Bark.—On old trunks dark red-brown and rough, with deep furrows and broken ridges; on younger trees, lighter-colored, the outer papery layers separating freely into thin sheets and turning up at the edges.
Wood.—Light, rather strong, close-grained, light brown with pale sapwood.
Range.—New England, west to Missouri, and south to Florida and Texas.
Distribution in West Virginia.—Observed growing along the banks of the following rivers: Williams, Gauley, Greenbrier, New, Great Kanawha, Little Coal, Elk, Guyandot, Twelvepole, Big Sandy, Little Kanawha, Potomac, Shenandoah, Great Cacapon.
Habitat.—Banks of streams, occasionally on drier ground.
Notes.—A common name of this species, River Birch, signifies its preference for river borders as its habitat. While the tree is not important it serves to hold stream banks from falling in and at the same time adds much to the attractiveness of river scenery. The bark and leaves lack the aroma of some of the other birches.
BEECH
Fagus grandiflora, Ehr.