68 TIMBER TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



turnery. Large quantities are taken out at Cranberry, Elk Park, 

 and many other places in the mountain counties. 



Rhododendron maximum, Linnseus. 

 (RHODODENDRON. LAUREL.) 



A small tree, with spreading top and grayish-brown scaly bark, 

 reaching a height of 40 feet and a diameter rarely exceeding 

 twelve inches; or more frequently a tall straggling shrub. 



It occurs from Nova Scotia and Lake Erie south through New 

 England, New York, and along the Alleghanies to northern 

 Georgia ; reaching its best development on the steep rocky banks 

 of streams in the southern Alleghariy mountains. It is never 

 found on limestone soils. 



In North Carolina, where it grows to an average height of 8 to 

 12 feet, it is very common in the mountains, often forming 

 impenetrable thickets, and occurs in ravines in the Piedmont 

 counties as far east as Snrry and Gaston. 



Rhododendron usually produces seed every year, and young 

 seedlings are common in moist open spots. Numerous sprouts 

 appear around old trunks and around the stumps after cutting. 

 Several stems generally grow from the same burly roots. 



The thick leathery evergreen leaves are acute at the apex and 

 narrowed toward the base. The flowers are pale rose-color or 

 white, dotted with yellowish-green spots, and are produced in 

 large compact clusters at the ends of the branchlets. The dark 

 red-brown fruit is a dry capsule, half an inch long, and encloses 

 many seeds. The buds are large, scaly and conical. 



The wood is heavy, hard, strong, brittle, close-grained, com- 

 pact, light clear brown in color ; the sapwood lighter. It is 

 occasionally employed in turnery, for tool handles, etc. A decoc- 

 tion of the leaves is used for rheumatism, sciatica, etc. 



Diospyros virginiana, Linnaeus. 

 (PERSIMMON.) 



A small tree, with slender branches forming a rounded top and 

 rough, dark brown, gray or black bark, reaching a height of 115 

 and a diameter of 2 feet. 



