Trees of Indiana
by Charles Clemon Deam · English · Gutenberg #41702 · 509,730 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: Trees of Indiana
Author: Charles Clemon Deam
Release date: December 26, 2012 [eBook #41702]
Most recently updated: October 23, 2024
Language: English
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TREES OF INDIANA
(First Revised Edition)
by
CHAS. C. DEAM
April, 1921
Fort Wayne Printing Company
Contractors for Indiana State Printing and Binding
Fort Wayne, Indiana
1921
The Department of Conservation
State of Indiana
W. A. Guthrie, Chairman.
Stanley Coulter.
John W. Holtzman.
E. M. Wilson, Secretary.
Publication No. 13
Richard Lieber.
Director.
[Illustration: Plate 1.
SYCAMORE NEAR WORTHINGTON. IND., THE LARGEST BROAD-LEAVED TREE IN THE
U. S. FIVE FEET ABOVE THE GROUND IT IS 42 FT. 3 IN. IN CIRC.; THE EAST
BRANCH IS 27 FT. 3 IN. IN CIRC. AND THE WEST BRANCH IS 23 FT. 2 IN.
IN CIRC. SEE JOUR. HEREDITY, VOL. 6:407:1915.]
Preface
The first edition of Deam's "Trees of Indiana" was published in 1911.
By limiting the distribution, the edition of 10,000 lasted about three
years. The demand for a book of this kind was so great that a second
edition of 1,000 copies was published in March 1919. This edition was
exhausted within five days after its publication was announced, and
thousands of requests for it could not be filled. These came from all
classes of people, but the greatest demand was from the school teachers
of the State.
Since forestry is an integral part of agriculture which is now taught in
our public schools, and since a book on the trees of the State is in
demand, the Conservation Commission has authorized a revised edition of
"The Trees of Indiana." What was formerly Bulletin No. 3 of the Division
of Forestry is now published as Publication No. 13 of the Department.
The reader's attention is called to a new departure in illustrations,
which were made from photographic reproductions of specimens in Mr.
Deam's herbarium. The photographs were taken by Mr. Harry F. Dietz of
the Division of Entomology. It is believed that it will be gratefully
received by the public and will stimulate an interest in forestry that
should achieve practical results.
RICHARD LIEBER,
Director, The Department of Conservation.
Table of Contents.
Preface 7
List of illustrations 10
Introduction 13
Key to families 17
Trees of Indiana 19
Excluded Species 290
Measurements of some large trees that grow in Indiana 297
Specific gravity of Indiana woods 299
Index 305
Illustrations.
PLATE NUMBER PLATES PAGE
1. Frontispiece; Sycamore, largest hardwood tree in U.S. 5
2. Pinus Strobus (White Pine) 21
3. Pinus Banksiana (Gray or Jack Pine) 23
4. Pinus virginiana (Scrub Pine) 24
5. Larix laricina (Tamarack) 27
6. Tsuga canadensis (Hemlock) 29
7. Taxodium distichum (Cypress) 31
8. Thuja occidentalis (Arbor-Vitæ) 33
9. Juniperus virginiana (Red Cedar) 35
10. Salix nigra (Black Willow) 37
11. Salix amygdaloides (Peach-leaved Willow) 39
12. Salix alba (White Willow) 41
13. Salix fragilis (Crack Willow) 42
14. Salix discolor (Pussy Willow) 44
15. Populus alba (Silver-leaf Poplar) 46
16. Populus heterophylla (Swamp Cottonwood) 48
17. Populus deltoides (Cottonwood) 49
18. Populus grandidentata (Large-toothed Aspen) 51
19. Populus tremuloides (Quaking Aspen) 53
20. Juglans cinerea (Butternut) 55
21. Juglans nigra (Black Walnut) 57
22. Carya illinoensis (Pecan) 60
23. Carya cordiformis (Pignut Hickory) 62
24. Carya ovata (Shellbark Hickory) 64
25. Carya laciniosa (Big Shellbark Hickory) 67
26. Carya alba (White Hickory) 69
27. Carya glabra (Black Hickory) 71
28. Carya ovalis (Small-fruited Hickory) 73
29. Carya Buckleyi var. arkansana 77
30. Carpinus caroliniana (Water Beech) 79
31. Ostrya virginiana (Ironwood) 81
32. Betula lutea (Yellow Birch) 83
33. Betula populifolia (Gray or White Birch) 86
34. Betula papyrifera (Paper or Canoe Birch) 87
35. Betula nigra (Black or Red Birch) 89
36. Alnus incana (Speckled Alder) 91
37. Alnus rugosa (Smooth Alder) 93
38. Fagus grandifolia (Beech) 95
39. Castanea dentata (Chestnut) 97
40. Quercus alba (White Oak) 102
41. Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak) 105
42. Quercus Muhlenbergii (Chinquapin Oak) 106
43. Quercus Michauxii (Cow or Basket Oak) 108
44. Quercus Prinus (Chestnut Oak) 111
45. Quercus stellata (Post Oak) 113
46. Quercus macrocarpa (Bur Oak) 115
47. Quercus lyrata (Overcup Oak) 118
48. Quercus imbricaria (Shingle Oak) 120
49. Quercus rubra (Red Oak) 122
50. Quercus palustris (Pin Oak) 124
51. Quercus Schneckii (Schneck's Red Oak) 125
52. Quercus ellipsoidalis (Hill's Oak) 128
53. Quercus velutina (Black Oak) 129
54. Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak) 132
55. Quercus falcata (Spanish Oak) 134
56. Quercus marilandica (Black Jack Oak) 136
57. Ulmus fulva (Slippery or Red Elm) 139
58. Ulmus americana (White Elm) 141
59. Ulmus Thomasi (Hickory or Rock Elm) 143
60. Ulmus alata (Winged Elm) 144
61. Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry) 147
62. Celtis pumila var. Deamii (Dwarf Hackberry) 149
63. Celtis mississippiensis (Sugarberry) 152
64. Morus rubra (Red Mulberry) 154
65. Maclura pomifera (Osage Orange) 156
66. Magnolia acuminata (Cucumber Tree) 158
67. Liriodendron Tulipifera (Tulip Tree or Yellow Poplar) 160
68. Asimina triloba (Pawpaw) 162
69. Sassafras officinale (Sassafras) 164
70. Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum) 167
71. Platanus occidentalis (Sycamore) 169
72. Malus glaucescens (American Crab Apple) 173
73. Malus lancifolia (Narrow-leaved Crab Apple) 175
74. Malus ioensis (Western Crab Apple) 176
75. Amelanchier canadensis (Juneberry or Service Berry) 178
76. Amelanchier lævis (Smooth Juneberry or Service Berry) 179
77. Cratægus Crus-galli (Cock-spur Thorn) 183
78. Cratægus cuneiformis (Marshall's Thorn) 184
79. Cratægus punctata (Large-fruited Thorn) 186
80. Cratægus Margaretta (Judge Brown's Thorn) 187
81. Cratægus collina (Chapman's Hill Thorn) 189
82. Cratægus succulenta (Long-spined Thorn) 190
83. Cratægus neo-fluvialis (New River Thorn) 192
84. Cratægus Calpodendron (Pear Thorn) 193
85. Cratægus chrysocarpa (Round-leaved Thorn) 195
86. Cratægus viridis (Southern Thorn) 196
87. Cratægus nitida (Shining Thorn) 198
88. Cratægus macrosperma (Variable Thorn) 199
89. Cratægus basilica (Edson's Thorn) 201
90. Cratægus Jesupi (Jesup's Thorn) 202
91. Cratægus rugosa (Fretz's Thorn) 204
92. Cratægus filipes (Miss Beckwith's Thorn) 205
93. Cratægus Gattingeri (Gattinger's Thorn) 207
94. Cratægus pruinosa (Waxy-fruited Thorn) 208
95. Cratægus coccinoides (Eggert's Thorn) 210
96. Cratægus coccinea (Scarlet Thorn) 211
97. Cratægus mollis (Red-fruited or Downy Thorn) 213
98. Cratægus Phænopyrum (Washington's Thorn) 215
99. Prunus americana (Wild Red Plum) 217
100. Prunus americana var. lanata (Woolly-leaf Plum) 219
101. Prunus nigra (Canada Plum) 220
102. Prunus hortulana (Wild Goose Plum) 222
103. Prunus pennsylvanica (Wild Red Cherry) 224
104. Prunus serotina (Wild Black Cherry) 225
105. Cercis canadensis (Redbud) 228
106. Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey Locust) 229
107. Gleditsia aquatica (Water Honey Locust) 231
108. Gymnocladus dioica (Coffeenut Tree) 234
109. Robinia Pseudo-Acacia (Black Locust) 236
110. Ailanthus altissima (Ailanthus or Tree of Heaven) 238
111. Acer Negundo (Box Elder) 241
112. Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple) 243
113. Acer rubrum (Red Maple) 245
114. Acer nigrum (Black Maple) 247
115. Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) 249
116. Æsculus glabra (Buckeye) 252
117. Æsculus octandra (Sweet Buckeye) 254
118. Tilia glabra (Linn or Basswood) 256
119. Tilia heterophylla (White Basswood) 258
120. Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum) 260
121. Cornus florida (Dogwood) 262
122. Oxydendrum arboreum (Sour Wood or Sorrel Tree) 264
123. Diospyros virginiana (Persimmon) 266
124. Fraxinus americana (White Ash) 269
125. Fraxinus biltmoreana (Biltmore Ash) 271
126. Fraxinus lanceolata (Green Ash) 273
127. Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Red Ash) 275
128. Fraxinus profunda (Pumpkin Ash) 277
129. Fraxinus quadrangulata (Blue Ash) 279
130. Fraxinus nigra (Black Ash) 281
131. Adelia acuminata (Pond Brush or Crooked Brush) 283
132. Catalpa bignonioides (Catalpa) 285
133. Catalpa speciosa (Hardy Catalpa) 286
134. Viburnum prunifolium (Black Haw) 289
135. County Map of Indiana 301
136. Map showing certain areas of forest distribution 302
137. English and Metric Scales compared 303
Trees of Indiana
_INTRODUCTION_
The present edition has been entirely rewritten. While the general plan
of the first edition has been followed, some changes have been made.
The number of trees included has been wholly arbitrary. All woody plants
of the State which generally attain a maximum diameter of 10 cm. (4
inches) at breast high are regarded as tree forms. _Alnus rugosa_ which
so closely resembles _Alnus incana_, is an exception, and a description
of it is given to aid in the identification of our tree form of _Alnus_.
Also several species of Cratægus are included which commonly do not
attain tree size. The species of all Cratægus begin to flower and fruit
many years before they attain their maximum size. The genus is much in
need of study, and the smaller forms are included to stimulate a study
of the genus, and in order that the larger forms may be more easily and
certainly identified.
The number of introduced trees has been limited to those that more or
less freely escape at least in some parts of the State. The one
exception is _Catalpa bignonioides_, which is given to help separate it
from our native catalpa, both of which are now commonly planted.
=Botanic Description.=--The botanic descriptions have been made from
specimens collected in Indiana. In most instances the material has been
quite ample, and collected from all parts of the State. Technical terms
have been avoided, and only when precision and accuracy were necessary
have a few been used which can be found in any school dictionary. The
length of the description varies in proportion to the importance and
interest of the species and the number of characters necessary to
separate it from other forms. The characters used are those which are
the most conspicuous, and are generally with the specimen at hand. In
most instances mature leaves are at hand, and these are most fully
described. When leaves are discussed, only mature and normal leaves are
considered. The descriptions are not drawn to include the leaf forms,
and sizes of coppice shoots or seedlings. Measurements of simple leaves
do not include the petiole unless mentioned.
When the term twig is used, it means the growth of the year. Branchlets
and branches mean all growth except the present year. By seasons are
meant the calendar seasons.
The size of trees is designated as small, medium and large. These terms
are defined as follows: Small trees are those that attain a diameter of
2 dm.; medium-sized trees are those whose maximum diameter is between 2
dm. and 6 dm.; large-sized trees are those which are commonly more than
6 dm. in diameter. Diameter measurements are at 14 dm. (4-1/2) feet
above the ground, or breast high.
The common names given are those most generally used in our area. Where
common names are rarely applied to our forms, the common commercial or
botanical common name is given. In some instances where a tree is known
by several names, one or more of which are often applied to a related
species, the liberty has been taken to select a common name which should
be restricted to the one species.
Botanical names are usually pronounced according to the English method
of pronouncing Latin. The accented syllables have been marked as
follows: the grave (\) accent to indicate the long English sound of the
vowel and the acute (/) accent to show the short or otherwise modified
sound.
Measurements have been given in the metric system, and in some instances
the English equivalent has also been given.
The nomenclature attempted is that of the International Code. The
sequence of families is that of Gray's Manual, 7th Edition.
=Distribution.=--The general distribution of the species is first given,
which is followed by the distribution in Indiana. The general
distribution has been obtained by freely consulting all the local floras
and general works on botany. The Indiana distribution has been obtained
for the greater part from specimens represented in the writer's
herbarium and from notes in doing field work during the past 24 years.
Since the first edition of the "Trees of Indiana" was published the
writer has traveled over 27,000 miles in Indiana, via auto, making a
special study of the flora of the State, and has visited every county
and has traversed practically every township in the State. In discussing
numbers in distribution it was decided to use terms already in common
use, but to assign a definite meaning to each as follows: Very common
means more than 25 trees to the acre; common, 5-25 trees to the acre;
frequent 1-5 trees to the acre; infrequent, 1 tree to 2-10 acres; rare,
1 tree to every 11-100 acres; very rare, 1 tree to more than 100 acres;
local when the distribution is circumscribed or in spots.
Where a species has the limit of its range in our area, its distribution
is sometimes given at length for scientific reasons. It should be
remembered that some of the older records of distribution were made by
geologists or inexperienced botanists, and when such records are
questioned it is done with a spirit of scientific accuracy. Some of our
early authors did not distinguish between cultivated and native trees,
which involves the distribution of certain species.
The habitat of many species is discussed; which suggests forestal,
horticultural and ornamental possibilities. Then too, the habitat of a
tree, helps to identify it. When associated trees are given, those are
enumerated which are characteristic of the species throughout its range
in our area and they are arranged in the order of their abundance.
A county map of the State is included which will assist in finding the
range of each species. A forestal area map is also added to visualize
certain habitats of the State.
The range and distribution of the species in the State has been given
considerable attention to encourage investigation along this line.
=Remarks.=--Under this title the economic uses of the trees and their
products have been given. In addition horticultural and unclassified
information is included.
=Illustrations.=--All of the illustrations except two are photographic
reproductions of specimens in the writer's herbarium. The two drawings
were used in the first edition.
About 20 of the photographs were made by Paul Ulman, and the remainder
by Harry F. Dietz, who has laboriously tried to obtain good
reproductions from the material at hand.
=Explanation of Map of Certain Forestal Areas.=--In describing the
distribution of certain species of trees within the State, it was found
convenient to speak of certain forestal areas which are here described,
and are illustrated by a map which may be found at the end of the text.
_Lake Region_:--The southernmost lakes in Indiana are those located in
the southwestern part of Wells County; Lake Galacia about five miles
northeast of Fairmount in Grant County; Lake Cicott in Cass County; and
Kate's Pond about 1-1/2 miles northwest of Independence in Warren
County. Roughly estimated, all of Indiana north of a line connecting
these lakes might be considered the lake area of the State. _Prairie
Area_:--While the interior of Indiana has quite a few small areas called
prairies, the real western prairie did not extend far into the State.
The dividing line is very irregular, and several elongated lobes
extended farther east than indicated by the map. The larger areas east
of the line were the extensive prairie area of the Kankakee Valley; the
northern part of Pulaski County; and parts of White and Tippecanoe
Counties. _"Knob" Area_:--This is the hilliest part of the State and is
located in the southcentral part. It is contained in the unglaciated
portion of the State, and includes the "knobs" of the Knobstone, Chester
and Mansfield sandstone areas of Indiana. In this area are included the
scrub pine and chestnut oak, with one exception; sorrel tree and the
chestnut, with two possible exceptions. _The Flats_:--This is a level
stretch of country, here and there deeply eroded. Being level, and the
soil a fine compact clay, the drainage is poor which suggested the local
name "flats." _The Lower Wabash Valley_:--This is part of Knox, Gibson
and Posey Counties which is usually inundated each year by the Wabash
River.
=Acknowledgments.=--The character and qualities of the wood have for the
greater part been taken from the works of Britton and Brown, Hough, and
Sargent, to whom indebtedness is acknowledged.
The _Salicaceæ_, except the genus _Populus_ was written by C. R. Ball,
of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D. C. The _Malaceæ_ was
contributed by W. W. Eggleston, also of the Bureau of Plant Industry,
Washington, D. C. These authors were asked to make their part conform to
the general plan of the book. Mr. Ball and Mr. Eggleston are recognized
authorities on the respective parts they have written and users of this
book will appreciate the value of having these difficult parts written
by our best authorities. The author wishes to gratefully acknowledge
this great favor.
The most grateful acknowledgement is given to Prof. Stanley Coulter,
Dean, School Science, Purdue University, who has read all of the
manuscript and made valuable suggestions, corrections and criticisms.
I wish to acknowledge the assistance of Stella M. Deam, my wife, in
field and clerical work.
I wish to thank the Department of Conservation for the opportunity of
doing this work.
Key to the Families.
PAGE
Leaves linear or scale-like. Pinaceæ 19
Leaves not as above.
A. Leaves compound.
Leaves palmately compound. Æsculaceæ 251
Leaves without an odd leaflet at the end. Cæsalpinaceæ 226
Leaves with an odd leaflet at the end.
Leaves alternate.
Leaflets toothed all around. Juglandaceæ 52
Leaflets entire, or with 1-4 teeth near
the base.
Trees with thorns, leaflets entire,
generally less than 4 cm.
(1-1/2 inches) long. Fabaceæ 233
Trees without thorns, leaflets entire
or with 1-4 teeth near the base,
generally longer than 4 cm.
(1-1/2 inches). Simarubaceæ 237
Leaves opposite.
Leaflets 3-5, fruit in pairs. Aceraceæ 239
Leaflets 5-11, fruit single. Oleaceæ 267
A. Leaves simple.
Leaves opposite or whorled.
Petioles more than 4 cm. (1-1/2 inches) long.
Blades palmately 3-5 lobed. Aceraceæ 239
Blades entire or with 1 or 2 lateral lobes. Bignoniaceæ 284
Petioles less than 4 cm. (1-1/2 inches) long.
Flowers 4-parted, stone of fruit round. Cornaceæ 259
Flowers 5-parted, stone of fruit flattened. Caprifoliaceæ 288
Leaves alternate.
B. Leaves entire.
Trees with thorns and a milky sap. Maclura in
Moraceæ 155
Trees without thorns, sap not milky.
Leaves 3-5 nerved at the base.
Leaves 3-nerved at the base. Celtis in
Ulmaceæ 146
Leaves 5-nerved at the base. Cercis in
Cæsalpinaceæ 227
Leaves with 1 primary nerve.
Leaves usually more than 1.5 dm.
(6 inches) long, flowers solitary.
Flowers appearing before or with the
leaves. Anonaceæ 161
Flowers appearing after the leaves. Magnoliaceæ 155
Leaves less than 1.5 dm. (6 inches) long,
flowers in clusters.
Bark and leaves aromatic Lauraceæ 163
Bark and leaves not aromatic.
Fruit dry, an acorn Quercus
imbricaria
in Fagaceæ 119
Fruit fleshy.
Fruit with one seed, stone
cylindrical Nyssa in
Cornaceæ 259
Fruit with more than one seed,
rarely one, seeds flat Ebenaceæ 265
B. Leaves finely serrate, coarsely toothed
or lobed.
C. Leaves with one primary vein.
Bark and leaves aromatic Lauraceæ 163
Bark and leaves not aromatic.
Staminate and pistillate flowers and fruit in
catkins.
Scales of winter buds 2, ovary many-seeded,
seeds with a tuft of hairs at the summit Salix in
Salicaceæ 34
Scales of winter buds more than 2, ovary
1-seeded, seeds without a tuft of hairs
at the summit Betulaceæ 78
Staminate and pistillate flowers and fruit not
in catkins.
Fruit dry.
Fruit a samara Ulmus
in Ulmaceæ 137
Fruit not a samara
Bark smooth; fruit spiny Fagaceæ 92
Bark furrowed; fruit a smooth capsule Ericaceæ 263
Fruit fleshy.
Flowers more than 8 mm. (1/3 inch) broad,
fruit edible, apple-like.
Trees mostly with thorns, fruit with
remnant of calyx at apex of fruit,
normally with more than 1 seed. Malaceæ 171
Trees without thorns, fruit with no
remnant of calyx at the apex, fruit
a 1-seeded edible drupe. Amygdalaceæ 216
Flowers less than 8 mm. (1/3 inch) across,
fruit a non-edible drupe Cornaceæ 259
C. Leaves with more than 1 primary vein.
Staminate and pistillate flowers in catkins.
Fruit dry Populus in
Salicaceæ 45
Fruit fleshy Morus in
Moraceæ 151
Staminate and pistillate flowers not in catkins.
Pistillate and staminate flowers separate.
Leaves 3-nerved at the base, fruit a
1-seeded drupe Celtis in
Ulmaceæ 146
Leaves 5-nerved at the base, fruit a head of
carpels or achenes.
Bark fissured, not peeling off in flakes,
leaves aromatic Altingiaceæ 166
Bark peeling off in flakes, leaves not
aromatic Platanaceæ 168
Pistillate and staminate flowers in one.
Fruit dry Tiliaceæ 255
Fruit fleshy Malaceæ 171
=PINÀCEAE.= The Pine Family.
Trees and shrubs with a resinous sap, which yields rosin, tar,
turpentine and essential oils. The leaves are linear or scale-like,
alternate, whorled or clustered; flowers naked, appearing in the spring;
fruit a cone or sometimes berry-like. A large family of trees and
shrubs, containing over 200 species, found in many parts of the world,
and of great economic importance. In Indiana only nine species are
native, and the distribution of seven of these species has always been
very limited.
