One Page Plant Field Guides

These one-page field guides are perfect for beginning naturalists who would like a simple way to identify some of the most often seen trees, plants, mushrooms and slime molds found in the Mountain State. The guides include 18 full-color

images of the species on one side and then a page of text about each species on the other. If one has access to a laminator they are designed to be laminated

using a standard letter-sized sheet.

Monarda didymaBee Balm Fireweed

Epilobium angustifoliumLespedeza cuneata

TurtleheadChelone glabra

Biennial GauraGaura biennis

Tall GoldenrodSolidago altissima

New York IronweedVernonia noveboracensis

Downy SkullcapScutellaria incana

Black CohoshCimicifuga racemosa

Joe-Pye WeedEupatorium fistulosum

Yellow Giant HyssopAgastache nepetoides

Giant SunflowerHelianthus giganteus

Small-flowered Partridge PeaCassia nict i tans

Closed GentianGentiana clausa Polymnia uvedalia

Bearsfoot MistflowerEupatorium coelestinum

Blue WaxweedCuphea petiolata

BonesetEupatorium perfoliatum Lespedeza cuneata

Photo credit: All images by Martin Schnittler

FALL WILDFLOWERS

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9Downy SkullcapScutellaria incana

Downy skullcap can be recognized byits square stems and softly hairy (hencethe name) leaves. The plant reaches1-3 feet in height, and the leaves areovate, toothed, and white on the lowerside, with minute curved hairs. The flow-ers, 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter, occur inslender clusters that originate from theupper leaf axils. The long, slenderflower is softly hairy and pale blue toviolet in color. It has a hooded upperlip that arches over a flaring lower lip.

10Black Cohosh

Cimicifuga racemosaThe conspicuous flowering spikes ofblack cohosh make it an obviouswoodland plant. The tall rather slen-der plant sometimes grows to a heightof 8 feet. The compound alternateleaves are divided into three sharplytoothed leaflets, each about 2 incheslong. The graceful flower spike isfrom 6 inches to 2 feet in length.The white, round flowers give thespike a feathery appearance. Theflowers emit an offensive odor.

12Yellow Giant HyssopAgastache nepetoides

This plant is a fast-growing, woody-stemmed perennial that grows 4-6 feettall and produces whorls of tiny, green-ish-yellow flowers closely packed into5 inch terminal spikes on stiff, squarestems. The leaves are toothed, arrow-head-shaped and up to 5 inches long,but they lack the fragrance commonto many members of the mint family.Yellow giant hyssop typically occursin moist, rich, open woodland areasand thickets throughout West Virginia.

13Tall Sunflower

Helianthus giganteusSometimes reaching a height of morethan 9 feet, this perennial lives up toits common name. The stem is rough,reddish green, with branching near thetop. The leaves are mostly alternate,lancet-shaped, finely toothed and 3-7inches in length. Flowers heads are 1½-3 inches in diameter with 10-20 raysand numerous small tubular flowers intheir centers. Tall sunflower can befound in swampy soils or damp wood-lands, thickets and meadows.

14Small-flowered Partridge Pea

Cassia nictitansThis erect, spreading annual is 6-18inches in height and has lightly pu-bescent (hairy) stems. The leaves arecompound, consisting of 10-20 pairsof leaflets reaching up to ¾” in totallength. The yellow flowers are lessthan ½ inch wide, and each is madeup of four petals equal in size, with alower petal nearly twice as long. Theytypically occur in clusters of 2 or 3.Dry acidic soils are where you willfind this plant.

16Bearfoot

Polymnia uvedaliaBearfoot is a tall, upright perennialreaching 3-6 feet in height. The leavesare opposite, exceptionally large andpalm-like, divided into 3-5 lobes, 6-12 inches long and often nearly aswide and shaped like a bear’s foot. Thebright yellow flowers are clustered atthe tip of a flowering stem; each headis about 1-1/2 inch in diameter, withonly a few yellow ray flowers.Bearsfoot can be found growing in richsoil in ravines and woodland edges.

18Blue WaxweedCuphea petiolata

This plant has an erect, reddish-purplestem covered with sticky (viscid) hairsand reaching up to 2 feet in height.The leaves are opposite, lancet-shaped,reddish-purple, 1-2 inches in length andalso covered with sticky hairs. The flow-ers are red-violet to deep violet incolor, irregular in shape and up to ½”wide. There are 6 petals, with the up-per two being the largest. The petalsare small in relation to the long tube(calyx) to which they are attached.

1Bee Balm

Monarda didymaBee balm grows 2-4 feet tall and hasa square stem that supports a termi-nal flower head. The flower head isshaggy with numerous tubular, scar-let flowers on maroon bracts. Thedark green oval leaves are 3 to 6inches long, opposite, and have ser-rated margins. This wildflower is amember of the mint family and has avery distinctive aroma. Bee balmtends to form dense colonies in moistareas of rich woodlands.

2Boneset

Eupatorium perfoliatumBoneset grows up to 5 feet tall on astout, hairy stem that branches at thetop. The lance-shaped leaves are 4-8inches long, opposite and united at thebase so that the stem appears to comeup through the center. The leaves arefinely toothed, rough on top and havesticky undersides. Flowers occur in ter-minal clusters, with numerous smalltubelike white flowers in each cluster.Boneset perfers the wet soils of low-land woods and open fields.

3Fireweed

Epilobium angustifoliumFireweed is an erect perennial reach-ing 3-6 feet in height. It receivedits name by being one of the firstplants to become established on ar-eas burned by fires. The flowers area showy dark pink to magenta color,one inch long, and have four roundpetals. They occur in long, dense,terminally spiked clusters. Fireweedcan be found in upland areas of thestate.

4Lespedeza cuneata

Lespedeza cuneataThe alternately arranged leaves thatare divided into 3 smaller leaflets anderect stems with stiff hairs representtwo good characteristics that help dis-tinguish Lespedeza cuneata, a peren-nial that can reach up to 5 feet inheight. The tiny individual white flow-ers with violet or purple markings arisefrom a position between the stem andleaves (axils) in the middle to upperportions of the plant.

5Biennial Gaura

Gaura biennis This plant is a biennial that can reachup to 6 feet in height, with branchingover the upper half to produce longflowering stems that project upwardand outward in different directions.The stems are covered with long, softwhite hairs that spread away from thestem. The leaves are about 5 incheslong and 1½ inches across. The nu-merous small flowers are usually lightpinkand have 4 petals loosely ar-ranged toward the top.

6Turtlehead

Chelone glabraTurtlehead is an erect, slender herbwith a 4-angled stem that reaches 1 to4 feet in height and has short-stemmed, sharp-toothed 3 to 6 inchleaves. The flower clusters consist ofshowy, whitish or pinkish flowers aboutan inch in length, with the upper liparching over the hairy lower lip. Ingeneral appearance they resemble thehead of a turtle or snake. Look forthe unique flowers of turtlehead in lowmoist soils and streambanks.

