File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (20316100349).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11pennx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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PLATE LXXVII. CUCUMBER TREE A llowi'iiiiu liraiH-h willi iiiatiiri' nii«l (Icvcioi) iii<r l<'itv<'s, X i. I'.Viincli with a coiu'-like fruit, seed liaiifimg l.v threads, and n Jiiaturo loaf, x J. A liirptl iiist startiim t" \>'-\\. showing two seeds on tiie inside, natural si7-e. 1. 0. A seed, eiilar;,'ed. A winter twlR, X ». , , , Section of a winter twis; sliowiiij,' a Imd aim a leafsrar with hiindlc scars, c.-hhirged. CUCUMBER TREE Magnolia acuminata, Linnaeus FORM—A large tree, which may attain a height of 90 ft. with a diameter of 8 4 feet. The form of the forest-grown tree is distinct from the open-grown. Open-grown specimens have a pyramidal crown with limtos originating all along the trunJc from near the base to the narrow top. Lateral branches are wide-spreading and rather horizontal near the base, ascending and Hhort at the top. Forest-grown specimens have straight, slightly tapering, rather wnooth trunks which are free from branches often for 60 ft. from the ground. The largest log hauled out of the Hammersley Run of Potter county was a Cucumber. It was over 6J feet in diameter ftt the small end. BABK—Orayish-brown to brown, with long furrows separating long, rather loose, scaly ridges. See Fig. 106. TWIGS—Usually slender, round, usually smooth but sometimes slightly hairy, shiny, bitter, covered with a few orange-colored inconspicuous lenticels, and contain white pith which may show a tendency to become chambered. BUDS—Alternate, circular In cross-sect ion, densely covered with thick, pale, silky hairs, terminal buds about 2/5-4/5 of an inch long and oblong; lateral buds J-i of an inch long, blunt- IK>inted, nearly surrounded by leaf-scars. Buds are covered with valvate scales, the outer ones falling in spring, the inner ones developing Into stipules. LEAVES—Alternate, simple, ovate to oblong, thin, 4-12 inches long, pointed at apex, tapering or rounded at base, entire on margin, gre^n and slightly downy beneath, with prominent midrib and primary veins on lower surface. Fall in response to first heavy frost in autumn. LEAF-SCABS—^Alternate, scattered along the twigs, narrow, cresent to broadly U-shaped with its bundle-scars arranged in a U-shaped line. Bundle-scars number about 6-8. FLOWERS—Appear from April to June. They are upright, solitary, complete, sleuder-bell- shaped, greenish tinged with yellow, about 3 inches long. FRUIT—Mlatures about October. A red, cone-like or cucumber-like, cylindrical mass about 2-2J inches long, composed of numerous coherent follicles. Seeds scarlet, drupe-like, and sus- pended at maturity by long, slender white threads. WOOD—^Diffuse-porous; rays distinct and rather uniform In width; light, soft, brittle, straight- grained, durable, does not warp when seasoning, light yellowish-brown to reddish-brown; sap« wood is thin and yellowish-white. Weighs about 29 lbs. per cubic foot. Used for interior finish, furniture, pump stocks, as a substitute for Yellow Poplar, and for • the same uses as White Pine. It is not so strong but more durable than the latter. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS—The Cucumber Tree can be distinguished by its leaves which are thin, oblong, pointed and green beneath. The leaves are larger than those of the Laurel Magnolia and smaller than those of the Umbrella Tree. The corolla is greenish tinged with yellow and tlie follicles of the conelike fruit are rounded while the other two native species have white flowers and tapering follicles. It attains a much larger size and has sharper-pointed buds than the Laurel Magnolia and is considerably larger than the Umbrella Tree but has smaller and more downy buds. The bark is thicker and deeper ridged than either of the other species. The twigs are brown while those of the Laurel Magnolia are bright greea RANGE—Western New York and soqthern Ontario south through West Virginia to Georgia; west to Illinois and Arkansas. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA—Found locally across the State from north to south in the mountainous regions and on their eastern and western slopes. Recorded as far east as Lancaster county. It, however, occurs only at iscdated stations east of tlie Allegheny and North or Blue Alountains. The author found one ainall specimen in the South Mountains of Franklin county. Some large specimens have been reported from the western part of the State, where it occurs in Erie, Crawford, Lawrence, Mercer, Allegheny, Washington, and Greene counties. HABITAT—Usually found in rich woods close to streams, also inhabits slopes. In West Virginia and In this State it grows well on the soils of the carboniferous formation. It is light-demanding. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES—The Cucumber Tree Is the most important of the Magnolias native to the United States. The wood is similar to that of Yellow Poplar. In addition to producing valuable wood it grows rapidly and is rather free from the attack of destructive agents. The value of the wood alone will Justify reasonable efforts in attempting to propagate it. It is also attractive ornamentally on account of its large leaves and symmetrlciU crown. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

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