Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Common forest trees of North Carolina

items 54 of 80 items
  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-9714.jpg
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  • IT TREES CUCUMBER TREE (Magnolia acuminata L.) THE cucumber tree attains an average height of 60 to 80 feet and a diameter of 2 to 4 feet. It occurs singly among other hardwrood trees throughout the richer, cooler slopes and coves of our mountains, and extends somewhat into the nearby regions. This is the only one of our magnolias which has rough bark and a small leaf. The bark is aromatic and bitter; that of the young twigs is a lustrous red-brown, while the bark of the trunk i s rather thin, dark brown, furrowed and broken into thin scales. CUCUMBER TREE Leaf, one-third natural size. Twig, two-thirds natural size. The leaves are alternate, oblong, short-pointed, rounded at the base, silky hairy when unfolding, later smooth or slightly silky, 6 to 10 inches long, 4 to 6 inches wide, often with wavy edges, dark green above, lighter beneath. The flowers are single, large—though smaller than those of the other magnolias—2y2 to 3 inches long. The 6 upright petals are whitish green, tinged with yellow. The fruit is a smooth, dark-red, often crooked "cone," 2y2 to 3 inches long, somewhat resembling a small cucumber. The seeds are one- half inch long, and covered with a pulpy scarlet coat, which attracts the birds, particularly as the seeds hang by thin cords from the opening "cones." The wood is light, soft, close-grained, durable, of a light yellow-brown color. It is cut and used extensively along with yellow poplar for cabinet and carriage making, and other similar uses. Besides being a valuable timber tree, it is quite desirable for roadside and ornamental planting. 52
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).