7Tall Goldenrod

Solidago altissimaTall goldenrod is a tall plant (up to 7feet in height) topped with many small1/8”yellow flower heads. The flowerheads are formed on outward-archingbranches, thus producing an impres-sive pyramidal cluster. The stem isgrayish and downy in appearance. Theleaves are 2-6 inches long, alternate,and lancet-shaped. Tall goldenrod isvery common and can be seen in opensunny areas throughout West Virginia.

8New York Ironweed

Vernonia noveboracensisWhen ironweed is in bloom, this col-orful plant, which can reach a heightof up to 8 feet, is very evident inmany fields and bottomlands. Theclusters of deep violet flowers makeironweed readily recognizable. Theflower clusters are 3-4 inches wide,with 30-60 individual flowers in each.The mottled leaves are 4-8 incheslong, lancet-shaped, and have toothededges.

11Common Joe-Pye Weed

Eupatorium fistulosumJoe-Pye weed is an upright perennial,3-10 feet tall, and has a hollow purplestem. The lance-shaped leaves are 8-12 inches long, and are arranged inwhorls of 4-7 at each node on the stem,just like spokes from a wheel. Theflower heads are pink or purple anddensely packed in several large roundedclusters at the top of the stem. Theshowy flower clusters are often morethan a foot across. The plant prefersmoist roadsides, and meadows.

15Closed GentianGentiana clausa

Dark blue, bottle-shaped flowers makethe closed gentian easy to recognize.The flowers, 1-2 inches long andnearly closed at their tips, grow in tightclusters at the top of the plant and inthe upper leaf axils. The 4 inch longleaves occur in whorls below the upperflowers but are opposite of each otheron the stem. Closed gentian reaches aheight of up to 2 feet and grows in therich soil of moist woods and thicketsat higher elevations in West Virginia.

17Mistflower

Eupatorium coelestinumMistflower is a perennial plant aver-aging 1-2½ feet tall usually with asingle erect stem but branching occa-sionally. The leaves are up to 3 incheslong and 2 inches across, broadly lan-cet-shaped, and serrated. The flowerheads occur in flat clusters at the topof the primary stems. Each clusterof flower heads is about 2-4 inches indiameter and is made up of about 50tubular individual flowers that arepink to blue-violet in color.

As summer gives way to fall in West Virginia, one can hardly fail to notice theoften brilliant displays of color to be found along roadsides, in old fields, andat the edges of forests. These displays of color (with oranges, reds, andyellows usually most apparent) are provided by a group of plants—usuallyreferred to as fall wildflowers—that produce their flowers during this periodof the year. Members of a single family of flowering plants (the Asteraceae)are especially prominent. Among these are such well known examples as theasters, goldenrods, and the joe pye weeds. Some of these are relatively largeplants and thus not easily overlooked. Interestingly, what often appears to bea single large flower in the Asteraceae is actually a cluster of small flowers.This is the case, for example, in the common daisy, in which each “petal” (of“loves me or loves me not” fame) is actually an individual flower. Theflowers of this photoguide may be seen at some point during August-October.A few of the flowers may actually appear during summer and continue intothe fall season.

Asiatic DayflowerCommelina communis

Japanese KnotweedPolygonum cuspidatum

Morrow’s HoneysuckleLonicera morrowii

ColtsfootTussilago farfara

Tree of HeavenAilanthus altissima

TeaselDipsacus sylvestr is

Queen Anne’s LaceDaucus carota

Narrow-leaved CattailTypha angustifolia

Multiflora RoseRosa multiflora

Common BurdockArctium minus

Bull ThistleCirsium vulgare

Autumn OliveEleaganus umbellata

ChickoryCichorium intybus

Asiatic BittersweetCelastrus orbiculata

KudzuPueraria montana

Giant KnotweedPolygonum sachalinense

EulaliaMiscanthus sinensis

Yellow BedstrawGalium verum

Photo Credits: Martin Schnittler: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18. Randy Darrah: 6, 9, 13, 15.

INVASIVE

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1Asiatic Dayflower

Commelina communisThe very common Asiatic dayfloweris a native of Asia. The plants are 1-3feet tall and have swollen nodes alongthe stem. The nodes will often pro-duce roots where they come in contactwith the ground. The leaves are 2-4inches long, about an inch wide, andthe base encloses the stem. The flow-ers have two large blue upper petalsand a smaller white lower petal. Eachflower appears for only a single day.

2Japanese Knotweed

Polygonum cuspidatumJapanese knotweed was introducedfrom Japan. It can grow up to 8 feetin height and prefers moist locations.The hollow stems resemble those ofbamboo when mature. The broad, egg-shaped leaves surround the stem attheir base and are 4-6 inches long by2-4inches wide. The small flowers areborne in clusters measuring 4-5 inchesin length and are white in color. Theflowers increase in size as they ma-ture.

3Morrow’s Honeysuckle

Lonicera morrowiiMorrow’s honeysuckle is an erectshrub, introduced from Japan, that is2-8 feet in tall. The leaves are oval,fairly thick, 1-2 inches long, and havea grayish cast. The flowers are whitein color, changing to yellow, and lessthan 1 inch in length. The flowerpetals surround the mouth of a nec-tar-producing tube. In the fall, theshrub produces juicy red berries thatare a favorite of many birds.

4Coltsfoot

Tussilago farfaraColtsfoot is a very common plant seenalong virtually all roadsides. It is a na-tive of Europe and flowers very earlyin the spring. The basal leaves appearlong after the flowers and are roughlyheart-shaped, irregularly toothed, andfrom 2-8 inches long. The erect stem,which is up to 8 inches high and hasreddish scales, supports a yellow flowerhead. The flowers mature into whiteballs of tufted seeds similar to those ofdandelions.

5Tree of Heaven

Ailanthus altissimaTree of heaven is a large, fast-growingtree introduced from China, that canreach heights of up to 60 feet. Theflowers are tiny but occur in largegroups at the tips of the branches. Eachseed is contained within a flat, twisted,papery winged structure, allowing it tobe dispersed by the wind. Large clustersof seeds may persist on the treethroughout the winter. All parts of theplant omit an offensive odor.

6Teasel

Dipsacus sylvestrisTeasel is an erect plant with pricklystems that grow 1-6 feet tall. Thepale purple flowers occur in large,dense, elongated heads 1-4 incheslong, that are located on the tips ofthe stems. There are numerous longthin prickly bracts loosely surround-ing the head. Teasel is native to Eu-rope, where the flower heads were usedto tease wool cloth. It can be seengrowing in large colonies along road-sides and right-of-ways.

7Queen Anne’s Lace

Daucus carotaQueen Anne’s lace resembles a gardencarrot during its first year of growth.During the second year, when the plantcan grow up to 5 feet tall, white flat-topped flowers are produced, usuallywith a single maroon flower near thecenter of each cluster. During late fall,the flower head turns brown and shriv-els up into a concave, bird’s nest-shape.The plant has a taproot resembling acarrot, which accounts for its othercommon name of wild carrot.

