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THE NATIVE TREES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 



SASSAFRAS SASSAFRAS, Karst. Sassafras. 



Geographic Distribution. 



Usually in rich sandy well-drained soil, southern Maine and 

 eastern Massachusetts, through southern Vermont, southern 

 Ontario, central Michigan, and southeastern Iowa to eastern 

 Kansas and the Indian Territory, and southward to central 

 Florida and the valley of the Brazos river, Texas; in the south 

 Atlantic and Gulf states often taking possession of abandoned 

 fields. 



Distribution in West Virginia. — Abundant, usually on thin dry 

 land. Distributed throughout the State except at high al- 

 titudes. 



Wood. — Soft, brittle, coarse-grained, durable, dull yellow. 

 Uses. — Not valuable. Occasionally used for minor purposes. Oil 

 of sassafras distilled from bark and roots. 



LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA, L. Sv^eet Gum. Bilsted. 



Geographic Distribution. 



Fairfield county, Connecticut, to southeastern Missouri, south- 

 ward to Cape Canaveral and the shores of Tampa Bay, Florida, 

 and through Arkansas and Indian Territory to the valley of 

 the Trinity river, Texas, reappearing on the mountains of cen- 

 tral and southern Mexico and on the highlands of Guatemala; 

 in the maritime region of the south Atlantic states and in the 

 basin of the lower Mississippi river one of the most common 

 trees of the forest, covering rich river-bottom lands usually in- 

 undated every year; in the northern and middle states on the 

 borders of swamps and low wet swales; at the north rarely 

 more than 60 to 70 feet tall, with a trunk usually not more 

 than 2 feet in diameter. 



Distribution in West Virginia. — A rare tree. Distributed prin- 

 cipally along streams in the follov^ing counties: 



Clay : common along Elk river from a short distance above 



Clay to the Kanav^ha county line. 

 Fayette : large trees found at Sewell station. 

 Kanav^ha- plentiful along north side of Kanav^ha river at 



Charleston and frequent along the Great Kanav^ha 



and Elk above Charleston. 

 Mingo : scattered trees along Tug Fork of Big Sandy a few 



miles above Williamson. 



