, it is most abundant in the Dismal Swamp on 

 land that is slightly (I meter or less} higher than the lowest adjacent area. 

 Shortly after the civil war a considerable quantity of pine timber was removed 

 from the eastern part of the swamp, and was used for masts and spars of naval 

 vessels. Logs G meters (20 feet) long, i) decimeters through at the butt, and 

 decimeters at the tip were thus obtained. 



