There are 6 genera and about 400 species of trees and shrubs belonging to the Beech family of which 5 genera and about 60 species are native to North America. Fourteen species of Oaks, 2 species of Chestnuts, and 1 species of Beech occur in West Virginia.

This large family is second in importance only to the Pine family and in some respects surpasses it. Nearly all its members, especially the various kinds of oaks, produce wood of superior quality and adapted to a great variety of uses.

Fagus, (page 83).—This genus comprises, in the world, 5 species, only 1 of which is found native in America. The others are Asiatic and European species. The European Beech (Fagus sylvatica, L.), and its varieties having purple leaves, cut leaves or pendent branches are often planted for ornamental purposes.

Castanea, (pp. 85, 87).—Of the 5 or more species of chestnuts belonging to this genus, none is found in the western part of North America and 3 species are native to the eastern part of the United States. Castanea alnifolia, Nutt., is a shrub found in the southern Atlantic states. The European Chestnut (Castanea sativa), the Japanese Chestnut (Castanea Japonica) and the Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) are all planted in this country for their nuts. The Japanese and Chinese species are more or less resistant to the chestnut bark disease and for this reason they and their hybrids with our native species are likely to receive much attention from nut-growers. The common Chestnut and the Chinquapin, both of which are natives of West Virginia, may be exterminated by the disease mentioned above.

Quercus.—The Oak genus comprises 300 known species in the world. Of these about 55 are indigenous to North America and 14 to West Virginia. The Oaks belong to two classes, namely, those that mature their acorns in one season and those that mature them in two. The West Virginia species are grouped below according to their classes:

White Oak Class:

• 1.—White Oak (Quercus alba).
• 2.—Post Oak (Quercus stellata).
• 3.—Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa).
• 4.—Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor).
• 5.—Yellow Oak (Quercus Muhlenbergii).
• 6.—Chestnut Oak (Quercus Prinus).

Black Oak Class:

• 1.—Red Oak (Quercus rubra).
• 2.—Pin Oak (Quercus palustris).
• 3.—Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea).
• 4.—Black Oak (Quercus velutina).
• 5.—Spanish Oak (Quercus falcata).
• 6.—Scrub Oak (Quercus ilicifolia).
• 7.—Black Jack Oak (Quercus marilandica).
• 8.—Laurel Oak (Quercus imbricaria).

The following key will assist in distinguishing the species.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF QUERCUS

• a. Apex of leaves or their lobes sharp-pointed, usually bristle tipped; acorn maturing at end of second season.
• b. Leaves entire, not lobed.
• Leaves often pubescent beneath
• Q. imbricaria, p. 115.
• b. Leaves lobed.
• Leaves very broad toward apex, with shallow lobes, brownish tomentose beneath
• Q. marilandica, p. 113.
• Leaves not uniform, lobes usually long and lanceolate, often scythe-shaped
• Q. falcata, p. 109.
• Leaves 2-5 inches long, densely white pubescent beneath; tree small, often a shrub
• Q. ilicifolia, p. 111.
• Leaves with sinuses extending not over half way to the mid-rib, dull green above; inner bark pinkish; acorn cup saucer-shaped
• Q. rubra, p. 101.
• Leaves of upper branches similar in shape to those of Q. rubra but bright green above; those on lower limbs and young trees often with lobes rounded; inner bark yellow; acorn cup top-shaped
• Q. velutina, p. 107.
• Leaves with sinuses extending at least ? of the way to mid-rib; acorn cup large and top-shaped
• Q. coccinea, p. 105.
• Leaves similar to those of Q. coccinea but with acorn cup small and saucer-shaped; a tree of low grounds with lower branches drooping
• Q. palustris, p. 103.
• a. Apex of leaves or their lobes without bristle tips usually rounded; acorns maturing at end of first season.
• b. Leaves not deeply lobed.
• Leaves coarsely sinuate-crenate; acorns on stems 1-3 inches long; bark of branches with papery scales turning back
• Q. bicolor, p. 95.
• Leaves coarsely crenate-toothed; acorns 1-1½ inches long, glossy, cup deep and thin; bark of trunk deeply furrowed, dark gray or black
• Q. Prinus, p. 99.
• Leaves equally and sharply coarse-toothed; acorns less than an inch long; bark of tree not deeply furrowed,
• light gray, resembling that of White Oak
• Q. Muhlenbergii, p. 97.
• b. Leaves deeply lobed.
• Leaves 6-12 inches long, cut near the middle almost to mid-rib by two opposite rounded sinuses, 5-7 lobed, the terminal lobe large; acorn ¾-1½ inches long; cup deep, fringed around the outer rim
• Q. macrocarpa, p. 93.
• Leaves thick, leathery, usually 5-lobed, bright yellow-green above; acorns small, inch long
• Q. stellata, p. 91.
• Leaves 3-9 lobed, medium thin; acorn ¾-1¼ inches long
• Q. alba, p. 89.