Leaves linear, in clusters of 2, 3, 5 or more than 5.
Leaves in bundles of 2-5. 1 Pinus.
Leaves in bundles of more than 5. 2 Larix.
Leaves linear and solitary, or scale-like.
Leaves all linear.
Leaves obtuse. 3 Tsuga.
Leaves sharp-pointed.
Leaves green on both sides, alternate. 4 Taxodium.
Leaves glaucous beneath, opposite or whorled. 6 Juniperus.
Leaves all scale-like, or some of the branches with
linear sharp-pointed leaves.
Leaves all scale-like, fruit a cone of 8-12
imbricated scales. 5 Thuja.
Leaves scale-like or some linear and sharp-pointed,
fruit berry-like. 6 Juniperus.
=1. PÌNUS.= The Pines.
Evergreen trees with needle-shaped leaves in bundles of 2-5 or 7;
flowers appearing in the spring, the staminate clustered at the base of
the season's shoots, the pistillate on the side or near the end of the
shoots; fruit a woody cone which matures at the end of the second
season, or more rarely at the end of the third season; scales of the
cone variously thickened; seeds in pairs at the base of the scales.
There are about 70 species of pines of which three are native to
Indiana. Commercially the pines are classed as soft and hard. In our
area the soft pines are represented by the white pine, while the gray
and Jersey pines are classed as hard pines.
Leaves 5 in a bundle, 6-12 cm. long. 1 P. Strobus.
Leaves 2-3 in a bundle.
Scales of cones unarmed, leaves usually 2-4 cm. long. 2 P. Banksiana.
Scales of cones tipped with a short spine, leaves
usually over 4 cm. long. 3 P. virginiana.
=1.= =Pinus Stròbus= Linnæus. White Pine. Plate 2. Bark greenish and
smooth on young trees, becoming reddish or gray and furrowed on old
trees; young twigs scurvy-pubescent, soon smooth and light brown; leaves
normally 5 in a bundle, sometimes more, 6-12 cm. long, 3-sided,
sharp-pointed, bluish-green, maturing and falling at end of second
season; cones ripening at end of second season, usually 10-20 cm. long;
wood light, soft, not strong, works easily, takes a good polish, and
warps little.
=Distribution.=--Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Iowa, Kentucky and
along the Alleghany Mountains to northern Georgia. The mass distribution
of this species is to the north of our area, and in Indiana it is local
and found in small numbers. It is a common tree on some of the dunes
bordering Lake Michigan, and is found locally throughout the area
bordering Lake Michigan. Its distribution in this part of the State has
not been studied, but it is believed that in Lake and Porter Counties it
is not at present found far from the Lake. Blatchley[1] reports "a
thicket of this species about a peat bog on the Hayward farm one mile
east of Merrillville in Lake County." The writer has seen it as a
frequent tree in a black oak woods about four miles southwest of
Michigan City, also quite a number of large trees seven miles northeast
of Michigan City in a swampy woods, associated with white elm, black
ash, soft maple, etc.
Nieuwland[2] reports a single tree found in a tamarack swamp 25 miles
east of Michigan City near Lydick in St. Joseph County. The next
appearance of this species is to the south in Warren County on the
outcrops of sandstone along Big Pine, Little Pine, Rock and Kickapoo
Creeks. It is found more or less on bluffs of these creeks. It was the
most abundant along Big Pine Creek, and followed up the creek for a
distance of about ten miles, or midway between Rainsville and Indian
Village. To the south it is next found in Fountain County on the
outcrops of sandstone along Big Shawnee and Bear Creeks. Franklin Watts
who owns the "Bear Creek Canyon" just south of Fountain says he
remembers the area before any cutting was done along the creek. He says
that the white pine was a common tree along the creek for a distance of
half a mile and that a few scattered trees were found as far as 40 rods
from the creek. He stated that the largest trees were about 30 inches in
diameter and as high as the highest of the surrounding trees. Moving
southward it is next found on a ridge of sandstone in Montgomery County
on the south side of Sugar Creek about a mile east of the shades. Here
it is closely associated with hemlock which is absent in all of the
stations to the north. Coulter[3] reports a colony in the "knobs" of the
northeast corner of Floyd County. This species was also reported from
Clark County by Baird and Taylor. The writer has made inquiry and
diligently searched for this species in this county but failed to locate
it. In the vicinity of Borden where the Jersey pine grows, millmen
distinguish two kinds of pines. Investigation showed that both are
Jersey pine. The one with resinous exudations along the trunk is one
kind, and trunks without exudation is the other. Since Baird and Taylor
include cultivated trees in their list of the plants of Clark County, it
is proposed to drop this reference.
[Illustration: Plate 2.
PINUS STROBUS Linnæus. (× 1/2.) White Pine.]
=Remarks.=--White pine on account of the excellent qualities of its wood
is in great demand, and has always ranked as one of our leading timber
trees. In fact it was so highly prized that practically all of the
original stand of this species has been cut.
The tree adapts itself to many habitats, hence has been used extensively
for forestry purposes both in America and Europe. In fact it was the
most used tree in forestry until about ten years ago when the white pine
blister rust was discovered in America. This disease is now found in
practically all of the states where this species forms dense stands.
However, Federal and State authorities are trying to stamp out the
disease. In Indiana it is a species well worth a trial for forestry
purposes, especially in windbreaks where other species are used.
=2.= =Pinus Banksiàna= Lambert. Gray Pine. Jack Pine. Plate 3. A small
tree 10-15 m. high with reddish-brown bark, broken into short flakes;
shoots of season yellow-green, turning reddish-brown, smooth; leaves
dark green, in twos, 2-5 cm. long, divergent, curved or twisted, rigid,
sharp-pointed, persisting for two or three years; cones sessile,
sharp-pointed, oblique at the base, 3-5 cm. long, usually pointing in
the direction of the branch; wood light, soft and weak.
=Distribution.=--The most northern of all of our pines. Nova Scotia to
northern New York, northern Illinois, Minnesota and northward. In
Indiana it is found only on and among the sand dunes in the immediate
vicinity of Lake Michigan, and in no instance has it been seen more than
three miles from the Lake. Found sparingly in Lake, Porter and Laporte
Counties. It is the most abundant in the vicinity of Dune Park.
[Illustration: Plate 3.
PINUS BANKSIANA Lambert. Gray or Jack Pine. (× 1/2.)]
[Illustration: Plate 4.
PINUS VIRGINIANA Miller. Jersey or Scrub Pine. (×1/2.)]
=3.= =Pinus virginiàna= Miller. Jersey Pine. Scrub Pine. Plate 4. Bark
dark-brown with rather shallow fissures, the ridges broken, somewhat
scaly; shoots green, light brown or purplish with a bloom, becoming a
gray-brown; leaves in bundles of two, rarely three, twisted, usually
about 4-5 cm. long, deciduous during the third or fourth year; cones
sessile or nearly so, narrowly conic when closed, 4-7 cm. long, opening
in the autumn of the second season; scales armed with a curved spine 2-4
mm. long; wood light, soft, weak, brittle and slightly resinous.
=Distribution.=--Long Island to South Carolina, Alabama and north to
Indiana and Licking County, Ohio. The distribution in Indiana is quite
limited, and has never been understood by authors who variously give it
as found throughout the southern part of Indiana. It is confined to the
knob area of Floyd, Clark and Scott Counties, and the southeastern part
of Washington County. In the original forest it is confined to the tops
of the knobs where it is associated with Quercus Prinus (Gray's Man. 7th
Edition). It propagates easily from self-sown seed, hence is soon found
on the lower slopes of cut-over lands, and soon occupies fallow fields.
It is now found in the open woods several miles east of the knobs in the
preceding counties, but pioneers of this section say it was not a
constituent of the original forests but has come in since the original
forests were heavily cut over. It is believed that it crowned the knobs
over our area from 5-10 miles wide extending through the counties named
and extending northward about 25 miles. This species is found in the
open woods on a few hills on the Millport Ridge in the northern part of
Washington County, and it appears as if native, but investigation showed
that it had spread from a tree on the site of a pioneer's cabin. It is
also found as a frequent escape on the wooded bluff of Raccoon Creek in
the southern part of Owen County, and appears as native here. It is
associated on the bluff and slope with hemlock. Chas. Green, a man of
sixty years, who owns the place says the trees were seeded by a tree
planted in his father's yard nearby. His father also planted a white
pine in his yard, and it is to be noted while the Jersey Pine has freely
escaped the white pine has not, although the habitat seems favorable.
=Remarks.=--In its native habitat on the exposed summits of the "knobs"
it is usually a small tree about 3 dm. in diameter and 10 m. high. When
it finds lodgement on the lower slopes and coves it may attain a
diameter of 7 dm. and a height of 25 m. This tree is really entitled to
be called "old field pine" on account of its ability to establish itself
on them.
From the ease with which this species propagates itself from seed it
seems worthy a trial for forestry purposes in the "knob" area of the
State. However, all attempts to grow this species from seedlings at the
Forest Reserve have failed.
=2. LÀRIX.= The Larches.
=Larix laricìná= (Du Roi) Koch. Tamarack. Plate No. 5. Tall spire-like
trees, usually 2-3 dm. in diameter, rarely as large as 5 dm. in
diameter; bark gray or reddish-brown, scaly; twigs slender, smooth,
light brown, becoming a dark gray brown; leaves scattered along the
shoots of the season, in fascicles on the older branches, usually 20-50
in a bundle; filiform, 1-2.5 cm. long, obtuse at apex, triangular in
cross-section, all falling off late in autumn; staminate flowers borne
on the short leafless branches, the pistillate appear with the leaves on
the branches of the previous season; cones borne on short, stout
branchlets, normally erect or inclined to be so, 10-20 mm. long,
purplish brown while growing, turning to a light brown at maturity,
persisting on the tree for about a year; wood hard, heavy, light brown,
variable in strength.
=Distribution.=--Labrador, Newfoundland south to southern New York, West
Virginia, northern Ohio and Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and northward.
In Indiana it is confined to the northern part of the State, and has not
been reported south of the northern part of Cass County. The most
southern station in the eastern part of the State is about Lake Everett
in the northwest part of Allen County. It is found on low borders of
lakes, in swamps and in bogs. In all of its stations in Indiana it is
found growing near the water level in great depths of organic matter
more or less decomposed or in beds of peat, which contain little or
practically no soil. Where it is found, it usually forms a pure stand.
=Remarks.=--Formerly the tamarack was a common tree in its area.
Recently many of the tamarack swamps have been drained. This with heavy
cutting has reduced the supply of tamarack in Indiana to an
insignificant amount. The tamarack is popularly classed as white and
yellow--the yellow being considered the better of the two. In our area
it is used principally for poles and posts. There is a diversity of
opinion as to the durability of tamarack in contact with the soil. The
most authentic information places the life of fence posts at about ten
years.
[Illustration: Plate 5.
LARIX LARICINA (Du Roi) Koch. Tamarack. (×1.)]
=3. TSÙGA.= The Hemlocks.
=Tsuga canadénsis= (Linnæus) Carrière. Hemlock. Plate 6. Tall trees, 3-7
dm. in diameter, with reddish-brown or grayish bark, deeply furrowed;
shoots very slender and hairy, becoming smooth in a few years; leaves
apparently 2-ranked, persisting for about three years, linear, short
petioled, 6-13 mm. long, usually about 10 mm. long, usually flat, obtuse
or notched at apex, bright green and shiny above, bluish-white beneath;
staminate flowers appear early in the spring from buds in the axils of
the leaves of the previous season, the pistillate terminal, erect,
oblong; cones almost sessile and pendulous, borne on the end of last
year's branch, maturing the first season, ovoid, 1.5-2.5 cm. long; wood
light, soft, brittle, not durable, difficult to work, splintery but
holds a nail well.
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia south to Delaware, west to Minnesota and
southeastward through Indiana and eastern Kentucky, thence southward on
the mountains to northern Alabama. In Indiana it is not found[4] north
of Brown County. It is found in limited numbers at the following places:
on a bluff of Bean Blossom Creek in Brown County; on a steep wooded
slope on the south side of a small creek about one and a half miles
north of Borden in Clark County, and also reported on the bank of Silver
Creek between Clark and Floyd Counties; a few trees on the top and sides
of the cliffs about one mile east of Taswell in Crawford County; a few
trees on the bluff of Guthrie Creek in Jackson County; a few trees along
the north fork of the Muscatatuck River between Vernon and North Vernon
in Jennings County; a few trees on the south bank of Back Creek near
Leesville in Lawrence County; frequent on the banks of Sugar Creek near
the "Shades" in Montgomery County; a few trees on the bank of Raccoon
Creek in the southern part of Owen County; frequent on the bank of Sugar
Creek in Turkey Run State Park in Parke County; a few trees on the banks
of Raccoon and Walnut Creeks in Putnam County. Also reported by
Beeler[5] as found on a bluff of White River in Morgan County.
In all of its stations it is found on sandstone bluffs on the south side
of streams, giving it a north or northwest exposure. In a few of the
stations there are no small trees, but in Montgomery County along Sugar
Creek it is reproducing well.
=Remarks.=--Hemlock is of no economic importance in Indiana. The bark is
much used in tanning. Hemlock is frequently used for a hedge plant, also
as a specimen tree in parks, etc.
[Illustration: Plate 6.
TSUGA CANADENSIS (Linnæus) Carrière. Hemlock. (×1/2.)]
=4. TAXÒDIUM.= The Bald Cypress.
=Taxodium dístichum= (Linnæus) L. C. Richard. Cypress. Plate 7. Large
tall straight trees, up to 18 dm. in diameter and 45 m. high, usually
with a buttressed base which is frequently hollow. In wet situations it
develops steeple-shaped projections from the roots to above the water
level, known as "knees"; bark gray or reddish-brown, separating from the
trunk in long thin narrow strips; shoots light green, smooth, turning
reddish-brown the first year, then a darker brown; leaves spirally
arranged, appearing as if 2-ranked on vegetative shoots, linear, 5-15
mm. long, sessile, acute, yellowish-green, turning brown in the fall and
dropping off; staminate flowers numerous, borne on long terminal
panicles, pistillate flowers solitary in the axils of the leaves; fruit
a cone, globose, about 2.5 cm. in diameter, the surface with some
wrinkles made by the edges of the closely fitting scales; wood light,
soft and straight-grained, rather weak, does not warp or shrink much and
reputed to be very durable when exposed to soil or weather.
=Distribution.=--Along the Atlantic coast from Delaware to Florida and
along the Gulf west to Texas and north along the Mississippi Valley to
Indiana. In Indiana it has a peculiar and limited distribution. The mass
distribution was just north and west of Decker in Knox County.
Collett[6] estimates that 20,000 acres were "covered with a fine forest
of cypress". Wright[7] maps the other places in the southern part of
Knox County where the cypress was known to have occurred. At present the
only cypress in Knox County is in the extreme southwest part of the
county, and is known as Little Cypress swamp. Here it is associated with
such trees as white elm and Schneck's oak. It is believed that it
extended only a few miles north of the Deshee River. Going southward it
has not been seen in Gibson County, and is first noted in Posey County
along the Wabash River in a cypress pond about 12 miles southwest of Mt.
Vernon. Then again in Posey County along the Ohio River on the shores of
Hovey Lake, and in a slough about 3 miles east of Mt. Vernon. It
occurred in a few spots in Vanderburg County along the Ohio River
southwest of Evansville. It again appears in limited numbers along
Cypress Creek a few miles east of Newburg in Warrick County, which is
its eastern[8] known limit.
The cypress in all of its stations is found only in places that are for
the greater part of the year under water.
=Remarks.=--The original stand of cypress in Indiana has practically all
been cut, and the swamps drained and now under cultivation. In the
slough east of Mt. Vernon for several years, thousands of seedlings of
the year have been noted, but for some reason they do not survive a
second year. The present indications are that the cypress will be
extinct in Indiana before many years because practically no small trees
can be found.
[Illustration: Plate 7.
TAXODIUM DISTICHUM (Linnæus) L. C. Richard. Cypress. (× 1/2.)]
This species is highly recommended by some nurserymen for ornamental
planting. It proves hardy in the southern part of the state. It is a
fast growing tree, adapted to a wet soil, but will succeed in drier
situations.
=5. THÙJA.= Arbor-Vitæ.
=Thuja occidentàlis= Linnæus. Arbor-Vitæ. Plate 8. Small evergreen trees
with a conical crown, bark on old trees reddish-brown or dark gray,
shreddy; branchlets compressed, reddish-brown; leaves all closely
appressed, in alternate pairs, scale-like, about 3 mm. long on young
branchlets, on old branches somewhat longer together with a spine 2-3
mm. long; flowers appear early in the spring from the ends of the
branches; cones mature the first season, about 1 cm. long and .5 cm. in
diameter; wood soft, brittle, weak and durable.
=Distribution.=--New Brunswick to Manitoba, south to Minnesota and New
Jersey thence southward along the Alleghanies to North Carolina and
Tennessee. In Indiana it is found native[9] only in Lake and Porter
Counties. In Lake County a few isolated specimens have been found in
several places near Lake Michigan. In Porter County it is known only in
a large tamarack swamp north of the Mineral Springs stop on the Traction
line, and about a mile from Lake Michigan. Here about 100 trees are
found scattered over an area of less than two acres. The largest
specimen measures 70 cm. in circumference. This species is doomed to
early extinction in our area. No doubt it already has vanished from Lake
County, and it is probable that the colony north of Mineral Springs is
the last of the species in Indiana.
=Remarks.=--While only found in a swamp in Indiana, this species adapts
itself to all kinds of soils and exposures. It transplants readily and
is used for ornamental purposes, and for windbreaks. Dwarf forms are
frequently planted for hedges. The wood is used principally for poles
and posts, and is commercially known as white cedar.
=6. JUNÍPERUS.= The Junipers.
Evergreen shrubs or trees, leaves opposite or whorled, sessile,
scale-like or short-linear; fruit berry-like; seeds 1-3.
=Juniperus virginiàna= Linnæus. Red Cedar. Plate 9. A small tree,
usually 1-2 dm. and rarely up to 5 dm. in diameter; bark shreddy;
branches usually more or less ascending which gives the tree a narrow
conic appearance; shoots green, soon turning light to reddish-brown and
on older branches gray or dark brown; leaves 4-ranked, scale-like and
1.5-2 mm. long, or subulate, decurrent at base and 3-10 mm. long on
vigorous branches or very small trees; flowers terminal; fruit ripening
the first season, berry-like, globose but longer than wide, with a bloom
and a very resinous pulp about the seeds which are usually 1 or 2; wood
light, brittle, close-grained, durable and fragrant.
[Illustration: Plate 8.
THUJA OCCIDENTALIS Linnæus. Arbor-Vitæ. (× 1/2.).]
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia south to Florida, west to Texas and north
to South Dakota. It is found in all parts of Indiana, although sparingly
in the northern part, especially where streams with bluffs are absent.
No doubt this species in the original forests was confined principally
to the bluffs of streams and rocky ravines. Since the forests have been
cut, it is now found growing along fences, in open dry woods, and in
southern Indiana it is a common tree in old abandoned fields, and in
waste places.
=Remarks.=--Red cedar has had many uses, and the large trees have been
practically all harvested. It is now used principally for poles, posts,
crossties, cigar boxes and lead pencils. It is the best wood known for
lead pencils. The odor is so objectionable to insects that a market has
been made for chests of this wood in which to store clothing and furs.
=SALICÀCEAE.=[10] The Willow Family.
Trees or shrubs with bitter bark; simple alternate leaves; flowers in
catkins, which fall off as a whole, the staminate after flowering, the
pistillate after ripening and scattering of the seeds, the staminate and
pistillate on different plants (dioecious); flower scales single, below
each flower; fruit a lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate capsule opening
lengthwise into 2 recurving carpels or valves; seeds numerous, minute,
oblong, bearing a tuft of hairs at the base. Genera 2, _Salix_, the
willows, and _Populus_, the aspens and poplars, or cottonwoods,
separated by the following characters, those applying only to Indiana
trees species in parentheses:
Buds covered by a single scale; (leaf-blades mostly
enlongated, more than twice as long as wide); flower
scales entire or rarely shallowly toothed at apex;
stamens mostly 2 or 3-8 or 10 1 Salix.
Buds covered by numerous scales; (leaf-blades mostly
cordate-ovate, less than twice as long as broad);
flower scales deeply cut or lacerate; stamens more
than 10 2 Populus.
[Illustration: Plate 9.
JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA Linnæus. Red Cedar. (× 1/2.)]
=1. SÀLIX.= The Willows.
Trees or shrubs (occasionally herbaceous) with usually clustered teims,
twigs round; leaf-blades lanceolate and long-acuminate or
elliptic-lanceolate and short pointed in all Indiana tree species,
finely toothed or nearly entire; catkins appearing before (precocious),
with (coetaneous), or after the leaves (serotinous); each pistillate
flower with a little gland at the base of the pedicel on the inside.
A large genus of several hundred species varying from tiny shrubby or
subherbaceous plants scarcely an inch in height to 0.5 m. (2 feet) or
more in diameter, in alluvial lowlands; occurring under Indiana
conditions from cold bogs and river banks to dry sand dunes. Willows are
used for many purposes, among them ornament, shade, hedges, posts,
poles, mattresses, revetments to protect levees, baskets, fish-weirs,
whistles, etc., while the wood is used for charcoal, which is especially
prized for gunpowder making, and the bark is used for tanning and
furnishes salicin, which is used in medicine as a substitute for quinine
and as a tonic and febrifuge.
Small to large trees; leaves narrowly to broadly lanceolate,
mostly long pointed, finely and rather closely toothed;
flowers appearing with the leaves; capsules not hairy.
Native trees; leaves green on both sides (No. 1) or white
(glaucous) beneath (No. 2), and then with very long
points and long slender twisted petioles which are
never glandular; stamens 3-5-7 or more.
Twigs dark green, spreading; leaves narrowly
lanceolate, green on both sides; petioles
short 1 S. nigra.
