PAGE FOUR
THE FRANKLIN PRESS AND THE HIGHLANDS MACONIAH
THURSDAY, JUNE S. Hit
Published every Thursday by. The Franklin Press '
At Franklin, North Carolina
Telephone No. 24 v :
VOL. LI I Number 22
Mrs. J. W. C. Johnson and B. W. Johnson . . Publishers
p. F. Callahan Managing Editor
C P.'Cabc.., . .Advertising Manager
M rs. C. P. Cabe. . . .V. v. .Business Manager
Entered at the Post Office, Franklin, N. C, as second class matter
, ' SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Year .'. j..... $1.50
Six Months i .75
Eight Months $1.00
Single Copy '. , . .05
Our Native Shrubs and Vines
IN searching for information concerning the shrubs
and vines native to Western North Carolina
several authorities have been consulted and much
data has been checked over, but a bulletin issued by
- the headquarters of the Nantahala national forest
in Franklin seems to be more complete and more
pleasingly arranged than any other that could be
found, therefore it is given below as prepared by
the author :
SHRUBS AND VINES OF THE
NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST
By
JAMES B. CARTWRIGHT, JUNIOR FORESTER
From almost any point in our rugged Nantahala Forest discerning
eyes can rove over high mountains, steep slopes, , deep, narrow coves,
and see strips, of darker green where hemlocks and white pines fol
low to their very sources the numerous branches and streams. In sharp
contrast are the ridges and slopes covered with oaks and .chestnuts
or perhaps' dotted, with pitch 'pines. 'These mark to the distant eye the '
wide range of habitat this region affords. Conditions vary from road
side rock cliffs, swamps or stream banks to dry mountain tops.
Altitude ranges from six hundred feet to more than five thousand
feet'. . ' .
In the same extravagant style which nature manifested in prepar
ing the setting she has clothed it with a verdure of amazing com
plexity. Trees,, shrubs, vines, wild flowers, ferns, mosses and lichens
all occur in a multiplicity of species.
One of the most interesting of these groups are the native shrubs.
Many of them are not only prized as ornamentals, but furnish edible
fruit, game food and shelter, . medicinal and other products. All of
them have a natural beauty of flower, foliage or form.
One of our most common and beautiful shrubs is the great laurel
or rhododendron. Along the course of almost "every stream on this
forest may be found large quantities of this valuable species. Its
thickets have probably hidden more moonshine distilleries than all
other plants combined. In June and July it bears clusters of bell
shaped, pale-rose or nearly white flowers. The thick, evergreen leaves
make it attractive the year round. A smaller and less important
species, the mountain rose bay, is also common on moist slopes.
The azaleas, perhaps better known as honeysuckles, are also, mem
bers of. this group. The most common of these are the purple-or
pink azalea and the flame-colored azalea. Their beauty. is well known
to every lover of .nature.. The former species is quite fragrant hut
the latter is not. The azaleas are not evergreen. -
A relative of the rhododendrons often mingling in thickets with
them is the evergreen mountain laurel or ivy. In May and June its
beautiful flowers arc in evidei.ee on nearly every slope. This shrub
is planted extensively in parks and lawns.
In scattered patches' on moist hillsides is to be found the Andro
meda floribunda. Its creamy white flowers in crowded clusters occur
ing in April and May are most attractive.
The dog hobble, or fetter bush is a strictly stream-bank species. Its
flowers arc similar to those of Andromeda. The weak stems and
habit of growth cause it to form tangled thickets that even a 'dbg
has difficulty in forcing a way through. Funeral wreaths are made
from the branches which are closely lined with the sharp-pointed,
evergreen leaves. ' '
Less important ornamentals of the heath family are the mountain
sweet pepperbush or Clethra and the hc-huckleberry or malcberry.
.' Among our best known flowering shrubs is the granddaddy gray
beard or fringe-tree. This tall shrub bears white flowers in drooping
clusters resembling an old man's beard. The fruit is purple with a
whitish bloom. Fringe-tree is very ornamental in cultivation. It is
quite common on some parts of the forest.
