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hardwood are on the Florida Keys nearest the mainland, and Caribbean pines grow over the
lower group south to Key West.

Florida's Northern Trees: Throughout the State, trees of temperate origin mingle with
tropical flora. In west Florida the mountain laurel, which ranges up to Nova Scotia, grows a few
miles from the cabbage palmetto.

Many of Florida's trees are quickly recognized by northerners. The sycamore, one of the
largest hardwood trees in America and characterized by a think bark that flakes off in large
patches, is general over the State. The maple, with its light-brown wood and bright-green, three-
lobed leaves, closely resembles the sugar-bearing maple in New England. The yellow popular
tree, which bears tulip-like flowers, and has a light, soft, wood, is valuable for interior and
exterior trim, veneers and other special uses.

There are four hickories in north Florida. The bitternut, a tall, slender tree, with granite-
gray trunk, faintly tinged with yellow, is found in low, moist soils. The short-limbed white
hickory of rich soils has a dark-gray bark and takes its name from a white, tough, wood that is
exceptionally good fuel. Hammock hickory, common in hammocks north of the Everglades, is
usually the smallest of the four trees, although its slender medium-gray trunk occasionally
stretches to 80 feet.

Three ashes are found in river swamps. The river ash, with reddish-brown bark, and the
small water ash, have oval-shaped leaves, slightly toothed at the margin. The great pumpkin ash,
with slender trunk and enlarged base, sometimes attains heights of 80 feet.