Twigs yellowish, somewhat drooping; leaves broadly
lanceolate, glaucous beneath; petioles long,
twisted 2 S. amygdaloides.
European trees, cultivated for ornament and use;
leaves always glaucous beneath; stamens always 2.
Teeth on edge of leaf 8-10 to each cm. (20-25 to
the inch); petioles usually glandular;
capsules almost sessile 3 S. alba.
Teeth on edge of leaf 6-8 per cm. (15-20 to the
inch); petioles usually glandular; pedicels
0.5-1 mm. long 4 S. fragilis.
Shrubs or rarely small trees; leaves elliptical or
oblanceolate, short pointed; margin entire or
coarsely wavy or shallow-toothed; flowers before
the leaves; stamens 2; capsules long, hairy.
Twigs and leaves not hairy; leaves thin 5 S. discolor.
Twigs and sometimes the lower surface of the leaves
densely hairy, leaves thicker 6 S. discolor
eriocephala.
[Illustration: Plate 10.
SALIX NIGRA Marshall. Black Willow. (× 1/2.)]
=1.= =Salix nìgra= Marshall. Willow. Black Willow. Plate 10. Shrub or
tree 5-20 m. (17-65 feet) high, dark green in mass color; bark of trunk
thick, rough, flaky, dark brown to nearly black; twigs brittle at base,
the younger pubescent and green, becoming glabrous and darker with age;
buds ovate, small, 2-3 mm. (1/8 inch) long; petioles 3-6 or 8 mm.
(1/8-3/8 inch) long; stipules small, ovate to roundish; leaf blades
narrowly lanceolate, acute or rounded at base, long-acuminate at the
apex, 6-11 cm. (2-1/4-4-1/4 inches) long, 7-12 mm. (1/4-1/2 inch) wide,
often falcate (scythe-shaped), the so-called variety =falcata=, finely
serrate, green on both sides, shining above, paler and dull beneath,
glabrous or sometimes pubescent beneath on midrib and larger veins;
flowers appearing with the leaves in late April in the southern part of
the State and well into May in the northern part; catkins slender, 2-5
or 6 cm. (4/5-2 or 2-1/2 inches) long, the staminate bright yellow;
capsules 3-5 mm. (1/8 inch) long, ovoid or ovoid-lanceolate, on pedicels
1-2 mm. (1/16 inch) long.
=Distribution.=--New Brunswick and New England, westward to the eastern
part of the Great Plains area from North Dakota to Texas, and, in some
forms, westward across that State and into Mexico. It is interesting
that this species, the first willow published in America, in the first
book on American Botany ever published in this country, should be
abundantly and widely distributed in the United States.
Specimens have been seen from the following counties in Indiana:--Allen
(Deam); Bartholomew (Deam); Clark (Deam); Crawford (Deam); Dearborn
(Deam); Dubois (Deam); Decatur (Deam); Floyd (Deam); Fulton (Deam);
Harrison (Deam); Hendricks (Deam); Henry (Deam); Jackson (Deam); Jay
(Deam); Jennings (Deam); Knox (Deam); Kosciusko (Deam); Lagrange (Deam);
Marion (Mrs. Chas. C. Deam); Marshall (Deam); Miami (Deam); Morgan
(Deam); Noble (Deam); Ohio (Deam); Parke (Deam); Perry (Deam); Porter
(Deam); Posey (Deam); Pulaski (Deam); Ripley (Deam); Steuben (Deam);
Sullivan (Deam); Tippecanoe (Deam); Vermillion (Deam); Wabash (Deam);
Warrick (Deam); White (Deam).
=Economic Uses.=--The black willow is used very extensively along the
lower reaches of the Mississippi River in making mattresses which
protect the levees from washing. In 1912, it was estimated that 150,000
cords were used annually.
=2.= =Salix amygdaloìdes= Andersson. Willow. Peach-leaved Willow. Plate
11. Trees 3-12 m. (10-40 feet) high, yellowish-green in mass color; bark
of trunk fissured, dark brown or reddish-brown; twigs longer and less
brittle than those of _Salix nigra_, yellowish to reddish-brown, usually
somewhat drooping, giving a "weeping" effect, which, with the color,
makes the species easily recognizable from a distance; buds ovoid, about
3 mm. (1/8 inch) long, colored as the twigs; petioles long, slender,
twisted, 5-15 or 20 mm. (1/4-4/5 inch) long; leaves lanceolate to
broadly lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, rounded or somewhat acute at
base, long-pointed at apex, closely serrulate, 5-12 cm. (2-5 inches)
long, 1.5-3 cm. (3/5-1-1/4 inches) wide, yellowish-green above, glaucous
beneath, glabrous; flowers appear from late April throughout May,
usually later than those of _Salix nigra_; catkins slender, 3-5 cm.
(1-2 inches) long, the fertile becoming 4-8 cm. (1-1/2-3 inches) long in
fruit; capsules lanceolate, 4-5 mm. (1/6 inch) long; pedicels slender, 2
mm. (1/12 inch) long.
[Illustration: Plate 11.
SALIX AMYGDALOIDES Andersson. Peach-leaved Willow. (× 1/2.)]
=Distribution.=--From Western Quebec and Central New York, west to the
Cascade Mountains in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, south to
Colorado and northwest Texas. In Indiana fairly common in the northern
third, rare in the central third, and lacking in the southern portion of
the State.
Specimens have been seen from Indiana from the following counties:
Elkhart (Deam); Fulton (Deam); Henry (Deam); Jasper (Deam); Kosciusko
(Deam); Lake (Deam), (Umbach); Laporte (Deam); Marion (Mrs. Chas. C.
Deam); Marshall (Deam); Pulaski (Deam); Steuben (Deam); Wells (Deam);
White (Deam).
=3.= =Salix álba= Linnæus. Willow. White Willow. Plate 12. Trees with
1-5 spreading stems, 5-20 m. (17-65 feet) high; bark rough, coarsely
ridged, gray to brownish; twigs brittle at base, green or yellowish,
glabrous; buds 5-6 mm. (1/4 inch) long; petioles 5-10 mm. (1/5-2/5 inch)
long, seldom glandular; leaves lanceolate, 5-12 cm. (2-5 inches) long,
1-2.5 cm. (2/5-1 inch) wide, acuminate at apex, usually acute at base,
leaves bright green above, glaucous beneath, thinly to densely silky on
both sides when young, often permanently silky beneath, margins with
about 9-10 teeth per cm. (2/5 inch), usually glandular; flowers with the
leaves, in April and May; catkins slender, cylindrical, 3-6 cm.
(1-1/4-2-1/2 inches) long; scales pale yellow; capsules ovoid-conical,
3-5 mm. (1/4 inch) long, almost sessile. The common form usually is
referred to variety =vitellina= (Linnæus) Koch, with orange twigs and
more glabrate leaves.
=Distribution.=--A native of Europe which has been frequently planted
and sometimes escapes.
Specimens have been seen from Indiana from the following counties:
Gibson (Schneck); Hamilton (Mrs. Chas. C. Deam); Harrison (Deam);
Switzerland (Deam); Warren (Deam); Wells (Deam).
=4.= =Salix frágilis= Linnæus. Willow. Crack Willow. Plate 13. Tree very
similar to _Salix alba_; twigs very brittle at the base (hence the
name), green to reddish; petioles 7-15 mm. (1/4-5/8 inch) long,
glandular just below the base of the leaf; leaves lanceolate, acuminate,
7-15 cm. (3-6 inches) long, 2-3.5 cm. (4/5-1-1/2 inches) wide, coarsely
serrate with 5-6 teeth to each cm. (2/5 inch) of margin, dark green and
shining above, paler to glaucous beneath, rarely green, glabrous on both
sides; catkins appearing with the leaves in late April and during May,
4-8 cm. (1-1/2-3 inches) long; capsules slenderly conical, 4-5 mm. (1/5
inch) long, on pedicels 0.5-1 mm. (1/16 inch) long.
[Illustration: Plate 12.
SALIX ALBA Linnæus. White Willow. (× 1/2.)]
[Illustration: Plate 13.
SALIX FRAGILIS Linnæus. Crack Willow. (× 1/2.)]
=Distribution.=--A native of Europe. It has been frequently planted and
often escapes.
Specimens have been seen from the following Indiana counties: Benton
(Deam); Clark (Deam); Laporte (Deam); Switzerland (Deam); Union (Deam);
Wells (Deam).
=Economic Uses.=--This species and the white willow are introduced from
Europe and extensively grown for the production of charcoal to use in
powder making.
=5.= =Salix díscolor= Muhlenberg. Pussy Willow. Swamp Willow. Glaucous
Willow. Plate 14. Shrub or small tree, 2-4 or occasionally 7-5 m. (7-15
or 25 feet) high; bark thin, usually smooth, reddish brown; twigs
stoutish, reddish-purple to dark brown, often pubescent (see the
variety); buds large, 5-10 mm. (1/5-2/5 inch) long, colored as the
twigs; stipules large, mostly roundish, entire or toothed; leaves
short-lanceolate to elliptic or elliptic-oblanceolate, acute or
short-acuminate at the apex, rounded or acute at the base, 5-10 cm. (2-4
inches) long, 2-3.5 cm. (4/5-1-1/2 inches) wide, nearly entire to
coarsely wavy-toothed on the margins, dark shining green above, densely
glaucous and occasionally somewhat pubescent beneath, especially on
midrib and primaries; flowers appear in late March or in April before
the leaves; catkins sessile, on old wood, stout, dense, the staminate
very beautiful (pussies), without leaf-bracts at base, 2-5 cm. (1-2
inches) long, the pistillate becoming 3-8 cm. (1-1/2-3 inches) long in
fruit; scales elliptic-oblanceolate, densely clothed with long shining
hairs; capsules conic-rostrate, 7-10 or 12 mm. (1/4-1/2 inch) long,
densely gray-woolly; pedicels 1.5-3 mm. (1/16-1/8 inch) long.
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia south to Delaware and west to the eastern
edge of the Great Plains area. Fairly well distributed over the entire
State of Indiana. Specimens have been seen from the following counties:
Allen (Deam); Dearborn (Deam); Decatur (Deam); Elkhart (Deam); Fulton
(Deam); Gibson (Schneck); Hancock (Mrs. Chas. C. Deam); Henry (Deam);
Jackson (Deam); Jay (Deam); Jefferson (Deam); Jennings (Deam); Knox
(Deam); Lake (Deam); Marion (Mrs. Chas. C. Deam); Marshall (Deam);
Newton (Deam); Porter (Deam); Randolph (Deam); Ripley (Deam); Shelby
(Mrs. Chas. C. Deam); Sullivan (Deam); Tippecanoe (Deam); Wabash (Deam);
Warren (Deam); Wayne (Deam); Wells (Deam); White (Deam).
=5a.= =Salix discolor= variety =eriòcéphala= (Michaux) Andersson.
Differs from the species chiefly in rather densely pubescent twigs and
buds; thicker and more lanceolate leaves, usually more or less pubescent
beneath; and the sometimes more densely pubescent catkins.
[Illustration: Plate 14.
SALIX DISCOLOR Muhlenberg. Pussy Willow. (× 1/2.)]
=Distribution.=--Range of the species but less common. Specimens have
been seen from the following Indiana counties: Cass (Deam); Decatur
(Deam); Fulton (Deam); Gibson (Schneck); Jackson (Deam); Jay (Deam);
Knox (Deam); Laporte (Deam); Pulaski (Deam); Sullivan (Deam); Warren
(Deam); Wayne (Deam).
=2. PÓPULUS.= The Poplars.
Rapidly growing trees; buds usually large, scaly and more or less
resinous; leaves alternate, broad, toothed or sometimes lobed; flowers
appearing before the leaves on large pendulous catkins; anthers red or
purple.
In the following key mature leaves from trees are considered:
Petioles round or channeled, scarcely or not at all
flattened laterally.
Leaves chalky-white tomentose beneath, some of them
more or less lobed, blades 6-10 cm. long 1 P. alba.
Leaves pubescent or whitish tomentose while young,
never lobed, blades 10-17 cm. long 2 P. heterophylla.
Petioles strongly flattened laterally especially near
the blade.
Winter buds more than 8 mm. in length, stamens more
than 20, capsules more than 3 mm. in diameter,
leaves broadly deltoid, majority more than
8 cm. wide 3 P. deltoides.
Winter buds less than 8 mm. in length, stamens fewer
than 20, capsules less than 3 mm. in diameter,
leaves roundish ovate, majority less than 8 cm. wide.
Winter buds more or less pubescent, dull; leaves
generally with less than 12 teeth to a side 4 P. grandidentata.
Winter buds smooth or rarely somewhat pubescent,
glossy; leaves with more than 12 teeth to a
side 5 P. tremuloides.
=1.= =Populus álba= Linnæus. Silver-leaf Poplar. Plate 15. Short-trunked
trees with a round top, up to a meter or more in diameter; bark on young
trees smooth, greenish-white or gray, becoming furrowed on old trees,
gray or dark brown; shoots white tomentose, becoming smooth in age;
leaves ovate or triangular, 3-5 lobed or irregularly toothed, hairy on
both surfaces on expanding, becoming dark green and glabrous above,
remaining white tomentose beneath; stamens about 8; wood light, soft and
weak.
=Distribution.=--Introduced from Europe and escaped in all parts of the
State.
=Remarks.=--This tree has long been under cultivation, and several
horticultural forms have been introduced. It is falling into disuse on
account of its habit of sending up root shoots. It adapts itself to all
kinds of soil, grows rapidly, transplants easily, stands pruning well
and has few insect or fungous enemies.
[Illustration: Plate 15.
POPULUS ALBA Linnæus. Silver-leaf Poplar. (× 1/2.)]
=2.= =Populus heterophylla= Linnæus. Swamp Cottonwood. Swamp Poplar.
Plate 16. Tall trees up to 5-8 dm. in diameter; bark of old trees very
thick, broken into long ridges which are separated by deep furrows,
reddish-brown but generally weathered to ash-color; shoots densely
woolly at first, becoming glabrous before the second season; leaves
broadly-ovate with petioles 2-10 cm. long, more or less woolly on both
surfaces on unfolding, becoming glabrous above and remaining woolly
beneath, at least on the larger veins, rarely becoming entirely
glabrous, usually cordate at the base, blunt at apex, margins rather
regularly crenate-serrate; flowers in April; capsules ripening in June,
about 6 mm. in diameter, on stalks 5-10 mm. long; wood same as the next
species.
=Distribution.=--Along the Atlantic Coast from Connecticut to Florida
and along the Gulf to Louisiana, and northward along the Mississippi
Valley to Michigan. It is found in many parts of Indiana. In the
northern counties it is found in "gumbo" soils in swamps. It is a common
tree in the river swamps of the lower Wabash Valley where it reaches its
greatest size. There are no records for the extreme southeastern part
of the State, although it has been found in swamps in Harrison and Clark
Counties and is found in many counties of Ohio.
=Remarks.=--The pith of the shoots of this species is orange which
easily distinguishes it from all other species of the genus which have a
white pith. This species in all of its range is closely associated with
the common cottonwood, and millmen make no distinction in the price or
qualities of the timber.
=3.= =Populus deltoìdes= Marshall. Cottonwood. Carolina Poplar.
(_Populus balsamifera_ var. _virginiana_ (Castiglioni) Sargent). Plate
17. One of the largest trees of the Indiana forests; bark of very old
trees very thick, broken into ridges up to 1 dm. or more in thickness,
separated by deep furrows, reddish-brown, weathering to a gray; leaves
hairy on both surfaces as they unfold, soon glabrous except on the
margins which are more or less ciliate, broadly-deltoid, usually 7-12
cm. long, and about as wide, base more or less truncate or cordate, or
somewhat wedge-shaped, with rather short acuminate tips,
crenate-serrate; capsules ovate, about 6 mm. in diameter, on stalks 1-2
mm. long; wood light, soft, weak, sap wood white, heartwood small and
brown; warps badly on drying.
=Distribution.=--Quebec to Florida and west to the Rocky Mountains.
Throughout Indiana in low ground along streams, in swamps and about
lakes. On account of its habit of growing only in low ground it is
infrequent in the hill country of southern Indiana.
[Illustration: Plate 16.
POPULUS HETEROPHYLLA Linnæus. Swamp Cottonwood. (× 1/2.)]
[Illustration: Plate 17.
POPULUS DELTOIDES Marshall. Cottonwood. (× 1/2.)]
=Remarks.=--The cottonwood is adapted to a moist soil, propagates
easily, grows rapidly and is one of the best trees for forestry purposes
for planting overflow lands, and for planting where a quick shade is
desired or for temporary windbreaks.
The leaves of this tree are quite variable and several forms have been
described. The Carolina poplar of nurserymen has an upright habit of
growth and was formerly much planted as a shade tree. Its undesirable
qualities have condemned it, and most cities now prohibit its planting.
Cottonwood has many uses, and was formerly a very important timber tree,
but the supply has so diminished that large trees have become quite
scarce. The thick bark was much used by the boys of the pioneers for
whittling out toys, etc.
=4.= =Populus grandidentàta= Michaux. Large-toothed Aspen. Plate 18. A
small or medium-sized tree, 1-4 dm. in diameter; bark smooth,
grayish-green or whitish, becoming furrowed and dark brown on the trunks
of old trees that grow in the northern part of the State, especially
when growing in a swampy habitat. In the southern part of the State
where the tree usually grows on the top of hills, the bark does not
darken so much, frequently remaining a light to dark gray until
maturity. Shoots more or less woolly at first, becoming glabrous,
reddish-brown; leaves on sprouts and very young trees very velvety
beneath, slightly hairy above, ovate in outline, cordate at base and
with blades up to 20 cm. in length; leaves on older trees a yellow
green, glabrous, ovate, blades usually 6-10 cm. long, coarsely and
unevenly toothed, the base slightly rounded, rarely truncate or slightly
cordate, the apex pointed or rounded; petioles strongly flattened
laterally; stamens 6-12; capsule about 5 mm. long on a stalk about 1 mm.
long; wood soft, light and not strong.
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia west to northern Minnesota and south to the
Ohio River, and along the Alleghany Mountains to South Carolina. Found
throughout Indiana, except we have no authentic records for Gibson[11]
and Posey[12] Counties. In the northern part of Indiana it is found in
great colonies about lakes, etc. or rarely a few trees on the crests of
gravel and sand ridges. In southern Indiana it is found in the "knob"
area in small colonies on the tops of the ridges associated with scrub
pine and chestnut oak and is rarely found in low ground in this part of
the State.
=Remarks.=--This species is too rare to be of much economic importance.
It could be most profitably used for excelsior and pulp wood.
[Illustration: Plate 18.
POPULUS GRANDIDENTATA Michaux. Large-toothed Aspen. (× 1/2.)]
=5.= =Populus tremuloìdes= Michaux. Quaking Aspen. Plate 19. A straight
narrow tree up to 3 dm. in diameter, usually about 1-5 dm. in diameter;
bark usually smooth, greenish-white or gray, on older trees becoming
rough or fissured, and turning darker; shoots glabrous or with a few
hairs, turning reddish-brown the first season, later to a gray; leaves
of sprouts and very small trees usually ovate with a cordate base and
two or three times as large as leaves of older trees; mature leaves on
older trees variable, glabrous, the prevailing type has a bluish-green
leaf which is widely ovate or nearly orbicular, 3-7 cm. long, truncate
or slightly rounded at the base, usually abruptly short-pointed at apex,
finely and regularly serrate, the unusual type of leaf is thinner,
yellow-green, ovate, 2/3 as wide as long, rounded or wedge-shaped at
base, gradually tapering to a point at the apex, otherwise as the
prevailing form; stamens 6-12; capsules about 6 mm. long, on stalks
about 1 mm. long; wood light, soft and weak.
=Distribution.=--One of the most widely distributed of North American
trees. It ranges from Labrador south to Pennsylvania, thence southwest
to northern Mexico, and then north to northern Alaska. It is found at
sea level and at elevations of 10,000 feet. There are records of its
occurrence in all parts of Indiana. In all of its Indiana stations it
grows only in low ground about lakes, swamps, ponds, low places between
sand dunes, and along streams. In many places in the lake region it is
found in almost pure stands over small areas.
=Remarks.=--In Indiana this species is not of sufficient size and
abundance to be of much economic importance.
=JUGLANDÀCEAE.= The Walnut Family.
Trees with large, aromatic, odd pinnate leaves; flowers appearing after
the leaves unfold, the staminate in catkins, the pistillate solitary or
in clusters; fruit a nut in a fleshy or hard fibrous shell; kernel
edible or astringent.
Pith of twigs chambered; staminate catkins thick, sessile
or short stalked; stamens 8-40, glabrous; nuts with a
network of rough projections 1 Juglans.
Pith of twigs not chambered; staminate catkins slender,
long-stalked; stamens 3-10, hairy; nuts more or less
angled but smooth 2 Carya.
=1. JÙGLANS.= The Walnuts.
Trees with furrowed bark; pulp surrounding nut continuous, without lines
of dehiscence on the surface.
[Illustration: Plate 19.
POPULUS TREMULOIDES Michaux. Quaking Aspen. (× 1/2.)]
Bark gray, ridges smooth; upper part of leaf-scar of last
year's twigs with a mat of hairs; pith dark-brown;
fruit oblong, husk clammy 1 J. cinerea.
Bark dark brown, ridges rough; upper part of leaf-scar of
last year's twigs without a mat of hairs; pith light
brown; fruit orbicular to slightly elongate, husk not
clammy 2 J. nigra.
=1.= =Juglans cinèrea= Linnæus. Butternut. Plate 20. A medium sized
tree, usually less than 6 dm. in diameter; leaf-scars with upper margin
convex or rarely notched; leaves 3-6 dm. in length; leaflets 7-19, the
middle pairs the longest, clammy, almost sessile, oblong-lanceolate,
6-12 cm. long, fine serrate, rounded at base and acuminate at apex;
flowers in May or June; fruit ripens in October, 4-8 cm. long with 4
prominent longitudinal ridges; kernel sweet and very oily; wood light,
soft, not strong, coarse-grained but takes a good polish.
