Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Common forest trees of North Carolina

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Item’s are ‘child’ level descriptions to ‘parent’ objects, (e.g. one page of a whole book).

  • g^<!5*>-<s= -e> -?^>-«^>- IT TRi -& -mp<z&-^ -e> -#gg=><?^.-e PERSIMMON (Diospyros virginiana L.) THE persimmon, often called "simmon," is well known throughout its range. It is a small tree, rarely exceeding 50 feet in height and 18 inches in diameter, occurring throughout the State, except in the high mountains. It seems to prefer dry, open situations, and is most abundant in old fields, though it occurs on rich bottomlands. The bark of old trees is almost black and separated into thick nearly square blocks, much like the black gum. The leaves are alternate, oval, entire, 4 to 6 inches long, dark green and shining above, paler beneath. The small flowers, which appear in May, are yellowish or cream- white, somewhat bell-shaped, the two kinds occurring on separate trees; the male in clusters of 2 or 3, the female solitary. They are visited by many insects. The fruit is a pulpy, round, orange-colored or brown berry, an inch or more in diameter and containing several flattened, hard, smooth seeds. It is strongly astringent while green, but often quite sweet and delicious when thoroughly ripe. It is much relished by children, and by dogs, 'possums and other animals. The wood is hard, dense, heavy, strong, the heart- wood brown or black, the wide sapwood white or yellowish. It is particularly valued for shuttles, golf- stick heads, and similar special uses, but is not ot sufficient commercial use to warrant its general encouragement as a timber tree. PERSIMMON Leaf, one-half natural size. Twig, three-quarters natural size. 73
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).