Handbook of Teees of the Noethe.kn States and Ca 



This rave tree is eonlliied to tlie Blue Ridge fj 

 of llie Allei^lieiiy Alts., r;in<{iii^' in aHitiide from 

 about -ilKHl to .■iGllO ft., in I'ompany with the 

 couinioH llciiilnrk. White Pine, various Oaks, 

 Hickories, Sugar Maple, Sour-wDod, Siher- 

 bell Tree, ete., or oeeasionally forming ((uite 

 exclusive groves. It rarely exceeds 70 ft. in 

 height or 2 ft. in diameter of trunk, and has 

 rather compact pyramidal top and dark fur- 

 rowed bark of trunk. It is so often confined to 

 steep and almost inaccessible crags with roots 

 intertwined among the rocks that we are led 

 to infer that it alone is capable of maintain- 

 ing a foothold in such localities, and tliat the 

 other trees of the forest must lune crowdetl it 

 out from places of easier footing. It is a tree 

 well worthy of ornamental planting for wliicli 

 it is occasionally employed. 



Its wood is very similar to that of the com- 

 mon Hemlock, a cu. ft. weighing 20.04 lbs., 

 and applicable to tlie same uses though not 

 abundant enough to be of commercial im- 

 portance,! 



Leaves flat, linear, %-% in. long, peh'oJatc. 

 obtuse and often refuse at apex, lustrous dai-k 

 green and with conspicuous central groove above. 

 marked with white bands of 7 or 8 rows of 

 stomata on each side of the midrib beneath and 

 forming a tlattish spray but not as flat as that of 

 the T. caiKKtrnsis. Floirrrs: staminate pnrplisli; 

 pistillate purple with broad ovate l)racfs about as 

 long as the scales. f'onrs ol)loug. 1-1 Vj in. iong 

 with short stalks and oblong ol)tuse fine but 

 scarcetv wood.y puberulous scales widely spreading 

 at matiu'ity and ample bracts about half as long 

 as scales; seeds about one-sixth in. hmg with 

 large wing broadest near the base. 



1. A. W., XII, 200. 



