Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Common forest trees of North Carolina

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  • ^> -gggp<^!^== '•©► Ws>**3&' REST ' -e> -s^p-o^-s -e> -m>< BLACK CHERRY (Wild Cherry) (Prunus serotina Erh.) A medium-sized tree, up to about 70 feet high and 1 to 3 feet in diameter, black cherry as a tree is at its best in the high mountains. The forest- grown trees have long clear trunks with little taper; open-grown trees have short trunks with many branches and irregular spreading crowns. The bark on branches and young trunks is smooth and bright reddish brown, marked by conspicuous, narrow, white, horizontal lines, and has a bitter-almond taste. On the older trunks the bark be- comes rough and broken into thick, irregular plates. The leaves are alternate, simple, oval to lance-like in shape, with edges broken by many fine incurved teeth, thick and shiny above, and paler beneath. The fruit is dull purplish black, about as large as a pea, and is borne in long hanging clusters. It ripens in late summer, and is edible, although it has a slightly bitter taste. The wood is reddish brown with yellowish sap- wood, moderately heavy, hard, strong, fine-grained, and does not warp or split in seasoning. It is valuable for its lustre and color and is used for furniture, interior finish, tools, and implement handles. With the exception of black walnut, the cherry lumber has a greater unit value than any other hardwood of the eastern United States. BLACK CHERRY Twig, two-thirds natural size. Leaf, one-third natural size. 60
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).