=Distribution.=--Valley of the St. Lawrence River south to the Gulf
States and west to Nebraska. Found in all parts of Indiana, although
very sparingly in some counties. It is an infrequent tree in our range,
and in only a few localities is it frequent or common. It is found along
streams and in ravines, and in two instances it has been noted in old
tamarack marshes. It prefers a well drained gravelly soil, and is rarely
if ever found in a compact soil.
Thrifty trees of any size in the woodland are now rarely seen. The tops
of the larger trees are usually found in a more or less dying condition.
Benedict and Elrod[13] as early as 1892 make the following observation
in a catalogue of the plants of Cass and Wabash Counties: "A few
scrubby, half dead trees were seen, the last of their race. It seems
unable to adapt itself to new conditions, and is rapidly dying out."
=Remarks.=--This tree is often called the white walnut to distinguish it
from the black walnut from which it is easily separated. It is too rare
in Indiana to be of economic importance, except that trees growing in
the open are spared for the nut crop. Trees growing in the open develop
a short trunk with a wide spreading top and are apparently much
healthier than when grown under forest conditions. The bark of the root
is used in medicine as a hepatic stimulant.
[Illustration: Plate 20.
JUGLANS CINEREA Linnæus. Butternut. (× 1/2.)]
=2.= =Juglans nìgra= Linnæus. Walnut. Plate 21. One of the largest and
most valuable trees of the Indiana forest. Leaf-scars with the upper
margin notched; leaves 3-7 dm. long, mature leaves glabrous above and
pubescent beneath, leaflets, usually 11-23, almost sessile,
ovate-lanceolate, 4-10 cm. long, finely serrate, long-pointed at apex;
flowers in May or June; fruit ripens the first year, in September and
October, globose to oblong, 5-8 cm. in diameter; nut variable, from
subglobose to ovoid or elliptical, more or less rounded or pointed at
the ends, 1.5-3.5 cm. through the widest diameter; kernel edible; wood
heavy, hard, strong, rather coarse, heart wood dark brown, durable,
works easily and takes a high polish.
=Distribution.=--Ontario south to the Gulf States and west to Texas and
Nebraska. It was more or less frequent to common in all parts of Indiana
in well drained rich soils.
=Remarks.=--This tree is frequently called black walnut. On account of
the many excellent qualities of the wood, the walnut has been a choice
timber tree from pioneer days to the present. It served the pioneer for
rails, and in his buildings for sleepers, rafters, interior finish,
furniture, etc. It soon sprung into commercial importance, and has been
used for almost everything for which wood is used. Indiana and Ohio have
furnished the greatest amount of walnut. The supply of lumber from old
forest-grown trees has become so scarce that it is sought in old
buildings, rail fences, old stumps and old furniture has been worked
over. That the demand for walnut timber will not cease is assured; this
should encourage land owners to grow this tree. It is adapted to a
moist, rich, deep soil and will do well in such a habitat in all parts
of the State. Where such land is set aside for forestry purposes, no
better tree could be used for planting. Since the tree develops a long
tap root which makes it difficult to transplant, it is recommended that
the nuts be stratified in the fall, and the germinated nuts be planted
in April or May. The foliage of the walnut is often attacked by the
"tent caterpillar" which can be easily destroyed by burning about sun
down when the larvæ collect in a bunch on or near the trunk of the tree.
Since the nut of the walnut is of considerable commercial value, it is
recommended that the walnut be planted along fences, about orchards and
as one of the species in windbreaks.
=2. CÀRYA.= The Hickories.
Trees with hard, tight or scaly bark; leaflets alternate, odd-pinnate,
glandular-dotted beneath; leaflets serrate, usually unequal at the base,
the lateral sessile or nearly so, the terminal short-stalked, the lowest
pair the smallest, upper pair and terminal the largest, bruised leaflets
characteristically aromatic; staminate flowers in slender catkins,
anthers hairy; pistillate flowers in small clusters; fruit a bony nut
contained in a woody husk which separates more or less completely from
the nut into four parts.
[Illustration: Plate 21.
JUGLANS NIGRA Linnæus. Black Walnut. (× 1/2.)]
There are now recognized[14] fifteen species and several varieties of
hickory, all of which grow in the United States east of the Rocky
Mountains. Hickory grows in no other place in the world, except one
species in northern Mexico. The wood of the different species of hickory
is not of equal commercial value, but the wood of the commercial species
heads the list of Indiana woods for strength, toughness and resiliency.
The individuals of the several species vary much in respect to their
bark, size and pubescence of the twigs, number and size of the leaflets,
size and shape of the nuts. No attempt will be made to deal with all of
the extreme forms, and only those reported by Heimlich[15] and
Sargent[16] will be discussed.
Bud scales 4-6, valvate (in pairs), leaflets generally
curved backward.
Leaflets 9-17, generally about 13; nut elongated,
circular in cross-section; kernel sweet 1 C. illinoensis.
Leaflets 5-9, generally 5-7; nut about as broad as
long, compressed in cross-section; kernel bitter 2 C. cordiformis.
Bud scales more than 6, imbricated (not in pairs);
leaflets not curved backward.
Branchlets usually stout; terminal buds large, 7-25 mm.
long; the year's growth usually more or less hairy;
dry husks 4-10 mm. thick.
Prevailing number of leaflets 5 3 C. ovata.
Prevailing number of leaflets more than 5.
Trees of low ground; bark of young trees tight and
light, of older trees scaly, separating into
long thin plates; branchlets usually light
orange color; nuts usually large, compressed,
3-6 cm. long, pointed at base 4 C. laciniosa.
Trees of high ground; bark of young trees tight
and dark, of older trees tight and deeply
furrowed, the thick ridges broken into short
lengths which on very old trees loosen at the
base; branchlets reddish-brown; nuts usually
about half as large as the preceding and
usually with a rounded base 5 C. alba.
Branchlets usually slender; terminal buds small,
5-12 mm. long; the year's growth usually glabrous,
rarely hairy; dried husk 1-2.5 mm. thick.
Branchlets and leaves not covered when they first
appear with rusty-brown pubescence.
Prevailing number of leaflets 5; fruit usually
smooth and tapering at base to a short stem
(fig-like); shell of nut thick, kernel sweet
and astringent 6 C. glabra.
Prevailing number of leaflets generally 7; fruit
usually granular, rarely tapering at the base
to a short stem (fig-like); shell of nut
thin, kernel sweet without astringency 7 C. ovalis.
Branchlets and leaves densely covered when they first
appear with rusty-brown pubescence 8 C. Buckleyi.
=1.= =Carya illinoénsis= (Wangenheim) K. Koch. Pecan. Plate 22. Very
tall slender trees up to 15 dm. in diameter; bark tight, sometimes
becoming scaly on very old trees, fissured, ridges narrow, ashy-brown
tinged with red; twigs at first hairy, becoming smooth or nearly so and
reddish-brown by the end of the season; leaves 3-5 dm. long; leaflets
9-17, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, somewhat curved backward, 7-15 cm.
long, taper-pointed, hairy when they unfold, becoming at maturity smooth
or nearly so, dark green above, and a yellow-green beneath; clusters of
staminate catkins sessile; fruit single or in small clusters, oblong
3.5-6 cm. long, the winged sutures extending to the base, the husk
splitting to below the middle; nut ovoid-oblong, reddish-brown; wood
heavy, hard and not strong.
=Distribution.=--In the Mississippi Valley from Indiana and Iowa south
to Texas. In Indiana it was a native of the southwest part of the State.
It was a common tree in the river bottoms of Point Township of Posey
County, and in the bottoms of the southwest part of Gibson County. It
was found more or less frequently in the bottoms of the Wabash Valley,
as far north as to within four miles of Covington where the author
collected specimens in 1918. It followed the bottoms of the Ohio River
east at least as far as Clark County. Michaux[17] gives it as rare in
the vicinity of Louisville. Victor Lyons of Jeffersonville says that it
was a native to the east part of Survey 29 of the Illinois Grant, and
one tree in the northwest corner of No. 32; and there were nine trees
9-10 dm. in diameter in Floyd County on "Loop Island". A large tree grew
in the bottoms near Bethlehem in Clark County, which is said to have
been a native.
Young[18] says that there are two trees in Jefferson County, one
planted, the other probably native. Coulter[19] says "there are several
trees in the river bottoms."
[Illustration: Plate 22.
CARYA ILLINOENSIS (Wangenheim) K. Koch. Pecan. (× 1/2.)
The two nuts to right are from the McCallister hybrid pecan tree.]
There are several trees on the Elisha Golay farm about one mile east of
Vevay which are in rows, which show that they were planted. The largest
has a trunk 2.2 m. long and a circumference of 31 dm. It followed the
north fork of White River as far as Greene County, and the south fork of
White River as far as Seymour. A pioneer told me he remembered a small
colony in the eastern part of Washington County in the bottoms near the
Muscatatuck River. In Indiana it is found only in very low land which is
subject to overflow.
=Remarks.=--So far as the wood is concerned, the pecan is the poorest of
all hickories. It has only about one-half the strength and stiffness of
the shellbark hickory. Although the wood is inferior, the pecan has the
distinction of producing the best nut of any native tree of America. The
pecan was well known to the Indians, and some authors say the range of
the species was extended by planting by the Indians. It has been a nut
of commerce ever since the area of its range has been settled. It was
planted by the pioneers, and recently nurserymen took up the subject of
growing stock by budding and grafting from superior trees. At present
there are about 100 horticultural varieties. The horticulturist has
developed forms twice the size of the native nuts, and with shells so
thin as to be styled "paper-shelled." The pecan has been extensively
planted for commercial purposes in the southern states, but information
obtained from owners of pecan trees in Indiana indicate that the winters
are too severe for profitable pecan culture in Indiana. During the
winter of 1917-18 the whole of a tract of 13 year old pecan trees on the
Forest Reserve in Clark County was killed back to the ground. In Noble
County about one mile south of Wolf Lake is a tree planted about 50
years ago that is about 9 dm. in circumference that frequently sets nuts
but they never mature on account of the early frosts.
=2.= =Carya cordifórmis= (Wangenheim) K. Koch. Pignut Hickory. Plate 23.
Large tall trees with tight bark, usually a light gray, sometimes
darker, fissures shallow and very irregular; twigs at first green,
somewhat hairy, soon becoming smooth or nearly so, and a
yellowish-brown, or reddish-brown by the end of the season; leaves and
leaflets variable, the prevailing type of trees have smaller leaves with
long and narrow leaflets, the unusual form has larger leaves up to 4 dm.
in length with terminal leaflets up to 2 dm. in length and 8.5 cm. in
width, and the last pair almost as large; fruit subglobose or rarely
oblong, 2-3.5 cm. long; wings of sutures extending to below the middle,
rarely one reaching the base; husk about 1.5 mm. thick, tardily
separating to about the middle; nut ovoid or oblong, slightly flattened
laterally, often as wide or wider than long, depressed, obcordate, with
a short or long point at the apex, ovoid or rounded at the base, smooth
or rarely with four distinct ridges; shell very thin and brittle; kernel
very bitter; wood heavy, very hard, strong, tough and close-grained. It
has about 92 per cent of the strength and about 73 per cent of the
stiffness of shellbark hickory.
[Illustration: Plate 23.
CARYA CORDIFORMIS (Wangenheim) K. Koch. Pignut Hickory. (× 1/2.)
The nuts are from different trees to show variation.]
=Distribution.=--Valley of the St. Lawrence River west to Nebraska and
south to the Gulf States. In Indiana a map distribution of the species
in the State shows that it has been found in practically all of the
counties on the west, north and east borders. It is usually found in
rich soil along streams and in rich woods, and may be found in all of
the counties of the State. Despite the fact that no animal agency was
active against the propagation of this tree, it was rarely found more
than as an infrequent tree throughout our range.
=Remarks.=--The hickories as a class, except the pecan, can not stand
"civilization," especially much tramping about the base. It appears that
the pignut hickory is the most easily affected. In Parke County about
Coxville great numbers of the trees have been killed by the borers. For
the uses of the wood see shellbark hickory. Since this species does not
produce as much marketable lumber as the shellbark hickory, and the nuts
are valueless, it should not be recommended for planting in the farmer's
woodlot. The rossed bark of this species is preferred by manufacturers
of split-bottomed chairs, and is known by them as "yellow-bud" hickory.
=3.= =Carya ovàta= (Miller) K. Koch. Shellbark Hickory. Plate 24. Large
and very tall trees; bark of young trees tight, beginning to scale when
the trees reach 1-2 dm. in diameter, separating into long thin strips on
old trees; twigs at the end of the season usually stout, 3-5 mm. in
diameter near the tip, but some are slender and as small as 2.5 mm. in
diameter, at first covered with hairs, becoming smooth at the end of the
season or remaining hairy, reddish-brown; winter buds hairy, the
terminal one on vigorous shoots long-ovoid, outer scales sharp-pointed;
ordinary leaves 2-4 dm. long; leaflets 3-5, the lateral sessile or
nearly so, the terminal one on a stalk about 1 dm. long, up to 10 cm.
wide and 22 cm. long, leaflets variable in shape from ovate to oval,
oblong-oval or obovate, all long taper-pointed, hairy beneath when they
unfold and remaining hairy until maturity or sometimes becoming almost
glabrous; fruit variable in size, 3-6 cm. long, usually subglobose,
furrowed along the sutures at least near the outer end; husk freely
splitting to the base, except one tree which was noted where the husk
remains on the nut, rarely opening for only a short distance at the
apex, very variable in thickness from 4-10 mm.; nut exceedingly
variable, compressed, 4-angled, the angles generally visible to the
base, 2-3 cm. long, more or less pointed, rarely rounded at the base or
obcordate at the apex, generally ovate to oval in outline, some almost
freakish in shape; shell generally thin; kernel sweet; wood heavy, very
hard and strong, close-grained, light brown, sap wood white and thin on
old trees.
[Illustration: Plate 24.
CARYA OVATA (Miller) K. Koch. Shellbark Hickory. (× 1/2.)
The nuts are from different trees to show variation.]
=Distribution.=--Quebec west to southern Minnesota, Kansas and eastern
Texas, thence eastward to the Atlantic through the north part of the
Gulf States. It is frequent to common in all parts of Indiana except on
the hills of the southern part. It prefers rich moist soil and is
generally found in bottom lands or on rolling land, and if in dryer
situations on the sides of hills. It is generally associated with red
oak, big shellbark hickory, swamp white oak, sweet gum, linn, white ash,
slippery elm, sugar maple, beech, etc. In the forest it is a tall
straight tree with few main branches for a crown. No tree carries its
taper better than this species. When grown in the open the side branches
do not shade off, and it grows to a medium height with a wide spreading
crown.
=Remarks.=--The writer has one specimen from Wells County which no doubt
should be referred to this species, but the description has not been
drawn to cover it. The twigs are very slender and pubescent; the leaves
are normal and pubescent; the fruit is obovoid, 2-4 cm. long; husk less
than 1 mm. thick at outer end and 2 mm. thick at the base; nut obovoid,
1-8 cm. long, little compressed, rounded at the base, rounded at the
apex, slightly angled, angles obscure on lower half; otherwise as the
type.
The species is very variable and no dependence can be placed upon such
characters as pubescence of the twigs, leaves or fruit, size of the
twigs, color of the anthers, size or shape of the nuts.
The wood of the shellbark and the big shellbark hickories is the most
used of all the hickories because it is generally freer from knots and
blemishes. Hickory is used principally for carriage and wagon stock,
agricultural implements, handles and fuel. The supply of hickory is fast
waning, and in the near future will be limited.
The hickories are very slow growing trees. They develop a long tap root,
hence are hard to transplant. Hickory should constitute an important
part of the woodlot. If this species is not well represented, germinated
nuts should be planted. The nut of this species usually sells for $3.00
to $5.00 per bushel, which should encourage land owners to plant it in
the open along fences and about the orchard. It should be remembered
that hickory will not stand much tramping by stock.
=3a.= =Carya ovata= variety =fraxinifòlia= Sargent. Trees and Shrubs
2:207:1913. Is described as having leaflets lanceolate to slightly
oblanceolate, acuminate, thick and firm in texture, lustrous above,
pubescent along the midribs below, the terminal 1.4-1.5 dm. long from
4.4-5 cm. wide, and raised on a slender puberulous petiolule, the
lateral leaflets unsymmetrical at the base, sessile, those of the
lowest pair 7-9 cm. long, and from 2.5-3 cm. wide. Sargent[20] says
"this variety occurs in Indiana," basing his authority upon my specimens
of which he has duplicates. Heimlich[21] reports this variety from White
County, and at the same time he reported the variety from Daviess,
Martin and Wells Counties, based upon specimens collected by the author
and determined by Sargent. I have carefully studied the specimens from
Daviess, Martin and Wells Counties, and they do not agree with Sargent's
description of the variety. While most of the leaves of the specimens in
question agree with the description, some do not, which excludes it from
the variety.
=3b.= =Carya ovata= variety =Nuttallii= Sargent. Trees and Shrubs
2:207:1913. This variety is described as having "nut rounded, obcordate
or rarely pointed at apex, rounded or abruptly pointed at the base, much
compressed, prominently angled, about 1.5 cm. long and 1-1.2 cm. thick;
the involucre 4-10 mm. thick, splits freely to the base. Except in size
of the fruit there appears to be no character by which the variety can
be distinguished from the common Shagbark." Heimlich[22] reported this
variety from Dekalb County, based upon specimens collected by the author
and determined by Sargent. The nuts of the specimens from Dekalb County
are 2 cm. long. The author has specimens from Wells County that agree
with the description.
=4.= =Carya laciniòsa= (Michaux filius) Loudon. Big Shellbark Hickory.
Plate 25. Large tall trees with trunks like those of the shellbark
hickory; bark of young trees tight, beginning to scale when the trees
reach a diameter of 1-2 dm., on older trees separating and scaling off
into long thin narrow strips; twigs at the end of the season stout, 4-7
mm. thick near the tip, the twigs of the season hairy at first, becoming
glabrous or nearly so by the end of autumn, yellowish or late in autumn
a rusty brown, frequently retaining the leaf-stalks of the leaves of the
previous season until spring which is peculiar to this species; terminal
buds large, ovoid to ovoid-oblong, 10-25 mm. long; ordinary leaves 3-5
dm. long; leaflets 5-9, prevailing number 7, ovate to oblong-lanceolate
or obovate, the largest 1-2 dm. long, velvety beneath when they unfold
and remaining hairy beneath until maturity, rarely nearly glabrous;
fruit ovate, subglobose, oblong or obovate, 3.5-7 cm. long; dry husk
3.5-11 mm. thick; nut variable, generally much compressed, up to 5.5 cm.
long, usually circular in outline, but varying from ovate to obovate and
oblong, usually each side has 2 or 3 ridges which extend more or less
often to the base; shell very thick; kernel sweet; wood and uses same as
that of the shellbark hickory.
[Illustration: Plate 25.
CARYA LACINIOSA (Michaux filius) Loudon. Big Shellbark Hickory. (× 1/2.)
The nuts are from different trees to show variation.]
=Distribution.=--Southwestern Ontario south to Alabama and west to
Louisiana, Nebraska and Iowa. Found throughout Indiana, except there are
as yet no records from the extreme northwest counties. It is frequent to
common in moist rich woods, or in river bottoms which is its favorite
habitat. It is usually associated with the shellbark hickory where it
grows in moist situations. Sometimes in the river bottoms it grows in
situations too wet for the shellbark hickory. In the lower Wabash
bottoms it becomes a common tree.
=Remarks.=--This hickory is also known as the big scaly-bark hickory and
hard-head hickory. The nuts are an article of commerce and by some are
preferred to the shellbark hickory although the nuts are hard to crack.
This objection is easily overcome by wetting the nuts, and drying them
by using heat which cracks the shell, making them easy to crack.
=5.= =Carya álba= (Linnæus) K. Koch. White Hickory. Plate 26. Medium
sized tall trees up to 10 dm. in diameter; bark tight, of two types, one
light colored, thin and fissured into a network. This form has been seen
only in the river bottoms of the southwestern part of the State. The
common type of bark is thick, with thick ridges, dark but on the older
trees it weathers to a light gray and becomes thickly covered with
lichens; terminal twigs of branches at end of season stout, 3.5-7 mm. in
diameter near the tip, densely hairy at first and remaining hairy
throughout the season or becoming almost glabrous, reddish-brown;
terminal bud large, ovate, 10-20 mm. long; ordinary leaves 2-4 dm. long,
the rachis and under side of leaflets densely hairy when they unfold,
remaining pubescent until maturity; leaflets 5-9, prevailing number 7,
long-oval, ovate-lanceolate, or obovate; fruit usually globose, more
rarely short elliptic, ovate or obovoid, the husk rather tardily opening
to nearly the base, or only checking open at the top; dried husk 3-8 mm.
thick; nut variable in shape, little compressed, somewhat globose, a
little longer than wide, more rarely wider than long or short elliptic,
usually 2.5-3.5 cm. long, generally rounded at the base and
short-pointed at the apex, more rarely pointed at the base and long
pointed at the apex, (one specimen is at hand that is almost a square
box), usually with 4-6 angles, on some forms obscure; shell thick;
kernel very small, sweet; wood and uses same as shellbark hickory.
[Illustration: Plate 26.
CARYA ALBA (Linnæus) K. Koch. White Hickory. (× 1/2.)
The nuts are from different trees to show variation.]
=Distribution.=--Southwestern Ontario south to the Gulf and west to
Texas, Missouri and Iowa. Found throughout Indiana, except there are no
records from the extreme northwestern counties. This species except in
the lower Wabash Valley is confined to the uplands. It is rather a rare
tree in northern Indiana, but becomes more or less frequent in the
western part of the State south of the Wabash River and more or less
frequent to common on the hills in all of the State south of Marion
County. It is most abundant in the unglaciated area.
=Remarks.=--This species is called mockernut by text books, and bull
hickory in the vicinity of New Albany.
