Chapter VII: Part 7

=3a. Acer rubrum= variety =Drummóndii= (Hooker and Arnott) Torrey and Gray. This variety of the red maple is a form found in the dense swamps of the lower Wabash Valley. It is distinguished from the type by its twigs which generally remain more or less hairy until maturity; by the under surface of the leaves remaining more or less tomentose during the summer, and by its larger fruit. This variety is known with certainty only from Little Cypress Swamp in Knox County about 12 miles southwest of Decker. Here it is a frequent to a common tree associated with cypress, swell-butt ash, button-bush, sweet gum, etc. All of the trees of this locality have 5-lobed leaves.

ACER RUBRUM Linnæus. Red Maple. (× 1/2.)]

A specimen collected in the "bottoms" about two miles east of Huntingburg in Dubois County has 3-lobed leaves which are tomentose beneath at fruiting time and has fruit intermediate in size between the type and variety _Drummondii_ which I doubtfully refer to variety tridens Wood.

=4. Acer nìgrum= F. A. Michaux. Black Maple. Black Sugar. Plate 114. Medium to large sized trees with dark furrowed bark on old trees; leaves a little wider than long, 6-15 cm. long, on petioles usually 3-15 cm. long which are more or less swollen at the base and by maturity develop a scale like appendage on each side of the petiole at the base--especially on each of the terminal pair of leaves, sometimes with foliar stipules which are 2-3 cm. long on stalks of equal length, leaves with three main lobes, the two lower lobes generally have a small lobe at their base, margins of lobes entire and undulating, sinuses between main lobes generally rounded at the base, wide and shallow, base with a narrow sinus, the lower lobes often overlapping, rarely somewhat dentate, dark green above and a paler yellow green below, hairy on both surfaces when young, becoming at maturity glabrous above and remaining more or less pubescent beneath; flowers appear in May when the leaves are about half grown on long hairy pedicels, the staminate and pistillate in separate clusters on the same or different trees; fruit matures in autumn, the samaras about 3 cm. long.

=Distribution.=--Quebec to Georgia, west to South Dakota and south to Louisiana. Found in all parts of Indiana and invariably associated with sugar maple, and often with beech in addition. Frequently almost pure stands of sugar maple may be found with the black maple absent. Where found it is usually a frequent to common tree, and when it occurs on a wooded slope it is more frequent near the base and appears to be able to advance farther into moist situations than its congener.

=Remarks.=--This tree cannot be distinguished from the sugar maple by its form, but at short range can be separated from it by its richer green foliage and by the drooping habit of the lower lobes of the leaves. It is commonly separated from the sugar maple by the darker color and by the narrower and shallower furrows of the bark, but these characters will not always separate the two species. Hence, when buying black maple trees from a nurseryman you may receive the sugar maple. Those who distinguish the two species agree that the black maple is the more desirable tree for shade tree planting. The black and sugar maple are the two most desirable trees for shade tree planting in Indiana. They are long lived, have a very desirable form, beautiful foliage, a long leaf period, and are quite free from disease and insect injury.

ACER NIGRUM. F. A. Michaux. Black Maple. (× 1/2.)]

=5. Acer sáccharum= Marshall. Sugar Maple. Sugar Tree. Hard Maple. Rock Maple. Plate 115. Usually large, tall trees. The bark of small trees is smooth or rough, becoming fissured on old trees, tight or on very old trees sometimes the ridges loosen on one edge and turn outward. The leaves are extremely variable on different trees, and frequently show a wide variation on the same tree, as to form and in the presence or absence of hairs on the petioles and on the under surface of the leaves. In our area all of the forms which have the majority of the leaves longer than wide or about as wide as long, may be considered as falling within the type. The average sized leaves are 6-12 cm. long, 3-5 lobed, more or less cordate at the base, generally with a broad sinus, sometimes truncate or slightly wedge-shape, sinuses generally wide-angled and rounded at the base, sometimes acute, hairy beneath when young, becoming smooth at maturity except for a few hairs along the veins or in the main axils of the veins, or sometimes remaining more or less pubescent over the whole under surface, more or less glaucous beneath; flowers appear in April or May, on hairy pedicels 3-7 cm. long, the staminate and pistillate in clusters on the same or different trees; fruit ripening in autumn, samaras glabrous and usually 2-4 cm. long.