8Narrow-leaved Cattail

Typha angustifoliaThe narrow-leaved cattail is a tall pe-rennial, introduced from Europe, thatcan grow up to 6 feet tall. The leavescan reach 2-5 feet in length and arelong, flattened, and very narrow. Flow-ers occur at the end of the erect stalkin dense, cigar-shaped clusters that are2-6 inches long. This perennial pre-fers wet sites such as ditches and wetmeadows. Narrow-leaved cattails re-produce quickly to form dense standsin wet roadside areas.

9Multiflora RoseRosa multiflora

This invasive shrub can spread to formlarge, virtually inpenetrable thickets.Multiflora rose was introduced fromeastern Asia and promoted as a livingfence for cattle. The stems are erect,3-10 feet tall, usually arched, and havemany curved thorns throughout theirlength. The flowers are white, ap-proximately 1 inch in diameter, have5 petals and appear in June. Many redfruits, called hips, appear in the fall.These are readily consumed by birds.

10Common Burdock

Arctium minusCommon burdock is a biennial thatproduces a rosette of very large leaves,6-18 inches long and 4-14 inches wide,in the first year and a tall branchedstem, 2-5 feet in length with manyburs, during the second year. Flowersoccur in clusters at the end of branchesor in clusters that arise from betweenthe stem and leaves. The flowers arepurple and surrounded by many hookedouter bracts. These barbs form the bur,which attaches to fur or clothing.

11Bull Thistle

Cirsium vulgareBull thistle is an erect biennial that isnative to Europe. It can grow 2-6 feettall during the second year. Both theleaves and stems are coarsely hairy.The leaves have deeply cut margins andstiff spines on the lobes. The flowerheads are clustered or solitary at theends of branches and the entire headresembles a shaving bush. Each is 1-2inches wide, rose to reddish-purple, andsurrounded by spiny tipped bracts.

12Autumn Olive

Eleaganus umbellataAutumn olive is a tall woody shrubthat can reach a height of up to 18feet. It has yellow to cream coloredbell-shaped flowers in the spring andbunches of red berries covered withtiny scales early in the fall. Autumnolive was introduced from eastern Asiaand planted for wildlife cover. Theleaves are 1-3 inches long by 1-1½inches wide, green on the upper sur-face and silvery and scaly on the lowersurface.

13Chickory

Cichorium intybusChickory, a native of Europe, cangrow 1-4 feet tall. The stems arebranched and produce flowers duringthe latter part of the summer. Theflowers are approximately 1½ inchesin diameter and blue, purple or whitein color. The limestone gravel baseof roadways provides ideal growingconditions for this alkaline-preferringplant. The dried root is sometimesused with or as a substitute for coffee.

14Asiatic BittersweetCelastrus orbiculata

Asiatic bittersweet is an aggressivevine with leaves that are oval and havea pointed tip. The leaves range from1-5 inches in length. The flowers aresmall, greenish-yellow and grow inclusters at the leaf axil (leaf-stemjoint). The pea-sized fruit turns brightyellow before the capsule splits opento reveal a bright red berry. This vine,which was introduced from Asia, growsrapidly, especially along the fencerowsof abandoned fields.

15Kudzu

Pueraria montanaThis high-climbing, rapidly growing pe-rennial vine, introduced from Asia, canreach lengths of up to 60 feet and growas much as a foot a day. The leaves arecompound, with 3 broad leaflets. Whilelateral leaflets are usually 2-lobed, theterminal leaflet is 3-lobed. The flowersresemble those of the common pea, arereddish-purple, and occur in hangingclusters. Kudzu’s rapid growth degradesor kills other plants by blanketing themwith a solid covering of vegetation.

16Giant Knotweed

Polygonum sachalinenseGiant knotweed is a fast-growing pe-rennial that can reach heights in ex-cess of 10 feet. The stems are hollowand have a bamboo-like appearance.The leaves are heart-shaped and large,often more than one foot long and 7-10 inches wide. The clusters of flow-ers are green and do not increase insize as they mature. This plant wasintroduced from Russia. The stems dieback with the first frosts of autumn.

17Eulalia

Miscanthus sinensisThis plant, introduced from Japan,has course stems that can reach 6-12feet in height and usually grow in denseclumps. Leaves occur over the lowertwo thirds of the stem, cascading outand down around the base. Flowersoccur in long hairy racemes (clusters),usually to form a fan-shaped panicle(loose cluster). The flowers are red-dish purple to silvery in color. Theshowy ornamental grass prefers sunnyopen roadsides.

18Yellow Bedstraw

Galium verumThis perennial grows 1-3 feet tall. Thestems are wiry and square, the leavesnarrow, linear, 0.5 to 1 inch long, andminutely hairy on the underside. Theyare arranged in whorls, with 6-8 leavesper whorl, on the stem. Tiny clustersof yellow flowers, branching from themain stem, may be seen from May-September. Yellow bedstraw was in-troduced from Europe where it is usedto stuff mattresses, giving them apleasant odor.

The term invasive is used to describe a plant species that aggressively com-petes with and eventually dominates local plant communities. Typically, aninvasive plant is a non-indigenous species (also known as exotic or non-native) that has been successfully introduced to a new more favorable envi-ronment having better resources or lacking its native predators. Highway,railway, and utility rights-of-way serve as major corridors in the spread ofinvasive plants from place to place. Seeds that become attached to vehicles,earth-moving equipment, and railway cars can be spread for hundreds ofmiles. West Virginia, while having a relatively young interstate system, isbeginning to see many invasive plants creeping onto our roadsides andestablishing plant communities. As roadways become older, the invasiveplant species establish their own communities often crowding native speciesto smaller areas or eliminating them from the surroundings. This photoguideviews 18 invasive plants seen along the roadsides of West Virginia.

Lepiota cristataLepiota

Amanita muscariaFly Agaric Shaggy Mane

Russula krombholtzii

Bay BoleteBoletus badius Mycena leaiana

Orange Mycena

Collared EarthstarGeastrum triplex

Red ChanterelleCantharellus cinnabarinus

Gemmed PuffballLycoperdon perlatum

Dog StinkhornMutinus caninus

Yellow MorelMorchella esculenta

White-egg Bird’s NestCrubibulum laeve

Coral Tooth MushroomHericium coralloides

Tree-Ear FungusAuricularia auricula

Crown-tipped CoralClavicorona pyxidata

Stalked Scarlet CupSarcoscypha occidentalis

Jack O’LanternOmphalotus olearius

Chicken of the WoodsLaetoporus sulphureus

Coprinus comatusBlackish-Red Russula

Photo Credits: Emily Johnson: 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15. Randy Darrah: 17. Steven L. Stephenson: 1, 3, 4, 7, 12, 14, 16, 18.

MUSHROOMS& OTHER FUNGI

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7Collared Earthstar

Geastrum triplexEarthstars resemble puffballs, but as thefruiting body matures, the outer wallsplits and curves back to form a star-like effect, at the same time exposinga spore sac with an opening at the top.In the collared earthstar, Geastrum tri-plex, the round spore sac is surroundedby a bowl-like collar. Fruiting bodiestypically occur in late summer, but dueto their tough nature, they may lastuntil spring.