=5a.= =Carya alba= variety =subcoriàcea= Sargent. Trees and Shrubs
2:207:1913. Only one tree of this variety is known in Indiana and it is
located in Posey County on the bank of the cypress swamp about 13 miles
southwest of Mt. Vernon. Specimens from this tree were sent to Sargent
and he referred them to this variety.[23] It differs from the type in
the larger size and shape of the fruit and nut. The dried fruit is 5 cm.
long, oblong. The nut is oblong, 4.4 cm. long, pointed at both ends, or
some nuts somewhat ovate in shape and more rounded at the base, little
compressed and strongly angled; shell very thick, 5 mm. at the thinnest
place; kernel very small and sweet. The nut easily distinguishes it from
all forms of hickory. The author has bought hickory nuts for table use
for several years from Posey County and this nut is frequently found in
the assortment which shows that this variety is more or less frequent in
that section.
=6.= =Carya glàbra= (Miller) Spach. Black Hickory. Plate 27. Very tall
medium sized trees, up to 7 dm. in diameter; bark tight, usually dark,
fissures shallow on some and quite deep on others; twigs reddish-brown,
glabrous, terminal buds small, ovoid, about 7-12 mm. long; ordinary
leaves 2-3 dm. long; leaflets generally lanceolate, sometimes quite
wide, or wider beyond the middle, prevailing number 5, the terminal
usually 11-19 cm. long, somewhat pubescent on unfolding, more or less
pubescent below at maturity, usually only the midrib, axils and larger
veins with hairs; fruit generally smooth and obovoid, rarely globose or
oval, 22-40 mm. long; husk sometimes not opening, more often one or more
of the sutures open to less than half way, 1-2 mm. thick; nut about
20-30 mm. long and 16-25 mm. wide, rounded at the apex, elongated and
rounded at the base, angles wanting or obscure; shell very hard and
thick, about 1.5 mm. thick at the thinnest point; kernel sweet and
astringent; wood and uses same as that of the shellbark hickory.
[Illustration: Plate 27.
CARYA GLABRA (Miller) Spach. Black Hickory. (× 1/2.)
Fruit from different trees to show variation.]
=Distribution.=--Southern Ontario south to the Gulf States and west to
Texas and Iowa. This species is reported for all parts of the State.
However, the records for the northern counties were made when this
species was not separated from _Carya ovalis_, and since the latter
species is quite frequent in the northern counties it is best to refer
the early records to _Carya ovalis_. The most northern station based
upon an existing specimen is the north side of the Mississinewa River
east of Eaton in Delaware County. It is a frequent, common to very
common tree on the hills in the southern part of the State. It has its
mass distribution in the unglaciated part of the State, although it is
locally a frequent to a common tree of the hills of the other southern
counties. It appears that this species has the ability to invade areas
after the virgin forest is cut, and it is not an uncommon sight to see
this species in almost pure stands on the hills of cut-over lands.
=Remarks.=--This species is often called pignut. Sargent wisely suggests
that this name be used exclusively for _Carya cordiformis_. The great
abundance of this species in Brown, Morgan and Monroe Counties has been
instrumental in building up a large business in the manufacture of
hickory chairs and furniture. Frames of furniture are made from the very
young trees, and backs and seats from the bark of old trees, which are
cut, stripped of their bark, and often left to rot.
=6a.= =Carya glabra= variety =megacárpa= Sargent[24]. This variety was
reported for Indiana by Heimlich.[25] His report was based on a specimen
collected by the author in Franklin County. It was named by Sargent who
has a duplicate specimen. Sargent in his revision of the hickories does
not include Indiana in its range. The size of the fruit is the character
that marks the variety and I do not believe this is sufficient to
warrant its separation. I have, therefore, included all Indiana forms
under the type.
=7.= =Carya ovàlis= (Wangenheim) Sargent. Small-fruited Hickory. Plate
28. Medium sized tall trees; bark usually tight on the trunk for a
distance up to 1.5-3 m., then becoming more or less scaly like the
shellbark hickory, on some trees the bark is very thick and is quite
scaly but it does not flake off in thin plates as the shellbark hickory;
twigs purplish or reddish-brown, generally smooth by the end of the
season, generally 3-4 mm. thick near the tip; terminal winter buds
ovoid, 7-10 mm. long, covered with yellow scales and more or less
pubescent; average size leaves 2-3 dm. long; leaflets 3-7, prevailing
number usually 7, sometimes 5, usually lanceolate, frequently oval or
slightly obovate, the terminal 12-21 cm. long, at maturity usually
pubescent beneath in the axils of the veins, more rarely also the veins
covered with hairs; fruit varies greatly in size and shape, the most
common form is obovoid, more rarely oval, or subglobose, 25-42 mm. in
length, granular and covered with yellow scales; husk usually splitting
to the base, although tardily on some, often quite aromatic, dry husk
1.1-3 mm. thick; nut variable in size and shape, from elliptic to
obovoid, 15-30 mm. long, compressed, generally about 20 per cent wider
than thick, usually rounded at the base, generally slightly obovoid with
the apex rounded, or obcordate; a common form has the four sides
rounded, as wide as long or almost so, with the ends abruptly rounded so
as to appear almost truncate, the elliptic form with both ends pointed
is our rarest and smallest form; the surface on all forms is quite
smooth, except the elliptic forms which have the angles usually
extending from the tip to the base, on other forms the nuts are usually
not prominently angled and on some the angles are very obscure except at
the apex; shell usually thin, 1-1.5 mm. thick; kernel sweet; wood and
uses the same as that of the shellbark hickory.
[Illustration: Plate 28.
CARYA OVALIS (Wangenheim) Sargent. Small-fruited Hickory. (× 1/2.)
The nuts show the species and its varieties.]
Sargent[26] has described five varieties of this species, three of which
he credits to Indiana. The writer has sent him specimens from over 100
trees of this species, and he has variously distributed them to the type
and varieties. Heimlich has reported Sargent's determination of many of
these specimens in the Proc. Ind. Acad. Science, 1917:436-439:1918. The
writer cannot agree with the determinations and believes further field
study is necessary to discover characters by which the several forms can
consistently be divided.
To stimulate the study of this species, the original description of the
varieties together with Sargent's characterization of the type are
quoted because they are contained in a book not usually found in
libraries. To these descriptions are added new characters which Sargent
gives in his revision of the hickories in Bot. Gaz. 66:245-247:1918.
=Carya ovalis= (type).
"In the shape of the fruit and in the thickness of its involucre this
tree is of four distinct forms; in all of them the involucre splits
freely to the base, or nearly to the base, the shell of the nut is thin
and the seed, although small, is sweet and edible. The extremes of these
forms are very distinct, but there are forms which are intermediate
between them, so that it is difficult to decide sometimes to which of
the forms these intermediate forms should be referred. The first of
these forms, as the fruit agrees with Wangenheim's figure, must be
considered the type of the species. The fruit is oval, narrowed and
rounded at the base, acute at the apex, usually from 2.5-3 cm. long and
about 1.5 cm. in diameter. The involucre is from 2-2.5 mm. thick and
occasionally one of the sutures remains closed. The nut is oblong,
slightly flattened, rounded at the base, acute or acuminate and
four-angled at the apex, the ridges extending for one-third or rarely
for one-half of its length, from 2-2.5 cm. long and about 1.5 cm. in
diameter. The shell is usually about 1 mm. thick." "The type of this
species and its varieties have glabrous or rarely slightly pubescent
leaves, with usually 7 thin leaflets."
=7a.= =Carya ovalis= variety =obcordàta= (Muhlenberg) Sargent. "The
fruit varies from subglobose to short-oblong or to slightly obovate,
showing a tendency to pass into that of the other varieties of the
species. It varies from 2-3 cm. in diameter, and the involucre, which is
from 2-5 mm. thick, splits freely to the base or nearly to the base by
narrowly winged sutures, one of them rarely extending only to the middle
of the fruit. The nut is usually much compressed, often broadest above
the middle, slightly angled sometimes to below the middle, rounded at
the base and much compressed, often broadest above the middle, slightly
angled sometimes to below the middle, rounded at the base and rounded
and often more or less obcordate at the apex."
=7b.= =Carya ovalis= variety =odoràta= (Marshall) Sargent. "The name may
have been given by Marshall to this variety on account of the strong
resinous odor of the inner surface of the fresh involucre of the fruit,
which I have not noticed in that of the other forms. The fruit is
subglobose or sometimes slightly longer than broad, flattened and
usually from 1.3-1.5 cm. in diameter. The involucre varies from 1-1.5
mm. in thickness and splits freely to the base by distinctly winged
sutures. The nut is rounded or acute at the base with a short point,
rounded at the apex, very slightly or not at all ridged, pale colored,
from 1.2-1.5 cm. long and wide and from 1-1.2 cm. thick."
=7c.= =Carya ovalis= variety =obovàlis= Sargent. "In the fourth form the
fruit is more or less obovate, about 2.5 cm. long and 2 cm. in diameter,
and the involucre varies from 2-4 mm. in thickness. The nut is much
compressed, pointed or rounded at the apex, rounded at the base, usually
about 2 cm. long, nearly as broad and about 1.5 cm. thick." "The fruit
resembles in shape that of _Carya glabra_, but the involucre is thicker
and splits easily to the base or nearly to the base."
=7d.= =Carya ovalis= variety =obcordàta=, =f. vestita= Sargent. Bot.
Gaz. 66:246:1918. This is a form described from a specimen collected by
the author on the border of Dan's Pond in Knox County. It differs from
"the variety _obcordata_ in the thick tomentose covering of the
branchlets during their first year. The leaves of this form are slightly
pubescent in the autumn on the under surface of the midribs. Although
the nuts are more compressed than those of the ordinary forms of var.
_obcordata_, the fruit is of that variety. The branchlets are unusually
stout for a form of _Carya ovalis_ and are covered with rusty tomentum
during their first year and are more or less pubescent in their second
and third seasons."
=Distribution.=--Western New York west to Illinois and south to North
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri. The
species is found in all parts of the State, although the distribution of
the varieties has not been worked out. The habitat of this species is
high ground, and only rarely is it found in low ground. It prefers
hills, slopes, base of the terraces of streams, and in the northern part
of the State gravelly ridges and sandy soil. In all of its range it is
usually associated with white and black oak. It is infrequent in the
southern part of the State but north of the Wabash River it becomes more
frequent and in some places it becomes common to very common. It is a
common tree in Wells County north of the Wabash River and in the
northern part of Lagrange County, and in both places a wide range of
forms occur, some of which are not covered by the preceding description.
No one of our trees offers a better opportunity for intensive study than
this hickory.
=Remarks.=--Text books call this species the small-fruited hickory. It
is not commonly distinguished from the other hickories, but in Wells
County where it is common the boys call it "Ladies' Hickory."
=8.= =Carya Búckleyi= variety =arkansàna= Sargent.[27] Plate 29. Medium
sized trees, bark tight, dark, deeply furrowed; mature twigs more or
less pubescent, reddish brown; terminal buds ovoid, about 8 mm. long,
thickly covered with yellow scales, and more or less pubescent; leaves
2-3.5 dm. long, rachis permanently pubescent; leaflets 5-7, prevailing
number 7, lanceolate, terminal one about 15 cm. long, tawny pubescent on
unfolding, more or less glabrous at maturity; fruit ellipsoid to
slightly obovoid, very aromatic, about 3.5-4 cm. long, covered with
yellow scales; husk usually splitting to below the middle, 3-4 mm.
thick; nut oblong to slightly obovoid, 3-3.5 cm. long, scarcely
compressed, rounded at each end, the four ridges faint except at the
apex; shell thick, about 2 mm. at the thinnest point; kernel sweet; wood
same as the white hickory which it most closely resembles.
=Distribution.=--Southwestern Indiana, south in the Mississippi Valley
to Louisiana and Texas. Known in Indiana only from one tree in Knox
County on the sand ridge on the east side of what was formerly a cypress
swamp, about two miles north of Decker. The soil is the Knox sand. It is
associated with black and black jack oaks.
=Remarks.=--The description has been drawn from ample material from this
single tree.
[Illustration: Plate 29.
CARYA BUCKLEYI var. ARKANSANA Sargent. (× 1/2.)]
=BETULÀCEAE.= The Birch Family.
Trees or shrubs with simple, petioled, alternate (in pairs on the older
branches of _Betula_) leaves; staminate flowers in long drooping
catkins, 1-3 in the axil of each bract, the pistillate in short lateral
or terminal aments; fruit a nut or samara.
Staminate flowers solitary in the axil of each bract,
without a calyx, pistillate flowers with a calyx;
nut wingless.
Bark of tree smooth; staminate aments in winter enclosed
in bud scales; nut exposed, its subtending bract
more or less irregularly 3-cleft 1 Carpinus.
Bark of older trees shreddy; staminate aments in winter
naked; nut enclosed in a bladder-like bract 2 Ostrya.
Staminate flowers 3-6 in the axil of each bract, with a
calyx, pistillate flowers without a calyx; nut winged.
Winter buds sessile; stamens 2; fruit membranous and
hop-like; fruiting bract deciduous at the end of
the season when the nut escapes 3 Betula.
Winter buds stalked; stamens 4; fruit woody and
cone-like; fruiting bracts woody and persisting
after the nuts escape 4 Alnus.
=1. CARPÌNUS.= The Hornbeam.
=Carpinus caroliniàna= Walter. Water Beech. Blue Beech. Plate 30. A
small tree up to 3 dm. in diameter, usually 1-1.5 dm. in diameter with
fluted or ridged trunks; bark smooth, close, gray; twigs hairy at first,
soon becoming glabrous; leaves ovate-oblong, average leaves 6-10 cm.
long, pointed at the apex, double-serrate, hairy when young, glabrous at
maturity except on the veins and in the axils beneath, pubescent, not
glandular, staminate catkins appearing in early spring; nut at the base
of a 3-cleft bract about 2 cm. long, nut broadly ovate, compressed,
pointed and about 5 mm. long; wood heavy, hard, tough and strong.
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia west to Minnesota and south to Florida and
Texas. In Indiana it is frequent to common throughout the State in moist
rich woods. It prefers a moist rich soil; however, it has a range from
the tamarack bog to the dry black and white oak slope. It is tolerant of
shade and is seldom found outside of the forest.
=Remarks.=--This tree is too small and crooked to be of economic
importance. It is regarded as a weed tree in the woodland, and should be
removed to give place to more valuable species.
[Illustration: Plate 30.
CARPINUS CAROLINIANA Walter. Water or Blue Beech. (× 1/2.)]
=2. ÓSTRYA.= The Hop Hornbeam.
=Ostrya virginiàna= (Miller) Willdenow. Ironwood. Plate 31. Small trees
up to 5 dm.[28] in diameter, usually about 1-2 dm. in diameter; bark
smooth and light brown on small trees, shreddy on older trees; shoots
hairy, becoming at the end of the season glabrous or nearly so and a
reddish-brown; leaves oblong-ovate, other forms rare, average size about
7-12 cm. long, acuminate, usually double-serrate, hairy on both surfaces
when they unfold, glabrous or nearly so above at maturity, more or less
pubescent beneath, especially on the midrib and veins; staminate spikes
develop in early winter; fruit hop-like about 2-4 cm. long; nut
oblong-ovate about 7 mm. long and half as wide, compressed, light brown;
wood very hard, tough, close-grained, strong, light brown.
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia west to Manitoba, south to the Gulf States
and west to Texas. It is frequent to common in all of the counties of
the State. However, it is entirely absent in the lower Wabash bottoms,
except rarely on high grounds in this area. It prefers well drained dry
soil, and is most frequent when it is associated with beech and sugar
maple, although it is often quite plentiful in white oak woods. It is
shade enduring and is one of the under trees in the forest where it
grows very tall and slender and free from branches. When it grows in
exposed places such as bluffs, it retains its side branches and is
usually bushy.
=Remarks.=--The trees are too small to be of much economic importance.
It is 30 per cent stronger than white oak, and 46 per cent more elastic.
These exceptional qualities were recognized by the Indians and it was
used by them where wood of great strength and hardness was desired.
Likewise the pioneer used it where he could for handles, wooden wedges,
etc. Since it grows neither large nor fast, it is usually regarded as a
weed tree in the woodland, and should be removed to give place to more
valuable species.
=Ostrya virginiàna= variety =glandulòsa= Spach. This is the name given
to the form which has the twigs, petioles, peduncles and often the
midrib and veins of the leaves beneath covered more or less with short
erect, reddish, glandular hairs.
It is found with the species, but is not so frequent.
[Illustration: Plate 31.
OSTRYA VIRGINIANA (Miller) K. Koch. Ironwood. (× 1/2.)]
=3. BÉTULA.= The Birches.
Trees and shrubs with bark tight, scaly or separating into very thin
plates and peeling off transversely, whitish or dark colored; staminate
catkins developing in autumn and dehiscing in early spring before or
with the appearance of the leaves, pistillate catkins ovoid or
cylindric; fruit a small winged flat seed, bearing at the apex the two
persistent stigmas.
Bark of twigs usually with a slight wintergreen flavor;
leaves with 7-15, usually 9-11 pairs of prominent
veins; rounded or slightly cordate at the base;
fertile catkins generally 10 mm. or more in
diameter. 1 B. lutea.
Bark of twigs usually bitter, not wintergreen flavored;
leaves with 4-11, usually 4-9 pairs of prominent
veins, more or less obtusely angled at the base;
fertile catkins generally less than 10 mm. in
diameter (rarely 10 mm. or more, _B. nigra_).
Bark of trunk chalky-white; fruiting aments drooping
or spreading.
Bark below base of lateral branches darkened-triangular
in outline; leaves long acuminate and lustrous
above; staminate catkins usually solitary. 2 B. populifolia.
Bark below base of lateral branches not darkened;
leaves ovate and not lustrous above; staminate
catkins usually 2-3. 3 B. papyrifera.
Bark of trunks dark; fruiting aments erect or
nearly so. 4 B. nigra.
=1.= =Betula lùtea= Michaux filius. Birch. Yellow Birch. Plate 32.
Medium size trees; bark of small trees and of the branches of old trees
smooth, silver or dark gray, freely peeling off in thin strips, becoming
on older trees a dark brown, rarely tight, usually fissured into wide
plates and rolling back from one edge; the shoots of the year hairy,
greenish gray, becoming glabrous or nearly so and reddish-brown by the
end of the second year, not aromatic when bruised but when chewed
sometimes a faint wintergreen odor can be detected; winter buds pointed,
reddish-brown, the lower scales more or less pubescent, generally with a
fringe of hairs on the margins; leaves usually appearing in pairs, ovate
to ovate-oblong, 4-14 cm. long, taper-pointed, oblique and wedge-shape,
rounded or slightly cordate at the base, sharply and rather coarsely
serrate, hairy on both sides when they appear, becoming at maturity
glabrous or nearly so above, and remaining more or less pubescent below,
especially on the veins, both surfaces with few to numerous resinous
dots; petioles permanently hairy, generally 5-13 mm. long; flowers
appear in May; staminate spikes in clusters at the ends of the branches,
about 6 cm. long, scales broadly ovate, blunt, fringed with hairs,
green-tipped with a margin of reddish-brown; pistillate spikes solitary
in the axils of the leaves, mature spikes 2.5-5 cm. long, generally
2.5-3 cm. long, commonly about half as thick as long, recurved to
ascending, commonly about horizontal, sessile or on short stalks; scales
very variable, 5-11 mm. long, generally 7-8 mm. long, sometimes as wide
as long but generally about one-fourth longer than wide, densely
pubescent on the back, or rarely glabrous on the back, ciliate, glabrous
or nearly so on the inside, commonly with a few brown or black glands on
the margin, commonly lobed to more than one-third of their length, lobes
ascending or divaricate, the lateral generally the larger and almost as
long as the narrower middle lobe; nuts divested of the wings, slightly
obovate, about 3 mm. long, wings about two-thirds as wide as the nut and
usually with a fringe of hairs at the blunt apex.
[Illustration: Plate 32.
BETULA LUTEA Michaux filius. Yellow Birch. (× 1/2.)]
=Distribution.=--The distribution of this species is variously given as
from Newfoundland west to Manitoba and south in the Alleghenies to
Georgia. It is now definitely known that the species of _Betula_
hybridize which may account for the peculiar forms often encountered.
That there are geographic races or Mendelian segregates of this species
is evidenced by the different interpretations given this species by
different authors. _Betula alleghanensis_ Britton appears to be one of
them. The descriptive difference between _Betula lenta_ and _Betula
lutea_ is not clear, which has resulted in many authors crediting
_Betula lenta_ to Indiana and the area west of Indiana.
The preceding description does not agree with that of _Betula lutea_
exactly, and has been drawn to cover the specimens at hand from Indiana
which the author has from Allen, Crawford, Lagrange, Lake, Marshall,
Porter and Steuben Counties. It has recently been reported from White
County by Heimlich.[29] He says: "Specimens were taken from two trees
about two miles south of Buffalo near the water's edge of the river."
The writer has visited this locality and found here, and also on the
island above the bridge a little farther down the river, _Betula nigra_,
but could not find _Betula lutea_. Since Heimlich did not report _Betula
nigra_, which unmistakably occurs here, I assume he has confused the two
species. It is very local in its distribution, and appears to be
confined to swamps, borders of lakes, and streams in the extreme
northern part of the State. It has not been seen south of the northern
end of the State, except a few small trees found clinging to the walls
of the cliffs of a ravine about one mile east of Taswell in Crawford
County. The walls of this ravine are about 25 meters high; associated
with it were a few trees of hemlock, and on the top of the cliffs,
laurel (_Kalmia latifolia_).