=Distribution.=--Newfoundland to Georgia, west to Manitoba and south to Texas. A frequent to a very common tree in all parts of Indiana. It is confined to rich uplands, or along streams in well drained alluvial soil. Throughout our area it is constantly associated with the beech. It is absent in the "flats" of the southeastern part of the State, and on the crest of the ridges of the "knob" area of Indiana, but it is a frequent or common tree on the lower slopes of the spurs of the "knobs."

=Remarks.=--The under surface of the leaves of the sugar maple in the northern part of its range are green, while those of the southern part of its range are quite glaucous beneath. To distinguish these two intergrading forms the southern form has been called =Acer saccharum= var. =glaucum= Sargent[61]. All of the trees seen in Indiana have leaves more or less glaucous beneath. This character, however, is not always evident in dried specimens. The writer prefers not to apply the varietal name to the forms of our area. The sugar maple always has been and will continue to be one of the most important trees of the State. In its mass distribution in Indiana it ranks not less than third. In the quality and uses of its wood it is equalled or exceeded only by the oak, ash and hickory. When compared with white oak it is a little lighter but thirty per cent stronger and fifty-three per cent stiffer. The greatest amount of the annual cut of maple is worked into flooring which is shipped to all parts of the world. It is much used in the manufacture of furniture and ranks third in use for veneer and hard wood distillation, and as a fuel wood is excelled only by hickory. Since pioneer times, the sap of this tree has been made into sirup and sugar and their manufacture now forms a valuable industry. On an average it takes 3 to 4 gallons of sap to make a pound of sugar, and an average sized tree will annually yield about 3 to 4 pounds of sugar.

ACER SACCHARUM Marshall. Sugar Maple. (× 1/2.)]

The sugar maple on account of its slow growth has not been used much in reforestation. It is very tolerant of shade, can adapt itself to almost all kinds of soils, thrives either in a pure or mixed stand, and is practically free from injury of insects and diseases. It has, however, been extensively used as a shade tree. For this purpose it is scarcely excelled by any other tree. When grown in the open it almost invariably assumes a symmetrical oval form, and the autumnal coloration of its foliage is rarely surpassed by any of our trees. Where a large tree is desired for street or ornamental planting the sugar maple can safely be recommended.

=5a. Acer saccharum= variety =Rugélii= (Pax) Rehder. This variety of the sugar maple has leaves much wider than long, smaller and 3-lobed. The lobes are long acuminate and usually entire, sometimes the lower lobe has a small lobe near the base. This variety is included in our flora on the authority of C. S. Sargent who has given this name to specimens from Indiana in the writer's herbarium. The specimens so named are from the southern part of the State. While there is a wide range of difference in the shape of the leaves of the typical 5-lobed _Acer saccharum_ and its variety _Rugelii_, all intermediate forms can be easily found. The leaves of a tree will vary most on those trees whose average shaped leaves are farthest from the typical form.

=5b. Acer saccharum= variety =Schnéckii= Rehder. This variety in its extreme form is well marked by having the petioles and under surface of the leaves densely covered with hairs. The variety is characterized by having a "fulvous pubescence," but the 18 specimens at hand show the color of the pubescence on both young and mature specimens to range from white to fulvous. The leaves of all specimens at hand are 5-lobed and show a variation of leaves with petioles and under surface of leaves densely pubescent to those with petioles glabrous and with densely pubescent under surface. The habitat is that of a dry soil and associated with beech. It has been found in Gibson, Martin, Perry, Posey and Vanderburgh counties.