11Yellow Morel

Morchella esculentaThe morels are among the most highlyprized edible fungi. The fruiting bodyconsists of a highly convoluted coni-cal cap with irregularly arranged pitson a hollow stalk. The yellow morel,Morchella esculenta, like virtually allother morels, appears in the spring ofthe year. It is found on the ground inopen forests, old orchards and in areasthat have been recently burned. Be-ware of the similar looking butpoisonous false morels.

18Chicken of the WoodsLaetoporus sulphureus

A polypore has pores beneath the capmuch like a botete. However, the fruit-ing body is usually tough, corky orwoody. Polypores occur on wood andare usually somewhat shelf-like. A fewof the polypores are present yearround, although they are not produc-ing spores most of the time. Thechicken of the woods fungus, Laetiporussulphureus, has a bright orange to yel-low upper surface, and a yellow lowersurface that appears almost smooth.

12White-egg Bird’s Nest

Crubibulum laeveBird’s nest fungi are so distinctivethat they are not likely to beconfused with anything else. Thefruiting body resembles a miniaturebird’s nest containing eggs. The“eggs” are packets of spores that aredispersed by the force of falling rain-drops. The fruiting bodies are rathertough and may persist for quite sometime. They are commonly found ondecaying woody debris and on land-scaping and gardening mulch.

16Stalked Scarlet Cup

Sarcoscypha occidentalisThe cup fungi are usually rather smalland thus often overlooked. However,a few are fairly conspicuous. Thestalked scarlet cup, Sarcoscyphaoccidenalis, has a bright scarlet cup-shaped fruiting body on a short whiteto reddish stalk. This tiny fungus isonly ¼- ½ inch across. The fruitingbodies commonly occur on decayingtwigs and small branches on the for-est floor.

1Lepiota

Lepiota cristataFruiting bodies of typical members ofthe genus Lepiota usually have a cap inwhich the upper surface has a scalyappearance that becomes lessprominant near the cap margin and anannulus (ring) that often can be movedalong the stalk. The gills are free (notattached to the top of the stalk).Lepiota cristata has a cap with red-dish-brown scales and can be found fruit-ing on the ground in woods and openfields.

4Blackish-Red Russula

Russula krombholtziiThe fruiting bodies of russulas arerather fragile, and many of the gillswill fracture upon handling. The pig-ments in the cap leach rapidly, al-lowing many different color shadesof the same species to be seen to-gether. It is easy to see how Russulakrombholtzii is called the blackish-red russula. Species of Lactarius arevery similar to the russulas in appear-ance but produce a milky latex.

17Jack O’Lantern

Omphalotus oleariusThe Jack o’lantern is a very commonmushroom in West Virginia. An orangeto orange-yellow cap and gills that de-scend partially down the stalk are thedistinguishing characteristics. It usuallyappears in clusters on decaying wood,especially oak. Gills of fresh specimensof Omphalotus olearius give off agreenish glow in the dark. The jacko’lantern mushroom is poisonous,causing severe gastrointestinal distressfor several hours, though rarely fatal.

3Shaggy Mane

Coprinus comatusMembers of the genus Coprinus areknown as the “inky cap” mushrooms.Once the spores are mature, enzymesare produced that cause the gills toturn into an inky fluid. The cap ofthe shaggy mane is bell-shaped andcovered with brown curving scales.This mushroom commonly occurs onthe ground either singly or in (some-times very large) groups. It is usuallyassociated with grassy disturbed sitessuch as roadsides.

14Tree-Ear Fungus

Auricularia auriculaThe fruiting bodies of most jelly fungihave the general appearance of a ge-latinous matrix. They can take theform of a globulose mass or appear tobe coral-, flattened leaf-, or ear-shaped. The tree-ear fungus, Auricu-laria auricula, has the general shapeand rubbery feel of an actual ear. Itcan occur year round. The fruitingbodies of jelly fungi shrivel up duringextended dry periods, only to revivewhen wet conditions return.

2Fly Agaric

Amanita muscariaThe amanitas are among the most col-orful and distinctive of all mushrooms.This group includes some of the mostpoisonous fungi in the world.Amanitia muscaria is a colorful rep-resentative normally found on theground near conifers. It is character-ized by a red to yellow-orange coloredcap with white scales or warts. Thismushroom is also called the fly agaric,a name derived from the fact that itwas once used to make fly poison.

6Orange MycenaMycena leaiana

Mycenas are among the more attrac-tive of the gilled mushrooms. Theycan fruit in spectacular and often col-orful clusters on decaying wood. Thefruiting body of Mycena leaiana is abright orange that tends to fade withage. The caps are sticky and shinyand the gills are reddish-orange. Thebright colored clusters of the orangemycena, Mycena leaiana, are espe-cially common on decaying beechlogs.

8Red Chanterelle

Cantharellus cinnabarinusChanterelles produce fruiting bodiesthat are funnel- or trumpet shaped,with a depression in the center. Theshallow ridges upon which the sporesare produced typically extend at leastpartially down the stalk. Most chan-terelles are edible and highly prized.Cantharellus cinnabarinus, the redchanterelle, is usually found on theground in moist woodlands. The en-tire fruiting body is vermilion to pink-ish-red in color but fades in sunlight.

15Crown-tipped CoralClavicorona pyxidata

The coral fungi are characterized byhaving a fruiting body consisting ofsolitary or multiple upright branches.Coral fungi occur on the ground or ondecaying logs. The crown coral,Clavicorona pyxidata, is easily recog-nized by the candelabra-like appear-ance of the branching tips. The fruit-ing body varies in color from white tolight brown. Deer are particularly fondof this group of fungi.

9Gemmed Puffball

Lycoperdon perlatumPuffballs produce their spores withinthe fruiting body. The spores are re-leased through an opening at the topor by the breaking apart of the wallsof the fruiting body. The gemmedpuffball, Lycoperdon perlatum, isvery common on the forest floor,especially around decaying wood.Puffballs can range in size from lessthan an inch to more than a foot.

10Dog StinkhornMutinus caninus

Stinkhorns produce their spores in amass of foul-smelling slime thatforms a covering over the upperportion of the fruiting body. Fliesand other insects are attracted tothe smell and disperse the sporesthat stick to their bodies. The dogstinkhorn, Mutinus caninus, can befound in humus-rich soils. It also canoccur on mulch in gardens orflowerbeds and around compostpiles.

5Bay Bolete

Boletus badiusThe boletes are very similar in appear-ance to the gilled mushrooms, but thefruiting body has a spongy layer oftubes (the openings to which are calledpores) under the cap rather thanbladelike gills. The attractive baybolete, Boletus badius, has a reddish-brown cap with olive yellow pores anda red stalk. Many boletes are attrac-tive to wildlife, providing food for deer,squirrels, and other rodents.

13Coral Tooth Mushroom

Hericium coralloidesThe tooth fungi bear their spores ontooth-like spines instead of gills orpores. Tooth fungi are quite easy toidentify as a result of this unique char-acteristic. They can resemble boletes,bracket fungi, coral fungi, or gilledmushrooms. The coral tooth mush-room can be found on old logs andstumps of hardwoods such as maple,beech, and oak. It appears as a whiteto gray mass with many pendant,toothed, spines.