Large trees of this species in Indiana are usually from 4-6 dm. in
diameter and about 15 m. high. The number in any one station is usually
few, although there were formerly patches where it was plentiful. Van
Gorder[30] reports for Noble County _Betula lenta_ which should be
transferred to this species, and he says: "There is a marsh of several
acres of birch in Section 15 of York Township." The largest area now
known is that contained in the large tamarack swamp near Mineral Springs
in Porter County. In this swamp are found tamarack and white cedar. It
was in this swamp that the writer found a peculiar form of birch which
has been determined as _Betula Sandbergi_. Since this species[31] is
recognized as a hybrid of _Betula papyrifera_ and _Betula pumila_
variety _glandulifera_, and the last parent of this hybrid is not found
in the vicinity, a discussion of this form is not presented. In the
immediate vicinity are found only _Betula lutea_ and _Betula pumila_.
_Betula papyrifera_ is found about a mile distant to the south. It is
assumed that this form is a cross between _Betula lutea_ and _Betula
pumila_.
=2.= =Betula populifòlia= Marshall. Gray or White Birch. Plate 33. A
small tree; bark a chalky-white, not separating into thin layers, inner
bark orange, on the trunks of old trees nearly black; shoots at first
covered with numerous glands, becoming smooth and yellowish or
reddish-brown; leaves generally long-deltoid, average blades 3-6 cm.
long, usually long taper-pointed, truncate or nearly so at the base,
irregularly double-serrate, slightly pubescent on the veins when young,
soon becoming glabrous; fertile catkins 1.5-3 cm. long and about 7 mm.
in diameter; bracts of eastern trees differ from those of Indiana trees
which are about 3-4 mm. long, lobed to about 1/3 of the distance from
the apex, lateral lobes the largest and strongly divaricate, puberulent
on the back; seed strongly notched at the apex; nut slightly obovoid;
wings much broader than the nut.
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario and south to
Delaware and Pennsylvania. In Indiana it has been reported from Lake,
Laporte, Porter, St. Joseph and Tippecanoe Counties. There may be some
doubt about the Tippecanoe record, since many of the older records were
made from cultivated trees. The numbers of the species in Indiana were
always limited. It is not able to meet changed conditions and it has
already almost disappeared from our area. I was told that formerly this
species was found all about a lake in Laporte County, but it has all
died out. Its appearance in Indiana is peculiar since it is not found
west of us, or north in Michigan or east in Ohio. This small group of
trees near Lake Michigan is three or four hundred miles from the nearest
of their kind.
=Remarks.=--This species is called white and gray birch. The largest
tree seen in Indiana was about 2 dm. in diameter and 13 m. high.
[Illustration: Plate 33.
BETULA POPULIFOLIA Marshall. White or Gray Birch. (× 1/2.)]
[Illustration: Plate 34.
BETULA PAPYRIFERA Marshall. Paper or Canoe Birch. (× 1/2.)]
=3.= =Betula papyrífera= Marshall. Paper or Canoe Birch. Plate 34.
Rather a small tree; bark thin, creamy white; chalky, dark near the base
on old trees, separating in thin papery layers; shoots green, glandular
and hairy, becoming glabrous and reddish-brown; leaves ovate or
rhombic-ovate, acute to long taper-pointed, truncate, rounded or
wedge-shape at the base, average blades 5-8 cm. long, usually
irregularly double-serrate, hairy at first, becoming glabrous above or
nearly so, remaining more or less pubescent below, especially on the
veins and with tufts of hairs in the axils of the veins, minutely
glandular on both surfaces, sometimes with only a few glands on the
midribs above; fertile catkins 2-4 cm. long and about 6-9 mm. wide,
bracts about 4 mm. long, pubescent on both faces, lobed to about
one-third the distance from the apex, the lateral lobes the largest,
divaricate or slightly recurved; seed deeply notched at apex, nut oval,
pubescent at the apex, wings as broad as, or broader than the nut.
=Distribution.=--Alaska to Labrador, south to New York, northern
Indiana, Colorado and Washington. In Indiana it has been reported from
Lake, Laporte, Marshall and St. Joseph Counties. It has not been found
as a native in Ohio. This species is another example of a northern form
finding its southern limit near Lake Michigan.
=Remarks.=--This species in other parts of the country is known as
white, paper and canoe birch. I have not seen specimens more than 2 dm.
in diameter in Indiana.
=4.= =Betula nìgra= Linnæus. Black or Red Birch. Plate 35. A medium
sized tree; bark on young trees peeling off transversely in thin
reddish-brown strips which roll back and usually persist for several
years, bark of older trees dark brown, furrowed and separating into
short plates or peeling off in strips; young twigs hairy, becoming
glabrous and reddish at the end of the season; leaves rhombic-ovate,
acute, short and broadly wedge-shaped at the base, blades of ordinary
leaves 4-8 cm. long, irregularly toothed, glabrous above and pubescent
beneath, rarely entirely glabrous; fertile catkins generally 2-3 cm.
long, and usually slightly less than 1 cm. wide; bracts 6-10 mm. long,
pubescent, ciliate, lobed to near the middle, the lobes about equal;
nuts broadly ovate, broader than its wings, pubescent at the apex; wood
light, strong, close-grained, heart wood light brown.
=Distribution.=--Massachusetts west to Minnesota and south to Florida
and Texas. In Indiana it is found more or less frequent in the counties
bordering the Kankakee River, and as far east as St. Joseph, Marshall
and Miami Counties. Along the Kankakee River it is frequently a tree of
6-8 dm. in diameter. This species has not been found in Michigan,
northeastern Indiana or northern Ohio. It has never been noted near Lake
Michigan, and the nearest point is Cedar Lake in Lake County about 20
miles south of the Lake. It is more or less frequent along certain
streams throughout the southwestern part of the State. It is found as
far north as Putnam and Marion Counties and eastward as far as
Bartholomew, Scott and Clark Counties. There are no records for this
species for eastern Indiana or western Ohio. About Hovey Lake in Posey
County it reaches its greatest size, where trees up to 8 dm. in diameter
and 30 m. high are to be found. In the "flats" in certain parts of
Jackson and Scott Counties it becomes a common tree, associated with pin
oak and sweet gum.
[Illustration: Plate 35.
BETULA NIGRA Linnæus. Black or Red Birch. (× 1/2.)]
=Remarks.=--This is the most abundant birch of Indiana. In fact all
other species are too rare to be of economic importance. The fact that
other species of birch are so rare in Indiana, is the reason that this
species is simply called "Birch." Outside of Indiana it is known as red
birch and river birch. The principal use of this wood in this State is
for heading.
All of the birches, especially the horticultural forms, are used more or
less for ornamental planting. They are beautiful trees but are short
lived.
=4. ÁLNUS.= The Alders.
Trees or shrubs; bark astringent; staminate and pistillate catkins begin
to develop early in summer and flower the following year early in the
spring before the leaves appear; bracts of the fertile catkins thick and
woody, obdeltoid with 3-rounded lobes at the apex; nuts obovate,
reddish-brown.
Leaves sharply double-serrate, the ends of the primary
veins forming the apex of the larger teeth, glaucous
beneath; nuts with a narrow thick margin 1 A. incana.
Leaves single-serrate, pale beneath; nuts without margins 2 A. rugosa.
=1.= =Alnus incàna= (Linnæus) Muenchhausen. Speckled Alder. Plate 36.
Shrubs or small trees; bark generally smooth and a reddish-brown with a
tinge of gray, with grayish dots, hence its name; twigs hairy at first,
becoming smooth by the end of the season and a golden or reddish-brown
with many fine dark specks; leaves broadly-oval, acute or short-pointed
at apex, usually broadly rounded at the base, average blades 6.5-11 cm.
long, glaucous beneath, hairy on both sides on unfolding, at maturity
becoming glabrous above or with a few hairs on the veins, beneath
remaining more or less hairy until late in autumn when usually only the
veins are hairy; pistillate catkins resembling small cones, 1-1.5 cm.
long and usually 7-12 mm. wide, near the ends of the branches, usually
in clusters of 2-7.
[Illustration: Plate 36.
ALNUS INCANA (Linnæus) Muenchhausen. Speckled Alder. (× 1/2.)]
=Distribution.=--Newfoundland to the Saskatchewan, south to New York,
northeastern Ohio, northern Indiana and Nebraska. In Indiana it is
confined to the northern tier of counties. I have specimens from
Elkhart, Lagrange, Lake and Porter Counties. It was reported from
Carroll County by Thompson, but in the absence of a verifying specimen I
am inclined to think this citation should be referred to _Alnus_
_rugosa_. This species grows in low ground on the borders of streams,
borders of swamps and in almost extinct sloughs near Lake Michigan. It
is also found along Pigeon River in the eastern part of Lagrange County.
In the vicinity of Mineral Springs in Porter County it is locally a
common shrub or tree. It has the habit of stooling out, and commonly the
several specimens will be deflected from a vertical from 20-45 degrees.
The largest specimens are from 1-1.4 dm. in diameter and about 10 m.
high.
=Remarks.=--This species could be used to good advantage in ornamental
planting in low ground. It grows rapidly, is easily transplanted and its
foliage is dense and attractive.
=2.= =Alnus rugòsa= (Du Roi) Sprengel. Smooth Alder. Plate 37. Shrubs
with fluted or angled trunks, resembling _Carpinus_; bark thin, smooth
or nearly so, reddish-brown, weathering gray; twigs hairy at first,
becoming gray or reddish-brown by the end of the season and more or less
glabrous and covered with small dark specks; leaves obovate, barely
acute or rounded at apex, wedge-shape at base, average blades 6-10 cm.
long, hairy on both surfaces while young, becoming smooth or nearly so
above, remaining more or less hairy beneath, especially on the veins,
under surface of leaves sufficiently glutinous to adhere to paper if
pressure be applied, margins set with short callous teeth, about .5-1
mm. long; fertile catkins cone-shape, 10-20 mm. long and about 7 mm. in
diameter, borne at the ends of branches in clusters of 2-5.
=Distribution.=--Maine to Minnesota, south to Florida and Texas. In
Indiana it is quite local. It has been reported in many of the counties
of northern Indiana north of the Wabash River. It has been found in
several of the southern counties and as far north as Salt Creek in
Monroe County. No reports for the central part of the State. It is
absent also in all of the eastern counties of the State, and the western
part of Ohio. It is found growing in clumps in wet woods, swamps, cold
bogs and along streams. It is usually a tall slender shrub; however, a
specimen has been seen that measured 7 cm. in diameter and 5 m. in
height.
=Remarks.=--Of no value except for ornamental planting in wet ground.
=FAGÀCEAE.= The Beech Family.
Trees with simple, alternate, petioled leaves; flowers of two kinds;
fruit a one-seeded nut. This is the most important family of trees
occurring in the State.
[Illustration: Plate 37.
ALNUS RUGOSA (Du Roi) Sprengel. Smooth Alder. (× 1/2.)]
Winter buds long and slender, at least 4 times as long as
wide; staminate flowers in globose heads on drooping
peduncles; nuts sharply 3-angled 1 Fagus.
Winter buds not long and slender and less than 4 times as
long as wide; staminate flowers in slender catkins;
nuts not as above.
Staminate catkins erect or spreading; nut flattened on
one side and enclosed in a spiny, woody husk 2 Castanea.
Staminate catkins drooping; nuts not flattened on one
side, seated in a scaly, woody cup 3 Quercus.
=1. FÀGUS.= The Beech.
=Fagus grandifòlia= Ehrhart. Beech. Plate 38. Large tall trees with bark
from light to dark gray; twigs densely covered at first with long hairs,
soon becoming glabrous and turning to a reddish-brown; terminal winter
buds about 2 cm. long; leaves ovate to ovate-oblong, long taper-pointed
to merely acute, wedge-shape to cordate at base, regularly and usually
minutely serrate, average blades 7-12 cm. long, silky when young,
becoming at maturity glabrous above and nearly so beneath except on the
veins; flowers appear in May; fruit a bur, supported on a club-shaped
pubescent peduncle about 1.5 cm. long, covered with short recurved
prickles, densely rufous-pubescent, its 4-valves enclosing the two
triangular brown nuts; nuts edible; wood very hard, strong, usually
tough, difficult to season, close-grained, takes a high polish, sap wood
white, heart wood reddish.
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia, southern Ontario to Wisconsin, south to
the Gulf States and Texas. It is found in every county of the State,
although it is local in the prairie and dry sandy regions of the
northwestern part of the State. It is a frequent to a very common tree
on the high ground in many parts of the State. If the high ground and
hills of the State are not forested with white and black oak, beech is
almost certain to be the prevailing species. Wherever beech is found it
is usually a frequent to a common tree, and it is not uncommon to see
areas which are almost a pure stand of this species. It is also a
frequent to a common tree in southern Indiana in what is called the
"flats." Here it is associated with sweet gum and pin oak. On the slopes
of hills of the southern counties it is associated with a great variety
of trees. In the central part of the State its most frequent associate
is the sugar maple. In the northern counties it has a wider range of
associates, including white oak, ash, slippery elm, buckeye, ironwood,
etc. It should be added that tulip is a constant associate except in the
"flats." In point of number it ranks as first of Indiana trees.
[Illustration: Plate 38.
FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA Ehrhart. Beech. (× 1/2.)]
=Remarks.=--Specimens with the habit of retaining their branches which
lop downward, usually have thicker sap wood and are harder to split.
This form is popularly styled the white beech. The form with smooth tall
trunks with upright branches usually has more heart wood, splits more
easily and is popularly distinguished as red beech. The term yellow
beech is variously applied. This species is a large tree in all parts of
the State, although the largest specimens are found in the southeastern
part of the State. In the virgin forests trees almost 1 m. in diameter
and 30 m. high were frequent.
Beech was formerly used only for fuel, but in the last few decades it
has been cut and used for many purposes, and the supply is fast
diminishing. The beauty of this tree both in summer and winter, sunshine
or storm makes it one of the most desirable for shade tree planting, but
I have failed to find where it has been successfully used. It is one of
the few trees that does not take to domestication. When the original
forest is reduced to a remnant of beech, as a rule, the remaining beech
will soon begin to die at the top. It is difficult to transplant. When
planted the hole should be filled with earth obtained from under a
living tree, in order to introduce the mycorrhiza that is necessary to
the growth of the tree.
=2. CASTÀNEA.= The Chestnut.
=Castanea dentàta= (Marshall) Borkhausen. Chestnut. Plate 39. Large
trees with deeply fissured bark, smooth on young trees; young twigs more
or less hairy, soon becoming glabrous and a reddish-brown; leaves
lanceolate, average blades 13-22 cm. long, taper-pointed, wedge-shape or
obtuse at the base, coarsely serrate, teeth usually incurved, at
maturity glabrous on both sides; flowers appear after the leaves in the
latter part of June or early in July, the staminate catkins from the
axils of the leaves of the year's growth, 1.5-3 dm. long, pistillate
flowers in heads on short stalks in the axils of the leaves, usually on
the branch beyond the greater part of the staminate catkins; fruit a
globular spiny bur 5-7 cm. in diameter which contains the nuts; nuts
usually 1-3, rarely 5, flattened on one side, edible; wood light, soft,
not strong, checks and warps on seasoning, yellowish-brown, durable in
contact with the ground.
[Illustration: Plate 39.
CASTANEA DENTATA (Marshall) Borkhausen. Chestnut. (× 1/2.)]
=Distribution.=--Maine, southern Ontario, Michigan, south to Delaware
and in the mountains to Alabama, and west to Arkansas. In Indiana it is
found locally in the south central counties. The most northern station
where I have seen trees that are native to a certainty is in Morgan
County a short distance north of Martinsville. There are a few trees on
the south bank of White River in Mound Park about 2 miles east of
Anderson. This site was formerly an Indian village, and the trees may
have been introduced here. The late A. C. Benedict formerly of the State
Geological Survey, told me he saw a colony in 1878 in Fayette County on
the farm of Dr. B. Ball, about 3 miles west of Connersville on the east
side of Little Williams Creek. The trees were at least 6 dm. in
diameter. The western line of distribution would be a line drawn from
Martinsville to a point a few miles west of Shoals and south to Tell
City.
=Remarks.=--The greatest numbers of this species are found on the
outcrops of the knobstone in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Lawrence,
Martin, Orange and Washington Counties. It grows on high ground,
associated with white and black oak, beech, etc. The species in all of
our area grows to be a large tree. In the Ind. Geol. Rept. 1874:70:1875
there is a reference to a "stump in Jackson County that was 9 ft. and 2
in. in diameter." This species is rather gregarious in habit, and rarely
are isolated trees found. It is quite local in its distribution, but
where found it is usually a common tree. The bark was much used in
tanning, and the timber for poles, ties and posts. The demand for this
species has led to heavy cutting, so that the present supply is
practically limited to inferior or small trees. The nut crop in this
State is usually badly infested by the weevil.
This species is easily propagated by seed or seedlings. It is
recommended for forest planting in all parts of its natural range and
other parts of the State where the soil is very sandy and free from
limestone. This species never attains to an old age when growing close
to the limestone. It grows rapidly and requires little pruning. The only
objection to planting it for forestry purposes is that it might be
infested by the chestnut bark disease which is fatal to this tree. This
disease is far to the east of us, and there are wide barriers to its
western migration. Since a chestnut grove would soon grow into post and
pole size, in the event the grove would be killed by the bark disease,
the crop could be harvested and the loss would be more of the nature of
a disappointment than a financial one. If planted in a cleared area the
seedlings should be spaced about 5 × 5 feet if no cultivation can be done.
If the trees can be cultivated, plant 7 × 7 or 8 × 8 feet and grow corn for
one or two years between the rows.
=3. QUÉRCUS.= The Oaks.
The leaves of Indiana oaks are deciduous; flowers appear in April or
May, very small, the staminate on slender pendulous catkins, the
pistillate solitary or in clusters in scaly bud-like cups; fruit an
acorn which takes one or two years to mature, ripening in September or
October. The species that mature their fruit the first year are
popularly and commercially classed as "white oaks." Those that mature
their fruit the second year are classed as "red, black or bristle-tipped
oaks."
The oaks are the largest genus of Indiana trees, and commercially are
the most important of all trees of the State. They are the longest lived
of all the trees that occur in the State, and while they have numerous
insect enemies none of them prove fatal to it, except a certain gall
insect.
Note:--In collecting leaf specimens of oaks for identification it should
be borne in mind that the foliage is quite variable. The leaves of
seedlings, coppice shoots and of vigorous shoots of old trees sometimes
vary considerably in size, form and leaf-margins. Also leaves of old
trees that grow in the shade usually have the margins more nearly entire
than the typical leaves. For example leaves may be found on the lower
and interior branches of a pin oak which are not lobed to beyond the
middle, which throws them into the red oak group.
Bark gray, (except in No. 5) more or less scaly; mature leaves
never with bristle tips; fruit maturing the first year.
Mature leaves smooth beneath. 1 Q. alba.
Mature leaves pubescent beneath.
Primary veins beneath show regular pinnate venation.
Some of the primary veins beneath end in a
sinus. 2 Q. bicolor.
All primary veins beneath end in teeth of the margin.
Tips of leaves of fruiting branches sharp-pointed,
usually forming an acute angle; fruit
sessile or nearly so. 3 Q. Muhlenbergii.
Tips of leaves of fruiting branches rounded or if
sharp-pointed, it rarely forms an acute angle;
fruit peduncled.
Petioles green and woolly pubescent beneath
(rarely almost glabrous); under surface
of leaves velvety to the touch; bark gray,
scaly, of the white oak type; trees of low
ground. 4 Q. Michauxii.
Petioles yellowish and smooth beneath, or rarely
somewhat pubescent; under surface of leaves
not velvety to the touch; bark dark, and
tight, of the red oak type; trees of high
ground (in Indiana confined to the
"knobstone" area). 5 Q. Prinus.
Primary veins beneath show irregular venation.
Last year's growth pubescent; acorns generally
less than 12 mm. in diameter. 6 Q. stellata.
Last year's growth glabrous or nearly so; acorns more
than 12 mm. in diameter.
Leaves sinuate dentate, sometimes lobed near the
base, velvety to the touch beneath; peduncles
of fruit longer than the petioles. 2 Q. bicolor.
Leaves irregularly lobed, harsh or rarely velvety
or smooth to the touch beneath; peduncles of
fruit shorter than the petioles.
Cup of fruit fringed; apex of lobes of leaves
generally rounded; trees of lowland. 7 Q. macrocarpa.
Cup of fruit not fringed; apex of lobes of
leaves generally acute; trees of swamps
in the extreme southwestern counties of
Indiana. 8 Q. lyrata.
Bark dark, tight and furrowed; leaves with bristle
tips; fruit maturing the second year.
Leaves entire 9 Q. imbricaria.
Leaves more or less deeply lobed, the lobes and teeth
conspicuously bristle pointed.
Mature leaves smooth beneath, except tufts of hairs
in the axils.
Leaves lobed to about the middle, the lateral lobes
broadest at the base; cup saucer-shaped; nut
about 1.5-2 cm. in diameter; terminal buds
reddish. 10 Q. rubra.
Leaves lobed to beyond the middle, frequently those
grown in dense shade not so deeply lobed, some or
all of the lateral lobes broadest toward the apex.
Cup saucer-shaped, rarely enclosing the nut for
more than 1/3 its length; trees of the low
lands and swamps.
Leaves glossy above; blades usually 10-12
cm. long; cups usually 1.5 cm. or less
broad; terminal buds chestnut brown. 11 Q. palustris.
Leaves dull above, usually about 15 cm.
long; cups 1.5-2.5 cm. broad, rarely
as narrow as 1.5 cm.; terminal buds
grayish brown. 12 Q. Schneckii.
Cup hemispheric, generally enclosing the nut
for half its length; trees of the uplands.
Inner bark yellowish or orange; kernel of nut
yellowish or orange, and very bitter.
Terminal buds usually 5 mm. or less in
length, ovoid and generally blunt,
reddish-brown; scales of cup closely
appressed; trees local in the extreme
northwest part of the State. 13 Q.
ellipsoidalis.
Terminal buds usually longer than 6 mm.,
usually angled and sharp-pointed;
scales of cup not closely appressed;
trees of all parts of the State 14 Q. velutina.
Inner bark reddish or gray; kernel white
and not very bitter 15 Q. coccinea.
Mature leaves more or less pubescent on the whole
under surface.