Also extensively cultivated in lawns and parks is our .native sweet
shrub or Carolina allspice. During April and May it bears many,
dark , maroon red flowers with narrow incurved petals. All parts of
this plant when cut or crushed have the odor of ripe strawberries.
The Brook Evonymous or strawberry bush, rather common on
rich, moist soils, is frequently cultivated. The twigs are slightly four
sided and green in color. The fruit is crimson red when ripe and
, somewhat resembles a strawberry.
A less common but highly prized ornamental is the mountain
Stewartia. The large white flowers develop in May and June. Usually
it occurs on . weeded slopes and along streams; seldom on roadsides.
One of our showiest, large shrubs is the flowering , dogwood. Its
habit. of growth as well as its beautiful white flowers make it an at
tractive ornamental. The irregularly divergent branches with up
curved twigs suggest hands extended palm upwards, with fingers
slightly curved as though asking alms. A smaller and, less common
relative is the alternate-leaved dogwood. .Its leaves, bark and flowers
give it a high esthetic value. In swamps and on lake and stream banks
grows the silky or swamp dogwood, a less important species.
On rich nitximtaiir slopes may be found the mock orange with its
showy while flowers. It is similar to the commonly cultivated species
except that the flowers arc odorless.
Common on rocky banks is the wild hydrangea, known locally as
sevenbark. Its flowers are borne in flat-topped clustery, the fragrant,
fertile ones in the center and the showy sterile ones around the
margin. ,
Another of our native shrubs often found in cultivation is the false
indigo or Amorpha. This is a tall shrub with compound leaves and
violet-colored flowers crowded in narrow spire-like clusters. Belong
ing to the same family and often found growing in the same localities
as the Amorpha is the bristly locust or rose acacia. The twig and
stems of this, shrub are densely covered with bristly hairs. It bears
large rose-pink floweis in drooping clusters.
: The sumacs are familiar to .nearly everyone. The staghorn sumac
often reaches small tree size. Its wood is used in manufacture of
souvenirs. The young Shoots are used in the North to make spiles
for tapping maple trees. The bark and leaves are rich in tannin.
Smaller species are the smooth sumac and the dwarf sumac, These
shrubs are all more or less common in cultivation. They grow in
various conditions and localities, frequently in thickets . along road
sides. . '
In damp, rich woods may be found two shrub-like relatives of the
Christmas holly. These, the mountain holly and winterberry, both
shed their leaves in winter. However, they bear clusters .of red ber
rieS' in late fall that persist well into the winter.
An interesting shrub of moist woodlands is the spicewood. -'The
yellow of its small flowers is one of the first colors of spring. The
leaves and fruit possess the odor of gun benzoin when crushed, al
though that is not a product of this shrub. The fruit is berry-like and
red in color, ripening in September. A beverage may be made by
steeping the twigs in hot water. A few twigs thrown in with wild
meat while cooking will kill the strong, wild flavor. It is said that
where this shrub is 'found growing the permanent water level is
within six feet of the surface. ." ,
A not uncommon shrub or small tree of moist fertile soils , is the
Hercules club, devil's walking stick or angelica tree. Although it is
cultivated to some extent as an ornamental, I do not believe its value
as such is appreciated, The , stem and branches are covered with hard,
slightly curved spines. The twice-compound leaves grow to three feet
long by two and one half feet wide. The flowers are small, cream
white in large erect clusters sometimes twenty or more inches long.
The fruit is a black berry. f. '
In dry and rocky woodlands and along roadsides is sometimes seen
dense patches of the bush honey-suckle. This shnub is a smaller re
lative of cultivated weigela. The flowers occuring from June to' August
are at first pale yellow, turning to deep yellow, scarlet, crimson, or
even maroon.
A rather attractive, low shrub of dry, sterile and mostly sandy soils
is the sweet fern. Its leaves are fern-like and sweet-scented. Their
odor is quite noticeable to anyone walking through the thickets com
monly formed by this shrub.
