Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (21) View all

Common forest trees of North Carolina

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  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-9680.jpg
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  • FOREST TREES RED CEDAR (Juniperus virginiana L.) AVERY valuable tree found in all classes and conditions of soils—from swamp to dry rocky ridges—seeming to thrive on barren soils where few other trees are found. It is scattered throughout the State except in the high mountains, but it is most important in the middle section. There are two kinds of leaves, usually both kinds being found on the same tree. The commoner kind RED CEDAR One-half natural size. is dark green, minute and scale-like, clasping the ptem in four ranks, so that the stems appear square. "The other kind, usually appearing on young growth or vigorous shoots, is awl-shaped, quite sharp- pointed, spreading and whitened. The two kinds of flowers are at the end of minute twigs on separate trees. Blooming in February or March, the male trees often assume a golden color from the small catkins, which, when shaken, shed clouds of yellow pollen. The fruit, which matures in one season, is pale blue, often with a white bloom, one-quarter of an inch in diameter, berry-like, enclosing one or two seeds in the sweet flesh. It is a favorite winter food for birds. The bark is very thin, reddish brown, peeling off in long, shred-like strips. The tree is extremely irregular in its growth, so that the trunk is usually more or less grooved. The heart wood is distinctly red, and the sapwood white, this color combination making very striking effects when finished as cedar chests, closets and interior woodwork. The wood is aromatic, soft, strong and of even texture, and these qualitcs make it most desirable for lead pencils. It is very durable in contact with the soil, and on that account is in great demand for posts, poles and rustic work. 18
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).