Leaves grayish or yellowish pubescent beneath;
scales of cup with a reddish-brown border;
nut enclosed for about 1/3 its length 16 Q. falcata.
Leaves brownish or rusty pubescent beneath, sometimes
appearing grayish; scales of cup without a dark
border; nut enclosed for about half of its length.
Leaves expanded at the apex, and generally with
three lobes; mature twigs generally
scurvy-pubescent 17 Q. marilandica.
Leaves deeply lobed; mature twigs generally
glabrous. 14 Q. velutina.
=1.= =Quercus álba= Linnæus. White Oak. Plate 40. Large trees with gray,
fissured bark, flaky on the branches, on the upper part of the trunks of
some trees the bark loosens at the fissures and peels back, forming flat
strips which remain attached at one side; twigs at first hairy, becoming
smooth; leaves mostly obovate in outline, generally 8-20 cm. long on
petioles 0.5-2 cm. long, more or less deeply lobed into 5-9 lobes, the
lobes ascending and generally blunt and entire, sometimes the lobes have
one or two secondary lobes, leaves narrowed and oblique at the base,
smooth above, smooth and glaucous beneath; acorns sessile or on stalks
up to 2 cm. long; nuts quite variable on different trees as to size and
shape, ovoid or oblong, 18-30 mm. long; cup flat on the bottom,
tuberculate and encloses about 1/4 of the nut; scales blunt and woolly.
=Distribution.=--Maine, southern Ontario, Minnesota south to Florida and
Texas. Found in all parts of Indiana. In point of number it is exceeded
only by the beech, although it has a more general distribution. It is
adapted to many types of soil, and is found in almost all situations in
Indiana except in very wet soils. It is sparingly found in the sand dune
area. On the clay soils of the northern part of the State it is a
frequent to an abundant tree, and in the southern part of the State it
often forms complete stands on the slopes of the hills.
The white oak is one of the largest and possibly the longest lived tree
of Indiana. While it is able to adapt itself to many situations, it
grows to the largest size in a porous, moist and rich soil.
=Remarks.=--Wood heavy, hard, close-grained, tough, strong and durable.
On account of its abundance, and wide range of uses, it has always been
the most important timber tree of Indiana.
Formerly the woods were full of white oak 1-1.5 meters (3-5 ft.) in
diameter, but today trees of a meter (3 ft.) in diameter with long
straight trunks are rare indeed. Michaux who traveled extensively in
America 1801-1807, while the whole Mississippi Valley was yet a
wilderness, remarks: "The white oak is the most valuable tree in
America." He observed the ruthless destruction of this valuable tree,
and predicted that the supply would soon be depleted, and that America
would be sorry that regulations were not adopted to conserve the supply
of this valuable tree. Michaux's prediction has come true, and yet no
constructive measures have been provided to insure the Nation an
adequate supply of this timber. It should be remembered that it requires
two to three hundred years to grow a white oak a meter in diameter, and
if we are to have white oak of that size in the next generation the
largest of our present stand must be spared for that harvest.
[Illustration: Plate 40.
QUERCUS ALBA Linnæus. White Oak. (× 1/2.)
Acorns from different trees to show variation.]
White oak was formerly much used in construction work, but it has become
so costly that cheaper woods take its place. At present it is used
principally in cooperage, interior finish, wagon and car stock,
furniture, agricultural implements, crossties, and veneer. Indiana has
the reputation of furnishing the best grade of white oak in the world.
Little attention has been given this valuable species either in
horticultural or forestal planting. This no doubt is due in a great
measure to the slow growth of the tree. It should be used more for shade
tree, ornamental and roadside tree planting. There are good reasons why
white oak should be much used in reforestation. The cheapest and most
successful method of propagating white oak is to plant the seed in the
places where the trees are desired to grow. This is best done by
planting the acorns as soon as they fall or are mature. The best results
will be obtained if the nuts are planted with the small end down, and
covered about an inch deep with earth. If the ground is a hard clay soil
and the small end of the nut is placed down a half inch of earth on the
nut is sufficient. Rodents often destroy the nuts, and if this danger is
apprehended it is best to poison the rodents or to stratify the seed, or
grow seedlings and plant them when they are one year old. In forestal
planting it is suggested that the planting be 4 × 4 feet.
The white oak is quite variable in the lobing of the leaves, and in size
and shape of the fruit, and in the length of its peduncle. The variable
lobing of the leaves has lead several authors to describe varieties
based on this character. The latest is that of Sargent[32] who
describes: "The trees with leaves less deeply divided, with broad
rounded lobes and usually smaller generally sessile fruit," as =Quercus
alba= variety =latiloba=.
=Quercus alba × Muhlenbérgii= (× _Quercus Deami_ Trelease). This rare
hybrid was discovered in a woods about 3 miles northwest of Bluffton
Indiana by L. A. Williamson and his son E. B. Williamson in 1904.[33]
The tree is still standing and in 1918 bore a heavy crop of seed. A
liberal quantity was sent for propagation to the Arnold Arboretum, New
York Botanical Gardens, and Missouri Botanical Gardens. The Arboretum
succeeded in germinating several seed. The New York Gardens succeeded in
getting 5 seedlings. The Missouri Gardens failed to get any to
germinate. About a gallon of seeds was planted in the Clark County State
forest nursery and all failed.
=2.= =Quercus bícolor Willdenow.= Swamp White Oak. Plate 41. Large
trees; leaves on petioles 5-20 mm. long, 8-18 cm. long, obovate,
wedge-shaped or narrowly rounded at base, rounded or pointed at the
apex, margins coarsely divided with rounded or blunt teeth or somewhat
pinnatifid, primary venation beneath somewhat regular, but usually some
of the veins end in a sinus of the margin, both surfaces hairy at first,
becoming smooth above and remaining velvety pubescent beneath; the upper
surface of the leaf a bronze or dark green and the under surface grayish
due to the dense tomentum, which in some instances becomes sparse and
short, in which case the under surface is a light green; acorns usually
in pairs on stalks 2-7 cm. long; nuts ovoid, 2-2.5 cm. long, enclosed
for 1/3-1/2 their length in the cup; scales of cup acute to very long
acuminate, scurvy pubescent and frequently tuberculate; kernel sweetish.
=Distribution.=--Maine, southern Ontario, southern Minnesota south to
Georgia and Arkansas. Found in all parts of Indiana. It is always found
in wet places. In most of its range it is associated with the bur oak
from which it is not commonly separated. In the northern counties it is
usually associated with pin and bur oak, and white elm; in the flats of
the southeastern part of the State it is usually associated with cow oak
and sweet gum, while in the southwestern counties it is found most
commonly with Spanish and pin oak.
=Remarks.=--Commercially the wood is not distinguished from white oak,
and the cut is sold for that species.
=3.= =Quercus Muhlenbérgii= Engelmann. Chinquapin Oak. Sweet Oak. Yellow
Oak. Chestnut Oak. Plate 42. Large trees; leaves on petioles 1-3 cm.
long, blades very variable in size, shape and leaf margins, generally
10-20 cm. long, oblong-lanceolate to broadly obovate, narrowed or
rounded and more or less unequal at the base, taper-pointed at the apex,
the apex always forming an acute angle, margins coarsely and rather
regularly toothed, primary veins beneath regular and straight, and end
in a prominent gland in the point of the teeth, teeth more or less
incurved, leaves smooth and dark green above, and grayish pubescent
beneath; acorns generally sessile, but often on short stalks up to 1 cm.
long; nut ovoid to oblong ovoid, 10-18 mm. long, enclosed for 1/4-1/2
its length in a very thin cup; scales of cup ovate, blunt-pointed or
merely acute, sometimes tuberculate near the base of the cup, grayish
pubescent without; kernel sweet, and the most edible of all of our
oaks.
[Illustration: Plate 41.
QUERCUS BICOLOR Willdenow. Swamp White Oak. (× 1/2.)]
[Illustration: Plate 42.
QUERCUS MUHLENBERGII Engelmann. Chinquapin Oak. (× 1/2.)
Detached acorns and leaves from different trees.]
=Distribution.=--Vermont, southwestern Ontario to Wisconsin and south to
Florida and west to Texas. Found in limited numbers in all parts of
Indiana, although Hill's record for Lake county is the only record in
the block of the 12 northwest counties. It is without a doubt found in
every county south of the Wabash River. It is a rare or an infrequent
tree in practically all parts of its range. It is generally found on the
dry banks of streams, river terrace banks, rocky bluffs of streams, and
only rarely in level dry woods. In the southern counties it is sometimes
found on clay or rocky ridges. In most of its range it is now so rare
that most of the inhabitants do not know the tree.
=Remarks.=--Wood similar to white oak, and with the same uses.
In White County a pioneer was found who knew the tree only by the name
of pigeon oak. He said it received this name from the fact that the wild
pigeons were fond of the acorns.
The leaves of this tree vary greatly in size, shape, and leaf margins.
The fruit also varies on different trees in the shape of the nut, and
the depth of the cup. These variations have lead some authors to
separate the forms and one histological study[34] seems to support minor
differences. It has been observed that the leaves in the top of some
trees may be thick, narrow and with long incurved teeth, while the
leaves of the lower branches will be strongly obovate, thinner, and the
teeth more dentate. In a general study it is best to include the
polymorphic forms under one name. The distribution of the shallow and
deep cup forms is so general that no regional or habitat areas can be
assigned to either of them in Indiana.
=4.= =Quercus Michaúxii= Nuttall (_Quercus Prinus_ Sargent). Cow Oak.
Basket Oak. Plate 43. Large trees; leaves on petioles 1-3 cm. long,
generally 1-2 dm. long, obovate, narrowed or narrowly rounded at the
base, short taper-pointed, the apex generally blunt, the margins
coarsely toothed, the teeth broad and rounded or more rarely acute,
shaded leaves sometimes with margins merely undulate, hairy on both
surfaces when young, becoming at maturity a dark yellow green and
glabrous above, sometimes remaining somewhat pubescent along the midrib
and the principal veins, leaves grayish and woolly pubescent beneath;
acorns solitary or in pairs, sessile or on very short stalks, up to
almost a cm. in length; nuts ovoid or oval with a broad base, enclosed
for about 1/3 their length by the cup, the cups thick and generally 2-3
cm. broad; scales ovate, acute, rather blunt-pointed and more or less
tuberculate near the base of the cup, tomentose on the back; kernel
sweet.
[Illustration: Plate 43.
QUERCUS MICHAUXII Nuttall. Cow or Basket Oak. (× 1/2.)]
=Distribution.=--Delaware, southern Indiana, Missouri, south to Florida
and west to Texas. In Indiana it is believed that its distribution is
pretty well known and well defined. It is an inhabitant of low wet
woods, although large trees may be found in fairly dry woods which have
been made dry by drainage. In discussing the distribution it must be
remembered that this species was reported as _Quercus Prinus_ before the
sixth edition of Gray's Manual which was published in 1890. Gorby's[35]
reference to Miami County should be ignored, because he compiled his
list of trees from a list of common names to which he appended the
scientific names. His list includes several species which are not
native, and his water willow (_Dianthera americana_) is an herbaceous
plant. Wilson's[36] report for Hamilton County I believe also to be an
error. Wilson preserved no specimen. Since Hamilton County has no cow
oak habitat, and Wilson was not acquainted with the species, I think
this reference should be transferred to the broad-leaf form of _Quercus
Muhlenbergii_. The author has collected and distributed authentic
specimens from a point 2-1/2 miles southwest of Napoleon in Ripley
County. This species is reported by Meyncke for Franklin County as
scarce, and by Collins for Dearborn County. Since the habitat of the
species is found in these counties, it is fair to admit them into the
range of the species. This species is a frequent to a very common tree
in the flats of Clark, Scott, Jefferson, Jackson, Jennings, and Ripley
Counties, where it is usually associated with beech and sweet gum. It is
now known to range as far north as the northern parts of Jackson,
Jennings and Ripley Counties. It is an infrequent tree of the Lower
Wabash Valley as far north as southern Knox County and no doubt followed
eastward along White River. It follows the Ohio River eastward at least
to a point six miles east of Grandview in Spencer County. It no doubt
was an occasional tree along the Ohio River up to Dearborn County. It
has also been reported by Aiken for Hamilton County, Ohio. In the Lower
Wabash Valley it is associated with Spanish and pin oak.
=Remarks.=--Wood and uses similar to white oak. In the flats of
southeastern Indiana it is generally called white oak, and in some
places it is known as bur oak. It grows very rapidly and to a large
size. A tree was measured in 1919 in the Klein woods about 4 miles north
of North Vernon that was 3.57 meters (11 feet, 7 inches) in
circumference, breast high, and was estimated to be 15 m. (50 feet) to
the first branch.
This species when grown in the open forms a large oval head, and in
moist soil would make one of the best shade and roadside trees to be
had. It is not known how it would adapt itself to high ground, but it
is believed this species is worthy a trial as a shade tree. It is
apparently hardy in the northern counties.
=Quercus Bèadlei= Trelease. (_Quercus alba × Michauxii_). This hybrid
between the white and cow oak was found by the writer in 1913 in the
White River bottoms 3 miles east of Medora in Jackson County.
The tree measured 3.54 meters (139 inches) in circumference breast high.
Specimens were distributed under No. 19,037, and the determination was
made by William Trelease, our leading authority on oaks.
=5.= =Quercus Prìnus= Linnæus. (_Quercus montana_ Willdenow of some
recent authors). Chestnut Oak. Plate 44. Medium to large sized tree;
bark dark, tight, deeply fissured, the furrows wide, and the ridges
continuous; leaves on petioles 1-3 cm. long, 1-2 dm. long, obovate to
lanceolate, those growing in the shade usually the widest, rounded at
the base, usually narrowly so or even wedge-shaped, short or long
taper-pointed at the apex, the apex blunt, margins coarsely and nearly
regularly crenate-toothed, the teeth broad and rounded, dark green above
at maturity, a lighter and usually a yellow or grayish green beneath,
only slightly hairy above when young, soon becoming entirely glabrate,
very pubescent beneath when young and usually remaining so until
maturity; petioles, midrib and primary veins beneath are usually
conspicuously yellow, which is a distinctive character of this species;
acorns solitary or in pairs, on short stalks usually about 1 cm. long,
sometimes sessile; nuts large ovoid or oblong-ovoid, 2-3 cm. long,
enclosed generally for about 1/3 their length in a thin cup; scales with
triangular blunt tips, generally somewhat tuberculate and pubescent on
the back; kernel sweet.
=Distribution.=--Maine, northern shore of Lake Erie, to west central
Indiana and south to northern Georgia and Alabama. In Indiana its
distribution is limited to the knobstone and sandstone area of the
State. Its distribution has been fairly well mapped. Two large trees on
the edge of the top of the bluff of the Ohio River at Marble Hill which
is located in the south corner of Jefferson County is the eastern limit
of its range. It crowns some of the ridges, sometimes extending down the
adjacent slopes a short distance, from Floyd County north to the south
side of Salt Creek in Brown County. Its range then extends west to the
east side of Monroe County, thence southwestward to the west side of
Martin County, thence south to the Ohio River. Where it is found it is
generally such a common tree that the areas are commonly called chestnut
oak ridges and are regarded as our poorest and most stony land. In Floyd
and Clark counties it is usually associated with scrub pine. In the
remainder of its range it is generally associated with black jack post
and black oaks. In our area this species is never found closely
associated with limestone, and reports of this species being found on
limestone areas should be referred to _Quercus Muhlenbergii_.
[Illustration: Plate 44.
QUERCUS PRINUS Linnæus. Chestnut Oak. (× 1/2.)
Acorns and loose leaves from different trees.]
=Remarks.=--Wood similar and uses generally the same as white oak. The
tree usually grows in such poor situations that it never acquires a
large diameter, and it is only when a tree is found in a cove or in
richer and deeper soil that it grows to a large size. The amount of this
species is very limited and it is therefore of no especial economic
importance as a source of timber supply. The bark is rich in tannin. The
crests of chestnut oak ridges are often cut bare of this species. The
trunks are made into crossties, and the larger branches are peeled for
their bark. The nuts germinate on top of the ground as soon as they
fall, or even before they fall. Usually a large percentage germinate.
The tree grows rapidly where soil conditions are at all favorable. It is
believed that this species should be used to reforest the chestnut oak
ridges of the State, and possibly it would be one of the best to employ
on the slopes of other poor ridges.
=6.= =Quercus stellàta= Wangenheim. Post Oak. Plate 45. Medium to large
trees; bark resembles that of the white oak except on old trees the
fissures are deeper when compared with a white oak of equal size, and
the ridges are usually broken into shorter lengths; twigs stout,
yellowish-brown at first, remaining this color more or less to the end
of the season, at first densely covered with hairs which remain
throughout the season, and usually one year old branchlets are more or
less tomentose; leaves on hairy petioles 0.3-3 cm. long, generally about
1 cm. long; leaves obovate in outline, commonly 1-2 dm. long and about
2/3 as wide, and generally lobed into five principal lobes which are
disposed as follows: the two basal are formed by two deep sinuses just
below the middle of the leaf which cut off a large roughly triangular
portion, one angle of which forms the base, the top two angles prolonged
on each side into a rounded lobe which may be long or short; the
terminal lobe is produced by two deep sinuses which constrict the blade
at about 1/4-1/3 its length from the apex; the two basal and two
terminal sinuses form the two lateral lobes which in size are equal to
about one half of the leaf area; the lateral lobes are generally
ascending with the terminal portion usually indented with a shallow
sinus which produces two short lobes; the terminal lobe of the leaf
commonly has two or three shallow secondary lobes; all the lobes of the
leaf are rounded; base of leaf narrowed or rounded; leaves very thick at
maturity, when they first appear both surfaces are densely covered with
a yellowish pubescence, at maturity the upper surface is a dark glossy
green, and smooth or nearly so, except some leaves retain fascicles of
hairs, and the midrib and principal veins may be more or less rough
pubescent, the under surface at maturity is a gray-green, and remains
more or less densely covered with fascicles of hairs; acorns single or
in clusters, sessile or nearly so; nuts small, ovoid 10-15 mm. long and
6-10 mm. wide, inclosed for about 1/2 their length in the cup; scales
ovate, gray or reddish brown, tomentose on the back, blunt except those
near the top of the cup which are sometimes acute; kernel sweet.
[Illustration: Plate 45.
QUERCUS STELLATA Wangenheim. Post Oak. (× 1/2.)
Acorns from different trees.]
=Distribution.=--Massachusetts, Indiana, south to Florida, and west to
Oklahoma and Texas. In Indiana it is confined to the southwestern part
of the State. In our area it is found on the crest of ridges in the knob
area where it is generally associated with black, and black jack oaks,
hence in our poorest and thinnest soils. West of the knob area it takes
up different habitats. From Vigo County southward it is found on sand
ridges associated with black and black jack oaks. West of the knob area
it is frequently found in black oak woods and in Warrick County about
two miles southwest of Tennyson it is a frequent tree in the Little
Pigeon Creek bottoms which are a hard light clay soil. Here it is
associated with pin oak and cork elm (_Ulmus alata_). In the Lower
Wabash Valley, especially in Point Township of Posey County in the hard
clay of this area it is a frequent to a common tree, associated with
Spanish, pin, swamp, white and shingle oaks, and sweet gum. In this area
it grows to be a large tree.
This species has been reported for Hamilton County by Wilson, but I
regard this reference a wrong identification which will relieve Hamilton
County of the reputation of having "post oak" land. It was reported,
also, by Gorby for Miami County. Since Gorby's list is wholly
unreliable, it is best to drop this reference. Higley and Raddin[37]
reported a single tree near Whiting. Nieuwland[38] reported this species
from near Mineral Springs in Porter County, the report being based on
his number 10,207 which I have not seen. There is no reason to doubt
these references, because it is not an unusual thing to find a southern
form jump from southern Indiana to a congenial habitat about Lake
Michigan.
=Remarks.=--Wood is similar but tougher than white oak, and its uses are
the same as white oak. Since in our area the tree is usually medium
sized, most of the trees are worked up into crossties. A tree in a black
oak woods 4 miles east of Washington in Daviess County measured 2.22
meters (87-1/2 inches) in circumference breast high. This species in
some localities is called iron oak, and in Gibson County on the sand
dune area it is called sand bur oak.
[Illustration: Plate 46.
QUERCUS MACROCARPA Michaux. Bur Oak. (× 1/2.)
Acorns from different trees.
The right two belong to the variety OLIVÆFORMIS.]
=7.= =Quercus macrocàrpa= Michaux. Bur Oak. Plate 46. Large trees;
branchlets of young trees generally develop corky wings which are
usually absent on mature trees; leaves on petioles 1-2 cm. long, obovate
in outline, generally 1-2.5 dm. long, the margins more or less deeply
cut so that there are usually 7 lobes, sometimes only 5, or as many as 9
or 11, sometimes the sinuses extend to the midrib, giving the leaf a
"skeleton" appearance, the lobes are very irregular in shape and
variously arranged, but often appear as if in pairs, lobes rounded and
ascending, the larger lobes are sometimes somewhat lobed, the three
terminal lobes are usually the largest and considered as a whole would
equal in size one half or more of the entire leaf area, the base of the
leaf is wedge-shape or narrowly rounded; leaves at maturity are dark
green and smooth above, or somewhat pubescent along the midrib, a
gray-green and woolly pubescent beneath; acorns usually solitary,
sometimes in pairs or clusters of three, sessile or on short stalks,
sometimes on stalks as long as 2.5 cm.; nuts very variable in size and
shape, ovoid to oblong, often very much depressed at the apex, 2-3 cm.
long, enclosed from 1/3 to almost their entire length in the cup which
is fringed at the top; cups thick and large, sometimes 4.5 cm. in
diameter; scales tomentose on the back and somewhat tuberculate, blunt
near the base of the cup, but at and near the top of the cup they become
long attenuate and on some trees appear almost bristle like; kernel
sweet.