Another low shrub found in dry woodlands and along roadsides
nearly everywhere on the forest is the New Jersey tea or red root.
It bears clusters of pretty white flowers in July. The roots are . said
to have medicinal value. During the American Revolution the leaves
of this plant were used for tea.
Two attractive shrubs of the rose family are the red and black
chokeberries. The former and more common one is found in moist
woods and swamps. The white or reddish flowers are borne in clusters
at the tips of the twigs. The fruit is berry-like, dark-red, astringent.
The black chokeberry resembles the red 'but is smaller and bears
very dark purple or black fruit. It grows on Rabun Bald, Georgia,
possibly the most southern point of its range.
The maple-leaved arroweed or dockmackie occurs on rocky slopes.
It bears white flowers in flat-topped clusters. The fruit is dark blue.
The leaves, as the name implies, are maple-like. .
The wild-raisin, sweet viburnum and black haw are three similar
species with flowers and fruit much like the maple-leaved arrow
wood in appearance. The. fruit of these three, however, is sweet and
edible. The black haw is cultivated extensively as an ornamental.
The sweet viburnum is a stream bank species while the wild-raisin
is more frequently found in swampy situations.
The common elderberry, found growing in rich, moist lowlands, is
quite attractive when in flower and when the fruit is ripe. The white
flowers occur in broad, flat-topped clusters. The fruit is a cluster of
small black-purple berries. These are used for making wine, pies and.
jelly. The stems and twigs have large pith and are used by boys to
make whistles, pop-guns and squirt guns.
A rare shrub on this forest is the American barberry. It has an
unusual appearance due to the triple spines and bristle toothed leaves.
The fruit is a red berry. The flowers, wood and inner bark are
yellow.
A large shrub or small tree found along stream banks in rich soil
is the papaw. It is net only ornamental due to its dull purple flowers
- and rather large leaves but also it bears edible fruit The latter re
sembles a small banana but the seeds and taste are similar to ' the
persimmon.
Much of the present national forest land was once in cultivation.
Scattered all over the forest are old abandoned home sites. On many
of them such shrubs as rose of Sharon or Althea, coralberry, lilac,
snowball and roses have spread over considerable areas.
Some of the woody vines which have an esthetic value are the
Japanese and coral honeysuckles, grapevines, cross vine, trumpet
creeper and Virginia creeper.
The Japanese honeysuckle was introduced as an ornamental and
has become a pest in some sections. The flowers are white to yellow
and quite fragrant. This vine is now proving quite valuable in pre
venting erosion of banks and terraces. "
The coral honeysuckle or woodbine is a beautiful climbing vine with
clusters of trumpet shaped flowers, bright red on the outside and
yellow within. The fruit is an-orange-red berry. The leaves near the
tips of the twigs are unitod around the stem at their basesi. This
vine is frequently seen in cultivation.
The wild grapes are common everywhere on various soils. They are
quite ornamental and are eaten by animals and humans too. Some
times, however, they do rather serious damage to timber.
The cross vine is rather common locally along streams. It is a tree
climber with oraige-colored flowers. A cross-section of the stem
shows a cross through the center. The. pores of this vine are open
between nodes. Boys sometimes cut out these intcrnodes, dry them
and then. smoke them like cigars.
A commonly cultivated vine found along streams is the trumpet
creeper. It bears trumpet-shaped, orange-colored or red flowers in
August and September.
The Virginia creeper is found in woods on tree trunks, rock cliffs
and slopes and is occasionally planted around porches.
A tall shrub or small tree of spreading form is the witch-hazel. It
bears small yellow flowers in the fall at the same time its fruit
ripens. When mature, the woody capsules split suddenly from the top
and forcibly expel the seeds. A lotion is obtained from the sap. Na
tives of this forest sometimes peel the wood of witch hazel into curled
shavings so thin as to be translucent and use them to fill bedticks.
These are said to be, "soft again as a feather bed."
An important game-food shr.ub or small tree .is the chinquapin. It
is a miniature of the chestnut. The nuts are eaten mostly by squirrels.