Because of its extensive forests and diversity of ecological habi-tats, West Virginia is an exceptionally good place to observe andcollect mushrooms and other types of fungi. The structure that wecall a mushroom is in reality only the fruiting body of the fungus.The vegetative body consists of a system of threadlike structurescalled hyphae. A mass of hyphae is known as a mycelium. Theinformation given in this photoguide should enable the beginnerto recognize some of the major different types of fungi that occur inWest Virginia as well as other parts of the eastern United States.DO NOT regard any mushroom or other fungus as safe toeat on the basis of what you see or read in this photoguide.

Plasmodium Arcyria cinerea Arcyria denudata Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa

Fuligo septica Cribraria cancellata

Stemonitis axifera Diderma effusum Leocarpus fragilis Cribraria intricata

Metatrichia vesparia Hemitrichia serpula Diachaea leucopodia Lycogala epidendrum

Tubifera ferruginosa Physarum nutans Hemitrichia calyculata Trichia favoginea

Photo credits: Randy G. Darrah: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. George Barron: 4, 6, 17, 18.

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A decaying log or stump seems an unlikely place to find one of nature’smost extraordinary creatures. However, if one searches carefully duringthe summer and early autumn, especially after a period of rainy weather,almost any woodland will yield a number of the fruiting bodies of a trulyremarkable group of organisms, the slime molds. Slime molds, or myxo-mycetes, as biologists call them, may not have a particularly attractivename, but members of the group produce fruiting bodies that exhibitincredibly diverse forms and colors and are often objects of considerablebeauty. Most myxomycete fruiting bodies are no more than a millimeteror two (about a sixteenth of an inch) in height. This photoguide providesillustrations of a vegetative plasmodium and 17 examples of fruitingbodies.

1Plasmodium

Myxomycete plasmodia occur in cool,moist, shady places such as within crev-ices of decaying wood, beneath the par-tially decayed bark of logs and stumps,and in leaf litter. Consequently, theyare not seen as frequently as are thefruiting bodies. Plasmodia may be col-orless or, as is more often the case,strikingly colored yellow, orange, or red.The plasmodium, a thin mass of pro-toplasm that can actually creep along,represents the main vegetative stagein the myxomycete life cycle.

2Arcyria cinerea

Arcyria cinerea is relatively commonin the field. The stalked fruiting bod-ies may occur singly, scattered, orsometimes united by their fused stalksin fingerlike clusters of two or more.The “fingers” are ovate to cylindri-cal, usually tapered, and pale gray toyellowish brown in color. These fruit-ing bodies can be found on decayinglogs, stumps, wood debris on the for-est floor, bark, and dead leaves.

3Arcyria denudata

Arcyria denudata is one of the mostcommonly encountered myxo-mycetes. The stalked fruiting bodiesare usually closely spaced to crowdedtogether in groups. The ovate to cy-lindrical shaped upper portion is atfirst pinkish red to brick red in colorbut turns to brown upon aging. Arcyriadenudata can be found on decayingwood and occasionally on bark. Thismyxomycete is easily recognized byits “cotton candy” appearance.

4Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa

The fruiting bodies of Ceratiomyxafruticulosa are unlike those of othermyxomycetes. They typically con-sist of a series of erect, simple orbranched columns that are usuallywhite, but sometimes pink, pale yel-low to yellowish green in color. Thetiny, ovoid spores are attached to thefruiting body by individual threadlikestalks. Look for Ceratiomyxafruticulosa on the decaying wood oflongs and stumps.

5Fuligo septica

Fuligo septica is one of the most com-mon, conspicuous, and best knownmyxomycetes. The fruiting body canbe quite large, sometimes reaching thesize of a dinner plate in maximum ex-tent and a thickness of up to an inch.The color can range from white topale or bright pink to red to brightyellow. Fuligo septica can be foundon decaying wood and bark, forestfloor litter, wood debris and soil; itsometimes fruits on living plants andin lawns.

6Cribraria cancellata

The fruiting bodies of Cribrariacancellata are stalked, often occur inextensive colonies, and the upper por-tion tends to be nodding. The colorcan range from deep reddish brown tobrownish purple. The distinctive cage-like structure that forms the upperportion of the fruiting body makes thisvery common and widespread speciesone of the easiest of all myxomycetesto recognize. Cribraria cancellata canbe found on decaying wood, particu-larly that of coniferous trees.

7Stemonitis axifera

Stemonitis axifera produces stalkedfruiting bodies that are a distinctiverusty brown color, erect, and cylin-drical in shape. The fruiting bodiesare usually found in small to mediumsized clusters and can sometimes ap-proach an inch in height. The stalk islong, black, and shiny. Stemonitisaxifera is a very common myxo-mycete and is usually found on decay-ing logs, stumps, and other wood de-bris on the forest floor.

8Diderma effusum

Typical fruitings of Diderma effusumare easily recognized by their broadlyspreading plasmodiocarps (oftensomewhat vein-shaped, much likethe plasmodium from which theywere derived). The sessile fruitingbody is noticeably flattened, whiteon the outside, and has a dark purpleinternal spore mass. Didermaeffusum is found on dead leaves andother plant debris on the forest floor.

9Leocarpus fragilis

The fruiting body of Leocarpusfragilis is not likely to be confusedwith that of any other myxomycete,although a small fruiting could be mis-taken for a mass of insect eggs. Thesefruiting bodies are stalked, clustered,and appear ovoid or egg-shaped. Thecolor can range from pale yellow todeep maroon. Leocarpus fragilis ismore likely to be encountered in co-niferous forests. Fruitings usually oc-cur on forest floor litter though some-times fruits on living plants.

10Cribraria intricata

The fruiting bodies of Cribrariaintricata are stalked, with a globe-shaped upper portion that is usuallynodding but sometimes erect. Thefruiting bodies can be yellowish toblackish brown in color. Cribrariaintricata has a distinctive net-likestructure that surrounds the mass ofspores. Cribraria intricata often oc-curs in large fruitings on decaying logsand wood debris on the forest floor.

11Metatrichia vesparia

The fruiting bodies of Metatrichiavesparia are found singly to tightlyclustered, usually with firmly unitederect stalks. The color can be wine-red to dark maroon or sometimesnearly black. The clustered fruitingbodies, which resemble miniature pa-per wasp nests, are distinctive andmake this myxomycete easy to iden-tify. Metatrichia vesparia is found ondecaying wood or bark and usuallyappears later in the year than mostmyxomycetes.

12Hemitrichia serpula

Hemitrichia serpula is one of themost distinctive myxomycetes andis not likely to be confused with anyother species. The fruiting body issessile and forms a definite reticulumthat is often several inches in extent.The color can range from bright yel-low to rusty brown. Hemitrichiaserpula can be observed fruiting ondecaying logs, stumps, and other typesof wood debris on the forest floor.