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia to Manitoba, south to Georgia and west to
Texas and Wyoming. Found in all parts of Indiana, although we have no
reports from the knob area where no doubt it is only local. It is a tree
of wet woods, low borders of streams, etc., except among the hills of
southern Indiana, it is an occasional tree of the slopes. In favorable
habitats it was a frequent to a common tree. Its most constant
associates are white elm, swamp white and red oak, linn, green and black
ash, shellbark hickory, etc. It is sometimes called mossy-cup oak.
=Remarks.=--Wood and uses similar to that of white oak. In point of
number, size and value it ranks as one of the most valuable trees of the
State. Michaux[39] says: "A tree three miles from Troy, Ohio, was
measured that was fourteen feet and nine inches in diameter six feet
above the ground. The trunk rises about fifty feet without limbs, and
with scarcely a perceptible diminution in size."
=7a.= =Quercus macrocarpa= var. =olivæfórmis= (Michaux filius) Gray.
This variety is distinguished from the typical form by its shallow cup,
and the long oval nut which is often 3 cm. long. The cup is
semi-hemispheric, and encloses the nut for about one-half its length.
Authentic specimens are at hand from Wells County, and it has been
reported from Gibson and Hamilton Counties. No doubt this form has a
wider range.
=8.= =Quercus lyràta= Walter. Overcup Oak. Plate 47. Medium sized trees;
bark generally intermediate between that of the swamp white and bur oak;
leaves on petioles 5-30 mm. long which are generally somewhat reddish
toward the base, 10-20 cm. long, obovate or oblong-obovate, margins very
irregularly divided into 5-9 short or long lobes, ascending and
generally acute, ordinarily the three terminal lobes are the largest,
base of leaves wedge-shape, or narrowly rounded, upper surface at
maturity dark green and smooth, the under surface densely covered with a
thick tomentum to which is added more or less long and single or
fascicled straight hairs; when the leaves are as described on the under
surface they are gray beneath; however, a form occurs which is yellow
green beneath and has little or no tomentum, but is thickly covered with
long single or fascicled straight hairs; acorn single or in pairs, on
stalks generally about 1 cm. long, sometimes the stalks are 3 cm. long,
the stalk lies in a plane at a right angle to the base of the acorn
which is a characteristic of this species; nut depressed-globose, about
1.5 cm. long, generally almost completely enclosed in the cup, or
sometimes enclosed only for about 2/3 its length; cup generally very
thick at the base, gradually becoming thinner at the top, and often it
splits open; scales tomentose on the back, those near the base, thick
and tuberculate on the back and blunt, but those near the top of the cup
are acute or long attenuate; kernel sweet.
=Distribution.=--Maryland to Missouri,[40] and south to Florida and west
to Texas. In Indiana it is found only about river sloughs or deep swamps
in the southwestern counties. At present it is known only from Knox,
Gibson, Posey and Spencer Counties. It was reported by Nieuwland[41] for
Marshall County on the authority of Clark. This specimen was taken
during a survey of Lake Maxinkuckee, and is deposited in the National
Museum. I have had the specimen examined by an authority, who reports
that it is some other species. Its habitat is that of areas that are
inundated much of the winter season. It is so rare that its associates
could not be learned. In one place it grew in a depression lower than a
nearby pin oak, and in another place it grew in a depression in a very
low woods, surrounded by sweet gum, big shell bark hickory, and pin oak.
It is generally found singly in depressions, but it is a common tree on
the low border of the west side of Burnett's pond in Gibson County.
=Remarks.=--Wood and uses similar to that of white oak. In our area it
is usually known as bur oak.
[Illustration: Plate 47.
QUERCUS LYRATA Walter. Overcup Oak. (× 1/2.)
Acorns from different trees.]
=9.= =Quercus imbricària= Michaux. Shingle Oak. Plate 48. Medium to
large sized trees; leaves on petioles generally 0.5-1 cm. long, 7-16 cm.
long, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, narrowed or rounded at the base,
apex generally sharp-pointed and ending with a bristle, sometimes very
wide leaves are blunt at the apex, margins entire, when they first
appear the upper surface is somewhat woolly and the under surface
whitish with a dense tomentum, soon glabrous and a dark green above,
remaining more or less densely woolly or pubescent beneath; acorns
sessile or nearly so, solitary or in pairs; nuts ovoid, about 1 cm. long
and enclosed for about 1/2 their length in the cup; cup rounded at the
base; scales pubescent on the back and obtuse.
=Distribution.=--Pennsylvania, Michigan to Nebraska, south to Georgia
and west to Arkansas. Found throughout Indiana. It is essentially a tree
of low ground, but it is sometimes found near the base of slopes, and in
the knob area it is sometimes found on the crest of ridges. In all parts
of Indiana except the southwestern part it is found only locally and
then usually in colonies of a few trees. In Wells County, I know of only
two trees located at the base of a slope bordering a pond in Jackson
Township. In the southwestern part of the State it is frequent to a
common tree in its peculiar habitat. It appears that when drainage
basins decrease in size, and leave sandy river bottoms, and bordering
low sand dunes, that the shingle oak is the first oak to occupy the
area. On the sand ridges it is crowded out by the black, black jack and
post oaks. In the bottoms it is succeeded by pin, Schneck's, Spanish,
swamp white and post oaks. Special notes were made on its distribution
on a trip through Gibson, Pike, Daviess, Greene and Sullivan Counties,
going from Francisco northward through the Patoka bottoms where in many
places it forms pure stands. Usually in situations a little higher than
the pin oak zone. Thence eastward to Winslow and then north to Sandy
Hook in Daviess County, thence north to Washington, Montgomery, Odon,
Newberry, Lyons, Marco and Sullivan. In its habitat all along this route
it was a frequent to a very common tree. A few miles northeast of
Montgomery is a small area which a pioneer informed me was originally a
prairie. Typical prairie plants are yet found along the roadside and
fences in the area. I was informed that the shingle oak was the only
species found on the area, and on the border of the area. It is believed
the mass distribution of the species was in the area indicated by the
preceding route. Both east and west of this area the species becomes
less frequent.
=Remarks.=--Wood similar to red oak, but much inferior. Evidently it is
rather a slow growing tree, but it might find a use as a shade or
ornamental tree in sandy habitats where the pin oak would not thrive. It
is also called black oak, peach oak, jack oak and water oak.
[Illustration: Plate 48.
QUERCUS IMBRICARIA Michaux. Shingle Oak. (× 1/2.)]
=10.= =Quercus rùbra= Linnæus. [_Quercus maxima_ (Marshall) Ashe of some
recent authors]. Red Oak. Plate 49. Large trees; winter buds ovoid,
pointed, reddish, outer scales glabrous, sometimes pubescent on the
edges; twigs soon smooth and reddish; leaves on petioles 2.5-5 cm. long,
10-20 cm. long, oval to oblong-obovate, broadly wedge-shape or truncate
at the base, the margins divided by wide or narrow sinuses generally
into 7-9 lobes, sometimes as many as 11, the lobes not uniform in size
or shape, lobes broadest at the base and ending generally in 1-5 bristle
points, pubescent above and below at first, soon becoming smooth at
maturity and a dark green above, paler and yellowish-green beneath and
smooth or with tufts of tomentum in the axils of the veins; acorns
solitary or in pairs, sessile or on very short stalks; nuts ovoid, flat
at the base, and rounded at the apex, 2-3 cm. long, enclosed for about
1/4 their length in the shallow cup; cups 2-3 cm. in diameter, thick,
saucer-shape, flat or only slightly rounded at the base; scales ovate,
blunt, appressed, and pubescent on the back; kernel somewhat bitter,
eaten by hogs and cattle, but not relished by wild animals.
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to Florida and west to
Texas. Found throughout Indiana, although local in the knob area. Its
preferred habitat is that of moist, rich and fairly well drained woods.
It does not thrive in situations that are inundated much of the winter
season such as the pin oak will endure. In the southern part of the
State, especially in the flats it is frequently found on the high bluffs
of streams and very large forest trees are frequent on a dry wooded
slope of ten acres, on the Davis farm four miles south of Salem. In a
congenial habitat it was a frequent to a common tree, although such a
thing as nearly a pure stand would never be met with, such as was often
formed by the white, black, shingle or pin oak.
=Remarks.=--Wood hard, heavy, strong, close-grained, but not as good as
white oak in any of its mechanical qualities. Commercially all of the
biennial oaks are usually considered as red oak. The true red oak,
however, is generally considered the best of all the biennial oaks.
Until recently, when white oak became scarce, red oak was not in much
demand, and was used principally for construction material. Now it is
substituted in many places for white oak, and the uses now are in a
great measure the same as those of white oak.
The red oak grows rapidly, and is able to adapt itself to many soil
conditions. It has been used in European countries for two centuries for
shade and ornamental planting. It reproduces easily by planting the
acorns, and should receive attention by woodlot owners as a suitable
species for reinforcing woodlands, or in general forest planting.
[Illustration: Plate 49.
QUERCUS RUBRA Linnæus. Red Oak. (× 1/2.)
Acorns from different trees.]
=11.= =Quercus palústris= Du Roi. Pin Oak. Plate 50. Medium to large
trees with very tight bark, the furrows shallow and generally wide;
twigs at first pubescent, soon becoming smooth and reddish-brown; leaves
on petioles generally 1-5 cm. long, blades about 7-15 cm. long, usually
about 2/3 as wide, sometimes as wide as long, ovate to obovate in
outline, narrowed to broadly truncate at the base, the margins divided
into 5-7 lobes by deep and wide sinuses, except leaves that grow in the
shade, the sinus cuts the blade to more than half way to the midrib, the
lobes are widest at the base, or sometimes widest near the apex, the
lobes usually somewhat toothed or lobed and end in 1-7 bristle tips,
leaves hairy when they first appear, soon becoming glabrate and a glossy
dark green above, a paler green beneath and smooth except tufts of hairs
in the axils of the principal veins; acorns sessile or nearly so, single
or in clusters; nuts subglobose or ovoid, generally 10-12 mm. long, the
ovoid form somewhat smaller, covered about 1/4 their length by the
shallow cups; cups saucer-shape and generally flat on the bottom, those
with the ovoid nuts are rounded on the bottom; scales pubescent on the
back, and rounded or blunt at the apex.
=Distribution.=--Massachusetts, southwestern Ontario, Michigan to Iowa
and south to Virginia and west to Oklahoma. Found in every county of
Indiana. It is found only in wet situations where it is a frequent to a
common tree. It prefers a hard compact clay soil with little drainage
hence is rarely met with on the low borders of lakes where the soil is
principally organic matter.
=Remarks.=--Wood similar to red oak, but much inferior to it. It is
tardy in the natural pruning of its lower branches, and when the dead
branches break off they usually do so at some distance from the trunk.
The stumps of the dead branches which penetrate to the center of the
tree have given it the name of pin oak. It is also sometimes called
water oak, and swamp oak.
For street and ornamental planting it is one of the most desirable oaks
to use. It is adapted to a moist soil, grows rapidly, and produces a
dense shade. When grown in the open it develops a pyramidal crown.
The nut of this species always has a depressed form, except a tree or
two in Wells County which produce ovate nuts which are cone-pointed, and
in bulk about half the size of the ordinary form. This form should be
looked for to ascertain its area of distribution.
[Illustration: Plate 50.
QUERCUS PALUSTRIS Muenchhausen. (× 1/2.)
Acorns from different trees. Those on the left the common form, those on
the right the rare form.]
[Illustration: Plate 51.
QUERCUS SCHNECKII Britton. Schneck's Oak. (× 1/2.)
Specimens from type tree.]
=12.= =Quercus Schnéckii= Britton. Schneck's Oak. Plate 51. Large trees;
bark somewhat intermediate between pin and red oak; twigs gray by
autumn; winter buds large, about 0.5 cm. long, ovoid, glabrous and gray;
leaves on petioles 2-6 cm. long, blades generally 8-18 cm. long,
generally truncate at the base, sometimes wedge-shaped, leaves ovate to
obovate in outline, divided into 5-7 lobes, by deep rounded and wide
sinuses, the sinuses cutting the blade to more than half way to the
midrib, except the leaves of lower branches that grow in the shade, the
lobes variable in shape and size, usually the lowest are the shortest
and smaller, the middle the longest and largest, the lobes are sometimes
widest at the base, and sometimes widest at the apex, the end of the
lobes are more or less toothed or lobed; the leaves at maturity are
bright green, glossy and smooth above, a paler and yellow green and
smooth beneath except tufts of hairs in the axils of the principal
veins; acorns solitary or in pairs, usually on stalks about 0.5 cm.
long; nuts ovoid, sometimes broadly so, or oblong, broad and flat or
slightly convex at base, usually 1.5-2 cm. long, enclosed in the cup
from 1/4-1/3 their length; cups flat or convex at the base: scales
generally pubescent on the back, gray or with a reddish tip on those of
the Lower Wabash Valley, or reddish gray and with margins more or less
red of trees of the Upper Wabash Valley.
=Distribution.=--In Indiana this species has been reported only from
Wells, Bartholomew, Vermillion, Knox, Gibson and Posey Counties. This
species was not separated from our common red oak until after all of the
local floras of Indiana had been written, and it may have a much wider
range than is at present known. In Wells County it is the prevailing
"red oak" of the county, and no doubt is distributed throughout the
Wabash Valley. In this area it is associated with all moist ground
species. In the lower Wabash Valley, especially in Gibson, Knox and
Posey Counties it is associated with Spanish, pin, and shingle oaks,
sweet gum, etc. Several trees were noted in Knox County in Little
Cypress swamp where it was associated with cypress, pin oak, white elm,
red maple and swell-butt ash.
=Remarks.=--This anomalous red oak has a range from Indiana to Texas.
When the attention of authors was directed to it, several new species
were the result. Later authors are not agreed as to whether this form,
which has such a wide range and hence liable to show considerable
variation within such a long range, is one or several species. C. S.
Sargent who for years has studied this form throughout its range has
seen the author's specimens and calls those with shallow cups typical or
nearly typical _Quercus Shumardii_ Buckley[42] and those with the deep
cups _Quercus Shumardii_ variety _Schneckii_ (Britton) Sargent.
The writer has made rather an intensive study of the forms in Wells
County and in the Lower Wabash Valley and has not been able to satisfy
himself that, allowing for a reasonable variation, there is even a
varietal difference in Indiana forms. The description has been drawn to
cover all of the forms of Indiana.
Dr. J. Schneck of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, was one of the first to discover
that this form was not our common red oak, and when he called Dr.
Britton's attention to it, Dr. Britton named it _Quercus Schneckii_ in
honor of its discoverer.
=13.= =Quercus ellipsoidàlis.= E. J. Hill. Hill's Oak. Plate 52. Medium
sized trees; inner bark yellowish; twigs pubescent at first, becoming
smooth and reddish brown by autumn; leaves on petioles 2-5 cm. long,
ovate to slightly obovate or nearly orbicular in outline, 7-15 cm. long,
wedge-shape or, truncate at the base, margin divided into 5-7 long lobes
by wide sinuses which usually extend to more than half way to the
midrib, sinuses rounded at the base, lobes broadest at the base or the
apex, ending in 1-7 bristle points, leaves at first pubescent, both
above and below, soon becoming glabrous above, and smooth beneath except
tufts of hairs in the axils of the principal veins; acorns nearly
sessile or on short stalks, single or in pairs; nuts oval to oblong,
12-20 mm. long, enclosed for 1/3-1/2 their length in the cup; scales
obtuse, light reddish-brown, pubescent on the back; kernel pale yellow
and bitter.
=Distribution.=--Northwestern Indiana to Manitoba and south to Iowa. In
Indiana it has been reported only from Lake and Porter Counties by Hill,
and from White County by Heimlich. According to Hill, who has made the
most extensive study of the distribution of this species in our area,
the tree is found on sandy and clayey uplands, and in moist sandy
places. It closely resembles the pin oak for which it has been mistaken.
It also resembles the black and scarlet oaks. We have very little data
on the range or distribution of the species in this State.
=14.= =Quercus velùtina= Lamarck. Black Oak. Plate 53. Medium to large
sized trees; inner bark yellow or orange; leaves on petioles 2-8 cm.
long, ovate oblong or obovate, very variable in outline and in size,
those of young trees and coppice shoots being very large, those of
mature trees usually 12-18 cm. long, wedge-shape or truncate at the
base, the margin divided into 5-9 lobes by wide and usually deep sinuses
which are rounded at the base, the lobes variable in shape and size, the
terminals of many of the lobes toothed or slightly lobed and ending in
one or more bristles, leaves pubescent on both sides at first, soon
becoming smooth, glossy and a dark green above; leaves of fruiting
branches usually smooth beneath except the tufts of brown hairs in the
axils of the principal veins, or rarely more or less pubescent over the
whole under surface, the under surface of leaves of sterile branches and
young trees usually are the most pubescent beneath, the leaves of some
trees are much like those of the scarlet oak, but on the whole are
larger; acorns sessile or nearly so, single or in pairs; nuts ovoid,
oblong or subglobose, 1.5-2 cm. long, enclosed for about half their
length in the cup-shaped cup; scales light-brown, densely pubescent on
the back, obtuse, loose above the middle of the cup; kernel bitter.
[Illustration: Plate 52.
QUERCUS ELLIPSOIDALIS E. J. Hill. Hill's Oak. (× 1/2.)
Specimens from type tree.]
[Illustration: Plate 53.
QUERCUS VELUTINA Lamarck. Black Oak. (× 1/2.)]
=Distribution.=--Maine, southern Ontario, southern Minnesota, southern
Nebraska south to Florida and west to Texas. Found throughout Indiana.
It was no doubt found in every county or nearly every county of the
State. It of course would be a rare tree throughout the rich black loam
soils of the central Indiana counties. The black oak is confined to the
poorer soils of the State, such as clay and gravelly ridges, sand dunes,
sand ridges, and the hills of southern Indiana that are not covered with
beech or white oak. It is a frequent to a common tree in the
southwestern part of the State in the bottom lands where it is
associated with Schneck's, shingle, and post oaks. In the northern part
of the State it is generally associated with the white oak and if the
soil is very poor it will form almost pure stands. On the poor ridges of
southern Indiana it is generally associated with the white, and scarlet
oaks, and invades habitats still poorer which are occupied by post,
black jack, or chestnut oaks. Wherever the black oak is found it is
generally more than a frequent tree and is usually a common tree or
forms the principal stand. While the black is not so uniformly
distributed over the State as the white oak, yet in point of numbers it
nearly equals it, or may even exceed it.
In Floyd and Harrison Counties are certain small areas which were known
to the early settlers as the "barrens." These areas were treeless. They
were covered with a growth of some sort of oak which the natives call
"scrub" oak, hazel, and wild plum. The height of the growth in any part
would "not hide a man on horse back." These areas are now all under
cultivation, and are no longer distinguished from the forested areas.
However, many parts of the barrens are now covered with forests, but
these forests are a complete stand of black oak. Last year one of these
areas was cut off, and the age of the trees were ascertained to be about
65 years old. The barrens of southern Indiana and adjacent States offer
a good problem for ecologists.
=Remarks.=--Wood similar to that of red oak, but often much inferior.
The uses of the best grades of black oak are practically the same as red
oak.
Where the black and scarlet oaks are associated, the scarlet oak is
rarely separated from it. The two species superficially much resemble
each other. The black oak is always easily distinguished by cutting into
the inner bark which is yellow, while that of scarlet oak is gray or
reddish. The inner bark imparts a yellow color to spittle, and the
scarlet does not. When mature fruiting branches are at hand they may be
separated by the appearance of the acorns. The scales of the cups of
the black oak are dull, and loosely imbricated near the top while those
of the scarlet oak are rather glossy and closely imbricated. The scales
of the scarlet oak, however, become somewhat loose after the acorn has
matured, and fallen for some time.
This species is sometimes called yellow oak. Since the chinquapin oak is
also often called yellow oak, it is best to always call this species
black oak.
=15.= =Quercus coccínea= Muenchhausen. Scarlet Oak. Plate 54. Medium
sized trees with bark resembling the black oak, inner bark gray or
reddish; twigs reddish by autumn; winter buds reddish-brown and
pubescent; leaves on petioles 2.5-6 cm. long, broadly oval to obovate,
blades 7-15 cm. long, truncate or wedge-shape at the base, the blade
divided into 5-7 lobes by deep and wide sinuses which cut the blade more
than half the distance to the midrib, sinuses rounded at the base, the
lobes variable in size and shape, usually the lowest are the shortest
and smallest, the middle lobes the largest and longest, the lobes widest
either at the base or the apex, the terminal part toothed or lobed, the
terminal lobe generally 3-lobed or 3-toothed, both surfaces of the
leaves at first pubescent, soon smooth and a dark glossy green above,
and paler and smooth beneath except tufts of hairs in the axils of the
principal veins; acorns sessile or nearly so, solitary or in pairs; nuts
ovoid to oblong, 1.5-2 cm. long, enclosed for about half their length in
the thick cup-shape cup; scales triangular but blunt, closely appressed,
pubescent on the back except the center which is generally elevated and
smooth and shiny, giving the cup a glossy appearance which easily
separates it from its nearest ally the black oak whose cup is a dull,
ash or reddish gray color; kernel white within, and less bitter than the
black oak.
=Distribution.=--Maine, southern Ontario to southern Nebraska, south to
North Carolina, Alabama and Arkansas. It has been reported for the
northwest counties and the southern part of Indiana, but we have no
records for the east-central portion of the State. Clark reports it as
common about Winona Lake, but does not report _Quercus velutina_ which
is a common tree of the vicinity, and it is believed that Clark has
confused the two species. In the northern part of the State its habitat
is that of sand and gravel ridges associated with black oak. In the hill
part of southern Indiana it is intimately associated with the black oak
on the poorer ridges. We have no authentic records for the southwestern
counties. The author has Schneck's specimens on which the record for
Gibson and Posey County was based. I determined the specimens as
belonging to the Spanish oak, and William Trelease verified the
determination. I have no doubt that scarlet oak occurred on the sand
ridges of that area.
[Illustration: Plate 54.
QUERCUS COCCINEA Muenchhausen. Scarlet Oak. (× 1/2.)]
In the n
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