32 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Scarlet oak {Quercus cocdnea). The scarlet oak reaches a height of 100 feet 

 and a diameter of 30 inches, but is generally much smaller. It is very common 

 on dry soil, especially if stiff, below an elevation of 4,000 feet. The timber is 

 not so valuable as that of the red oak, but is much used. It reproduces freely 

 and makes good growth. 



Black oak {Quercus velutina). The black oak reaches a height of 100 feet 

 and a diameter of 30 inches, and is frequent on good soil on well-di-ained slopes 

 below an elevation of 2,500 feet. The timber has about the same uses as that of 

 the red oak. It is a tree of rapid growth and reproduces well. The bark is rich 

 in tannin. 



Southern red oak {Quercus digitata). In the mountains this tree reaches a 

 height of 80 feet and a diameter of 30 inches. It is common only below an 

 elevation of 2,000 feet, where it occurs on dry soils generally with the shortleaf 

 pine. It grows rapidly and seeds abundantly every few years. The bark is rich 

 in tannin. 



Bear oak {Quercus pumila). The bear oak is generally a large shrub, sometimes 

 becoming a small tree. It is unimportant as a timber tree, and not at all common. 



Black jack {Quercus marilandica). The black jack is a small tree, seldom 

 more than 30 feet in height. It is found only on poor, dry soil below an 

 elevation of 2,000 feet, and is infrequent except on the southern slope of the 

 Blue Ridge. The wood makes an excellent fuel, but is valueless as timber. 



Water oak {Quercus nigra). The water oak reaches a height of 50 feet and a 

 diameter seldom greater than 20 inches. It is found occasionally along the larger 

 streams around the southern base of the mountains. It is not sufficiently abundant 

 to have any specific use in this region. The wood is similar to that of the shingle 

 oak, described below. 



Shingle oak {Quercus imbricaria). The shingle oak is seldom more than 50 

 feet in heigth. It occurs in the valleys below an elevation of 2,500 feet. The 

 wood is coarse grained and porous, like that of the black and scarlet oaks, and 

 is adapted to similar use. The tree seeds freely, reproduces well, and grows 

 rapidly. 



White elm {Ulmus americana). The white elm reaches a height of 80 feet 

 and a diameter of 30 inches, and occurs along only the larger streams. It is not 

 abundant enough to be generally used. The wood is hard and tough. 



Winged elm {Ulmus alata). The winged elm occurs only along the larger 

 streams, especially toward the southern end of the Appalachians. It is seldom 

 more than 50 feet in height and 20 inches in diameter, and is unimportant as a 

 timber tree. The wood is hard and tough. 



Slippery eVm ( Ulmus puhescens). The slippery elm reaches a height of more 