13Diachea leucopodia

Like Hemitrichia serpula, The fruit-ing bodies of Diachea leucopodia arevery distinctive and unlikely to beconfused with those of any othermyxomycete. The fruiting bodies arestalked, elliptical to cylindrical, erect,and can be iridescent blue, purple, orbronze. The stout, tapered, whitestalk can reach up to one-half thetotal height. Diachea leucopodia canbe found on dead leaves, twigs, andother forest debris; it also commonlyfruits on living plants.

14Lycogala epidendrum

Lycogala epidendrum is one of themost widely distributed and best knownmyxomycetes. The fruiting body isrelatively large (up to half an inch indiameter) and typically more or lessglobose, although it can be somewhatangular when individual fruiting bod-ies are crowded together. The colorcan range from pink to yellowish-brown to olive to nearly black.Lycogala epidendrum occurs on de-caying wood and less commonly onbark.

15Tubifera ferruginosa

The fruiting bodies of Tubiferaferruginosa lack a stalk but occur intightly crowded groups. The individualfruiting bodies are cylindrical to ovalin shape and as much as half an inchlong. A large fruitings can reach sev-eral inches in total extent. Colorscommonly seen are pale umber to red-dish brown to purplish brown. Tubiferaferruginosa occurs on decaying woodor wood debris although it can occa-sionally be found on forest floor leaflitter.

16Physarum nutans

The fruiting bodies of Physarumnutans are stalked and usually occurin scattered groups. The stalk is dark,slender, tapered, and longitudinallywrinkled. The upper, spore-contain-ing portion is usually nodding andgrayish white in color due to the pres-ence of lime. Upon breaking open,the black spores contained withinmay be seen. Physarum nutans fruitson decaying wood and bark.

17Hemitrichia calyculata

Hemitrichia calyculata is a very com-mon and easily recognized myxo-mycete. The fruiting bodies arestalked, scattered to loosely clustered,and less than a quarter of an inch tall.Hemitrichia calyculata is bright todark yellow in color. The stalk is slen-der, reddish brown to black, and rep-resents up to one half the total heightof the fruiting body. Decaying woodand (less commonly) bark are theusual substrates for Hemitrichiacalyculata.

18Trichia favoginea

The sessile fruiting bodies of Trichiafavoginea occur in densely crowdedcolonies. The individual fruiting bod-ies are oval to cylindrical in shape.Trichia favoginea is usually brightyellow-brown in color, with a notice-ably shiny surface. The fruiting bod-ies of Trichia favoginea can be foundon decaying logs, stumps, other wooddebris, or bark. Occasionally, fruitingbodies also can be found on deadleaves.

Fire PinkSilene virginica

BluetsHoustonia caerulea

Jack-in-the-PulpitArisaema triphyllum

Spring BeautyClaytonia virginica

Common Blue VioletViola papil ionacea

Sharp-lobed HepaticaHepatica acutiloba

Wild GingerAsarum canadense

FoamflowerTiarel la cordifol ia

Dwarf CinquefoilPotentil la canadensis

Wild GeraniumGeranium maculatum

StonecropSedum ternatum

Common Wood SorrelOxalis montana

Large Yellow Lady’s SlipperCypripedium calceolus

Wild ColumbineAquilegia canadensis

Gray BeardtonguePenstemon canescens

MayapplePodophyllum peltatum

Large-flowered TrilliumTrill ium grandiflorum

False Solomon’s SealSmilacina racemosa

Photo Credits: Randy Darrah: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17. Martin Schnittler: 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18.

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Gray BeardtonguePenstemon canescens

Plant height: 1 – 3’Flower size: 1-1 ½ “ longFlower present: May – JulyHabitat: Rocky slopes, woodlands,thickets, roadsides A loose cluster of tubular flowers sits atopa thick downy stem. Flowers vary in colorfrom violet-purple to pinkish with project-ing lips (2 above and 3 below). The plantgets its name from the tufts of yellow hairs(sterile stamen) that extend from inside thebottom lip.

Fire PinkSilene virginica

Plant height: 6 – 24”Flower size: 1 – 2”Flower present: April – JuneHabitat: Rocky, open woods, roads, sandy hillsides The crimson flowers have 5 narrow pet-als with deeply notched ends. The sepalsunite at the center to form a long stickytube. Flowers bloom in loose clusters nearthe tops of long dark stems. The lance-shaped leaves are mostly located nearthe plant base.

BluetsHoustonia caerulea

Plant height: 3 – 6”Flower size: ½”Flower present: April – JuneHabitat: Grassy slopes, fields, thickets Bluets tend to grow in dense colonies.The flowers are borne singly on slender,erect stems. The flowers are pale bluewith 4 petals and golden-yellow centers.The tiny leaves are short, slender, andoccur opposite one another along thestem. This plant has a preference for acidicsoils.

Jack-in-the-PulpitArisaema triphyllum

Plant height: 1 – 3’Flower size: 2 – 3”Flower present: April – JuneHabitat: Moist, rich woods, swamps A curving, ridged hood (“pulpit”), green-ish or purplish-brown and often streakedor mottled, encloses an erect spadix(“jack”). This spadix bears tiny male andfemale flowers at its base. The flowersits beneath the 3-petaled, veined leaves.

Spring BeautyClaytonia virginica

Plant height: 6 - 12”Flower size: ½ - ¾ “Flower present: March – MayHabitat: Moist woods, thickets and

clearings The flowers are white to rose with redveins. These flowers form a looseraceme (elongated cluster). Narrowfleshy leaves, usually only a single pairon each plant, are 1 – 6 inches long,opposite and located midway up thestem.

Common Blue VioletViola papilionacea

Plant height: 3 – 8”Flower size: ½ -1”Flower present: March – JuneHabitat:Moist woods, meadows, road

sides This smooth, low plant has flowers andleaves on separate stalks. Flowers areblue to white with 5 petals. The lower oneis longer, bearing a backward projectingspur while the two lateral ones are bearded.Leaves are up to 5 inches wide, heart-shaped with scalloped margins.

Sharp-lobed HepaticaHepatica acutiloba

Plant height: 4 – 6”Flower size: 1 – 1 ½”Flower present: March – AprilHabitat: Rich woods Hepatica is one of the first wildflowers tobloom in the spring. Hairy stems bearsolitary flowers ranging from purple towhite in color. Each flower has 5-10 petal-like sepals. The thick, leathery leaves,which may be mottled, have 3 sharplypointed tips.

Wild GingerAserum canadense

Plant height: 6 – 12”Flower size: ½”Flower present: April – MayHabitat: Rich woods A solitary flower is borne close to the groundon a short stalk arising from the crotch of twoleaf stalks. The flower is bell-shaped with 3pointed lobes, dark reddish-brown to green-brown in color. The leaves usually occur inpairs and are large, hairy and heart shaped,overshadowing the flower. The flower isoften hidden beneath the forest floor leaf litter.

FoamflowerTiarella cordifolia

Plant height: 6 – 12”Flower size: ¼”Flower present: April – JuneHabitat: Rich woodsThis low woodland plant has maple-likeleaves at its base. The rising erect stalksupports a white spiked flower cluster atthe apex. The tiny flowers each have 10tiny, fine stamens giving the flower massthe appearance of foam, accounting for itsname. The plant usually forms coloniesin moist woods.

