The Flora of West Virginia* 



15 Y 



C. F. MILLSPAUGH AND L. W. NUTTALL. 



The State of West Virginia comprises about 24,780 square miles 

 of territory lying between 373O' and 4o3o' north latitude, and 

 o45' and 53O' west longitude from Washington. Its outline of 

 varied boundaries has become a synonym for irregularity, as a glance 

 at the accompanying map will show ; it might also comprise the 

 topography, suggesting as it does an immense field over which a gigan- 

 tic plow has left a confused maze of deep and irregular furrows. This 

 topographical condition is mainly due to the great number of moun- 

 tain ranges and a vast network of rapid streams, that, rising in the 

 higher altitudes of the eastern and southern borders, pass in varied 

 and tortuous courses through the State, to augment the Ohio on the 

 west and northwest, and the Potomac on the northeast. 



Along the low, as well as the lofty mountain ranges, there is com- 

 paratively little tableland, and in the wedge-like valleys there is a 

 like absence of extensive bottoms, except along Tygart's Valley River 

 in Randolph County, the Great Kanawha and the Ohio. Although 

 there are many mountain glades, some nearly dry and others swampy, 

 plainly indicating their late occupancy by small lakes, there is to- 

 day neither pond nor lake within the limits of the State, and very little 

 if any stagnant water. 



As the major portion of the State lies west of the Alleghanies, the 

 prevailing climate is much like that of western Pennsylvania, partak- 

 ing little indeed of that southern atmosphere that we are wont to 

 associate with the name Virginia. 



The prevailing soil of the hills and valleys is stiff clay, and sandy 

 and clayey alluvium, over which there is in general but little loam. 

 The clay of the more open steep hillsides is so unctuous and unstable 

 that frequent landslides occur during Spring, sometimes of great ex- 

 tent. This subsidence renders the valley streams muddy throughout 

 the year. The rocks are principally sandstone and limestone, with some 



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