The American and beaked hazelnuts arc "both important for their
fruit which is not only eaten by rodents, but has a market value as
human food.
Squirrels relish also the fruit of the flowering dogwood. Wild grape
and muscadines arc among the favorite foods for raccoons and
oppossums.
Blueberries and huckleberries arc probably otir most important
shrubs from the standpoint of edible fruit. Many thousand acres of
timber land have been .burned in the past to improve the crop of
these berries.
Gooseberries do not occur to any great extent on this forest, This
is fortunate for although many people relish the berries, these shrubs
are quite harmful in that they are the alternate host plants for the
white pine blister rust. This disease threatens to wipe out the white
pines in some portions of the North
and West where gooseberries are
abundant.
A not uncommon shrub, frequently-parasitic
on the roots of the
sweet shrub, is the oil-nut or buf
falornut. Its dark-green leaves are
not unattractive.
Pmbablv the most feared and
despised shrubs we" have are the
poison sumac, poison ivy and poison
oak. The poison sumac, our most
poisonous species, occurs in swampy
situations. It reaches small tree
size. The poison ivy is a sub-erect,
sometimes climbing, shrub, which
occurs abundantly in hedgerows,
thickets and woods. Poison oak
grows erect in dryer sites. Some
people are immune to the poison -xtf
these plants, others become severe
ly irritated from very slight ex
posure. x
Hiking on many parts of this
forest is made difficult the year
round 'by green briars, sawbriars,
bamboo briars and the like. These
thorny pests are the ruination of
many clothes and the cause of
many a severe scratch. They also
damage the sensitive newshoots of
young trees by hanging in them
and choking them with their ten
drils. The economic importance of na
tive shrubs may be small, compared
with that of our main forest crop,
the timber trees, but their influence
on the recreational value of our
forest can scarcely be overestimated.
Letter-Press
Editor Franklin Press:
I note with regret the report of
a fatal airplane accident in Macon
county. One familiar with the air
craft industry, and a pilot of sorts
myself, is not surprised to learn
that both the airplane and the iilot
involved were unlicensed.
North Carolina is one of the few
states left that does .not require
that all .interstate operations con
form' with the regulations of the
bureau of air commerce for inter
state operations; (Perhaps there are
such state laws now, 'but if they
are not enforced in the most out
lying parts of the state, of what
value are they?)
For the protection of ,life and
property, for the protection of
reputable operators and for the ad
vancement of aeronautics and the
benefits received therefrom, there
should be set up a state agency for
the control of aircraft operations
within the state, over which the
department of commerce has no
control.-
This agency should be organized
so that it is completely independent
of politics and political appoint
ments. It should not be a licensing
board but should simply require
that all pilots and planes within
the state be licensed as capable
and airworthy by the department
of commerce, and have authority
to enforce such requirements. It
should also have power to prohibit
commercial operations from inade
quate landing fields and by such
an instrument, protect the "fixed
base" operator who has consider
able investment and sense of pub
lic responsibility.
County authorities should not
have powers of their own but
should cooperate with the enforce
ment of the state laws.
Funds for the maintenance of
such a state agency could be 'ade
quately had by diverting the gaso
line tax that is paid by commercial
operators and private owners.
Fifteen years ago, North Caro
lina launched a program to connect
every county scat with every ad
joining county seat by a paved
highway. That foresight has meant
more to the development of our
state than any other one factor.
Now is the opportunity for North
Carolina to launch a program for
a$ airport for every county scat
and not 15, 'but five years from
now, the investment will prove
equally as valuable as our high
way program of 15 years ago.
Private and commercial aviation
has made more advancement in
the last year than in the five years
previous.
Five years from now it will be
as easy and safe for the vacationer
to commute from New York to
Franklin by plane as it is now for
him to commute from Atlanta hv
automobile.
Will Macon county have the fa
cilities to receive such visitors? Or
will she, only have an occasional
outlaw plane and pilot bootlegging
rides?
(signed) F. B. Tohnson.
West Trenton, N. J,