Dwarf Cinquefoil Potentilla canadensisPlant height: 2 – 6”Flower size: ½ - ¾”Flower present: March – JuneHabitat: Dry open soils of fields, lawns

and woods This low, spreading plant has a singleyellow 5-petaled flower containing manystamens, rising from a downy stalk. Thestalk arises from palmate 5-part leaves.Each leaflet is up to 1 ½” long and toothedfrom the middle to the outer edge.

Wild GeraniumGeranium maculatum

Plant height: 1 – 2’Flower size: 1 – 1 ½”Flower present: April – JuneHabitat: Rich, moist woods, thickets,

meadows, roadsides Rose-purple to violet-purple flowers areborne in loose clusters at the end ofbranches. Flowers have 5 petals and areradically symmetrical. Large, deeply pal-mate, 5-lobed leaves are toothed aroundtheir edges. Settlers used the tannin-richroots as a coagulant to help stop bleeding.

StonecropSedum ternatum

Plant height: 2 – 8”Flower size: 1”Flower present: April – JuneHabitat: Moist or dry rocks, logs,

and stream banks Flowers are borne on short, branchedstalks. Each flower consists of 4-5 sharplypointed white petals with dark brown an-thers. The lower leaves are thick, fleshy,smooth, and occur in whorls of three. Theplants spread by creeping along theground, forming colonies of dense mats.

Common Wood SorrelOxalis montana

Plant height: 3 – 6”Flower size: ¾”Flower present: May – JulyHabitat: Rich, moist woods especially

hemlock forests Bright green foliage composed of 3 heart-shaped leaflets joined at the tips makesthis delicate plant easy to recognize. Sev-eral white to pink flowers are borne onindividual stalks. The flower consists of5 notched, delicate petals with deep pinkveins.

Large Yellow Lady’s SlipperCypripedium calceolus

Plant height: 4 – 28”Flower size: 2” long lipFlower present: April – AugustHabitat: Bogs, swamps and rich woods A fragrant, inflated, yellow, pouch-shapedpetal is located terminally on the flowerstalk. There are two spirally, twisted green-ish-yellow to brownish petals and twogreenish-yellow lance shaped sepals, oneabove and one below the pouch-shapedlip. The leaves are up to 8 inches long,oval to elliptic with distinct parallel veins.

Wild ColumbineAquilegia canadensis

Plant height: 1 – 2’Flower size: 1 – 2”Flower present: April – JulyHabitat: Open rocky or wooded slopes,

roadsides Nodding scarlet flower with 5 long up-ward spurred petals and numerous yel-low stamens hanging below the petals.Hummingbirds and long-tongued insectsare attracted to the nectar-containing spurs.Bees may pierce the spur to gain accessto the nectar they are unable to reach.

MayapplePodophyllum peltatum

Plant height: 12 – 18”Flower size: ¾ - 2”Flower present: March – JuneHabitat: Rich woods and moist, shady clearings A single, nodding, white flower is bornein the crotch between a pair of large,umbrella-like leaves. The leaves are di-vided into 5 to 9 segments arising from acentral point. This plant is often found inlarge colonies.

Large-flowered TrilliumTrillium grandiflorum

Plant height: 8 – 18”Flower size: 2 – 4”Flower present: April – MayHabitat: Rich woods, thickets and

slopes A large, single, wavy-edged, white 3-petal flower (turning pink with age) islocated atop an erect stalk above a whorlof 3 broadly ovate to diamond-shapedleaves that are 3 - 6” long. Large colo-nies of plants are common.

False Solomon’s SealSmilacina racemosa

Plant height: 1 – 3’Flower size: 1/8”Flower present: April – JuneHabitat: Moist, rich woods and clearings A pyramidal-shaped, terminal cluster ofnumerous, small, creamy-white flowerswith enlarged stamens decorates the endof a 1 – 3’ stiffly arched stem. The broad,elliptical leaves that alternate along the stemhave prominent parallel veins and hairyundersides.

The seasonal occurrence of a group of plants usually referred to as “springwildflowers” is one of the more distinctive features of the deciduous forestsfound throughout much of eastern North America. These plants producetheir flowers in spring before the trees—most of which shed their leaves inautumn and thus are leafless during the winter months—have begun to leafout. During this period, which extends from late March until about themiddle of June in West Virginia, the spring wildflowers take advantage ofthe warm and sunny conditions that exist on the forest floor. Moist forests,especially those at lower and middle elevations in the more mountainousportions of the state, are often characterized by a dazzling display offlowers exhibiting a wide array of different forms and colors. Eighteen ofthe more conspicuous and/or colorful examples of the spring wildflowerscharacteristic of West Virginia’s woodlands are illustrated and described onthis photoguide.

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Chestnut Oak Sweet Birch Black Cherry American Sycamore

Yellow Poplar Fraser Magnolia

Red Maple White Oak Black Locust Sassafras

Sweetgum Eastern Hemlock Sugar Maple Sourwood

American Holly American Beech Black Walnut Red Oak

Quercus prinus Betula lenta Prunus serotina Platanus occidentalis

Magnolia fraseriLir iodendron tulipifera

Acer rubrum Quercus alba Robinia pseudoacacia Sassafras albidum

Liquidambar styraciflua Acer saccharum Oxydendrum arboreum

Ilex opaca Fagus grandifolia Juglans nigra Quercus rubra

Tsuga canadensis

Photo credits: Randy G. Darrah: 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 18. Martin Schnittler: 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17.

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1Chestnut OakQuercus prinus

Chestnut oak can reach up to 80 feetin height. The leaves are 4-8 inches inlength, 2-4 inches wide, and have nu-merous shallow, rounded lobes alongthe smooth margin. The acorns are upto 1 ½ inches long and egg-shaped,with a cap that covers the upper thirdof the fruit. The large acorns are animportant game food. The wood is verysimilar to that of white oak and hasthe same market uses.

2Sweet BirchBetula lenta

Sweet birch can reach up to 80 feet inheight. The 1-1 ¼ inch long, pointed,elliptically shaped leaves are notchedat the base. The margin is sharply ser-rated, with parallel lateral veins. Thetree has a distinctive shiny, smooth,dark reddish-brown to black bark. Awintergreen odor is emitted frombruised twigs. Birch beer is made fromthe fermented sweet sap. Birch oil wasonce used for flavoring of medicineand candies.

3Wild Cherry

Prunus serotinaThe leaves of wild cherry are 2-4inches long, dark green, and lancet-shaped with finely serrated margins.Small white flowers are borne along a4-6 inch long drooping axis. The fruitsare small 3/8 inch dark red cherries.Wild cherries are used for jelly andwine making. The fruits are readilyeaten by birds and other wildlife. Thewood is highly prized for furniture andveneer. The bitter tasting leaves arepoisonous if eaten by livestock.

4Sycamore

Platanus occidentalisSycamore is a large tree with an ex-panded base and a massive trunk. Theleaves are alternate, 4-9 inches long,ovate, with 3-5 shallow pointed lobes.The round fruits, which are about 1inch in diameter, hang on a long stalkand are made up of many small, hardtufted seeds. The bark is smooth,mottled and readily exfoliating. Thewood of sycamore is used as flooring,particleboard, and fiberboard.

5Yellow Poplar

Liriodendron tulipiferaYellow poplar can rapidly grow toheights of over 120 feet, usually with avery straight trunk and few lower limbs.The leaves are 3-6 inches long and wide,with a distinctive tulip shape. Theshowy 2 ½ inch flower has yellow-greenpetals and an orange center. The fruitis 2-3 inches long, cone-like, composedof many overlapping winged seeds. Thewood is soft, straight-grained, and easyto work, making it popular for furni-ture, cabinets and pulpwood.

6Fraser MagnoliaMagnolia fraseri

The leaves of Fraser magnolia are al-ternate, up to 18 inches long, and haveear-like basal lobes. The leaves arecrowded near the ends of the twigs.The large, 8-10 inch, solitary flowersare cream colored and appear at theend of the branches in spring. The 3-4 inch, bright red, oblong, cone-likefruits contain many pointed seeds andsplit open in early autumn.

7Red MapleAcer rubrum

Red maple is a large tree that can reachup to 80 feet in height. The 2-4 inchlong leaves are broadly oval, largest atthe base, and have 3-5 palmate lobeswith serrate margins. The tree growsin moist soils from swamps to uplandridges. Many parts of this tree are redor reddish in color. Clusters of tiny redflowers can be seen in very early springbefore the leaves are visible. Pioneersused the bark to extract brown andblack dyes for making ink.

8White OakQuercus alba

White oak is a large stately tree,which can reach heights of up to 100feet. The leaves are 5-9 inches longwith 5-8 rounded lobes and smoothmargins. Acorns are 1-1 ½ incheslong and egg-shaped, with a cap cov-ering the upper quarter of the fruit.The acorns are a choice food of wild-life. The wood of white oak is veryimportant to the lumber industry.Whiskey is often aged and stored inbarrels made from white oak staves.

9Black Locust

Robinia pseudoacaciaBlack locust is a fast-growing, me-dium sized tree reaching up to 75feet in height. The compound leavesare 6-12 inches long, with 8-18paired leaflets and a single terminalleaflet. Young trees have a pair ofsharp spines at the base of each leaf.The very hard wood of black locustis used primarily for fence posts.Though this tree grows rapidly it isshort lived.

10Sassafras

Sassafras albidumSassafras is a small to medium sizedtree that can reach up to 50 feet inheight. The leaves are 3-6 incheslong and may be unlobed, lobed onone side, or have lobes on both sides.The female plants bear fleshy blackfruits atop red stalks. The root barkis used to make a flavorful tea. Thewood has an aromatic, spicy fra-grance that was once believed to re-pel insects.

11Sweetgum

Liquidambar styracifluaSweetgum can reach heights of up to100 feet. The 3-6 inch leaves are star-shaped, usually with 5 pointed, finelyserrated lobes. The distinctive 1 inchfruits are long-stalked, round, andspiny. Each spine will split open, re-leasing 1 or 2 winged seeds. The woodis popular with furniture makers, andalso is used for veneer and plywood.Gum from cuts in the bark was usedmedicinally in Colonial times.

12Eastern HemlockTsuga canadensis

Eastern hemlock is a large pyramid-shaped conifer that may reachheights of 110 feet or more. The flat-tened needles are about ½ inch longand have two white lines on theirunderside. The cones are less than aninch long and usually occur near theends of the branches. The tanninsfrom hemlock bark were once used inthe production of leather. Pioneersalso prepared a tea from the needlesand twigs.

13Sugar Maple

Acer saccharumSugar maple can reach up to 100 feetin height. The 3-6 inch leaves are op-posite and deeply cleft into 5 lobes,each with a few long pointed teeth.The wood of sugar maple is very popu-lar and is used for furniture, flooring,and veneer. Variations in grain pat-terns can produce special woods knownas birdseye, curly, and fiddleback.Maple sugar and maple syrup may beproduced by boiling the sap collectedfrom trees during late winter.

14Sourwood

Oxydendrum arboreumSourwood can reach heights of up to50 feet. The elliptically shaped leavesare 4-7 inches long, 1-3 inches wide,and finely saw-toothed along theirmargins. The leaves have a sour taste,contributing to its common name.The tiny flowers are urn-shaped,white, and borne in drooping clusterswith each measuring 4-10 inches inlength. Sourwood honey is highlyprized by beekeepers.

15American Holly

Ilex opacaAmerican holly can reach up to 70feet in height. The 3-4 inch evergreenleaves are alternate, elliptical in shape,thickened, and leathery with spinymargins. The red berries produced bythe female tree, make this one of theeasiest trees to identify. The ivory-white wood is favored for carving andinlays. Birds readily eat the berries.The fruiting branches are a traditionaldecoration for the Christmas holiday.

16American BeechFagus grandifolia

American beech can reach heightsof up to 80 feet. The 2-5 inch longleaves are opposite, elliptically-shaped, with straight, evenly spacedsecondary side veins. The bark issmooth, thin, and light gray in color.The trunk is a favorite for carvingof initials and dates. The fruits are ½- ¾ inches in size, triangular-shaped,and occur in pairs within a woody,burr-like husk. Beechnuts are a fa-vorite food for all wildlife.

17Black WalnutJuglans nigra

Black walnut can grow to heights ofup to 90 feet. The pinnately com-pound leaves are 12-24 inches long.The leaflets, which can vary in num-ber from 9-21, are 2-5 inches longand lancet-shaped. The foliage emitsa pungent odor. The sweet edible nutis encased in a thick, irregularly ridgedshell, surrounded by a thick greenhusk. The dark wood is sought foruse in furniture, gunstocks, and ve-neer.

18Red Oak

Quercus rubraRed oak is a large tree that can reachheights of up to 90 feet. The leavesare 5-9 inches long, ovate-shaped, andhave 7-11 shallow lobes and bristle-tipped teeth. The one inch, egg-shapedacorns have a shallow cap around thebase. The acorns of red oak requiretwo years to mature. The wood of redoak is commonly used for flooring,furniture, and shelving. Red oak isamong the most rapid growing of theoaks.

Anyone who has been taken by the beauty of a finished wooden floor ormarveled at the breathtaking beauty of a wooded hillside ablaze with coloralready appreciates the value of the trees in West Virginia. Trees are amongthe plants that supply oxygen to the Earth’s atmosphere, and their exten-sive root systems prevent soil erosion. Fruits and nuts that trees produce areconsumed by wildlife as well as by people. Birds, mammals, reptiles andmany other animals seek the protective cover provided by trees. Sometrees, such as conifers, retain their leaves throughout the year, while othersproduce a brilliant color display before losing their leaves in preparation forwinter. Wood continues to be used for heating homes, as has been the casefor centuries. Trees are a valuable renewable resource that, if properlymanaged, can provide value and enjoyment for many more generations.This photoguide illustrates and describes 18 types of trees found within thestate.

Division of Natural Resources P.O. Box 67

Elkins, West Virginia 26241 (304) 637-0245