=AESCULÀCEAE.= The Buckeye Family.

=AÉSCULUS.= The Buckeyes.

Trees with dark or ashy-gray colored bark; twigs stout; buds large, leaves opposite, palmately divided into 5-9 ovate or oblong divisions, the divisions serrate; flowers in terminal panicles; fruit a 3-lobed capsule. The fruit is poisonous to stock, although it rarely proves fatal.

Anthers protruding from the flower; fruit warty 1 A. glabra.

Anthers included in the flower; fruit smooth 2 A. octandra.

=1. Æsculus glàbra= Willdenow. Buckeye. Plate 116. Medium to large sized trees[62]; bark of old trees fissured, not tight; branchlets robust; twigs at first more or less pubescent, remaining more or less hairy until maturity; leaves large, 5-foliate, rarely 6 or 7 foliate, petioles more or less pubescent; leaflets sessile or on very short stalks, ovate-oblong, oval-oblong, or obovate, about 1 dm. long, acuminate, narrowed to a wedge-shaped base, more or less pubescent beneath until maturity, especially along the principal veins, margins irregularly serrate except near the base; flowers generally appear in May when the leaves are almost full size, but in the southern part of the State the flowers sometimes appear the last of March, flower clusters 1-1.5 dm. long, the whole inflorescence usually densely covered with white hairs, flowers pale-greenish yellow; fruit a globular spiny capsule, generally 3-6 cm. in diameter, which usually contains 1-3 large glossy chocolate-colored nuts.

The pubescence on the petioles, leaflets and inflorescence is generally white, but often with it are reddish and longer hairs which are scattered among the other hairs, except in the articulations of the flowers, pedicels and leaflets, where they appear in tufts.

=Distribution.=--Pennsylvania south to Alabama, west to Iowa and south to the Indian Territory. Found in all parts of Indiana. It is usually associated with beech, sugar maple and linn. On account of the poisonous character of its fruit, land owners have almost exterminated it.

From the data at hand it appears that the buckeye was a rare tree in the northern tier of counties. However, as soon as the basin of the Wabash is reached it becomes a frequent to a common tree where beech, sugar maple, and linn are found. In all of our area it prefers a rich moist soil, except in the southern counties it may be found even on the bluffs of streams with the species just named. In the lower Wabash Valley especially in Posey County it was a rare tree, or entirely absent.

AESCULUS GLABRA Willdenow. Buckeye. (× 1/2.)]

=Remarks.=--In our area the buckeye is the very first tree to put out its leaves. On this account in early Spring it can be easily distinguished in the forest. This character together with its large clusters of flowers which appear early are features which recommend it for shade tree and ornamental planting. The tree has now become so rare in Indiana as to have no economic importance.

=2. Æsculus octándra= Marshall. Buckeye. Sweet Buckeye. Plate 117. Medium to large sized trees with smooth bark which on old trees becomes more or less scaly. This tree closely resembles the preceding from which it can be easily distinguished by the following characters. Its smoother and lighter colored bark; by the entire under surface of the leaves remaining permanently pubescent; the hairs more or less fulvous; by the included anthers; and by its smooth capsule.

=Distribution.=--Western Pennsylvania, westward along the Ohio to Iowa, south to Georgia and west to Louisiana and Texas. In Indiana it is confined to a few counties along the Ohio River. The records of McCaslin for Jay and Phinney for Delaware counties are doubtless errors in determination. The writer has diligently tried to extend the range of this species in Indiana and has found it only in Dearborn, Jefferson, Clark and Crawford Counties, and in no place more than a mile from the Ohio River. No doubt under favorable situations it found its way to a greater distance from the River. On account of the poisonous character of its fruit, it has been almost exterminated, and only along the precipitous bluffs of the Ohio River are trees yet to be found. Doubtless its exact range in our area can never be determined. Dr. Drake[63] minutely described this species and remarks: "This species delights in rich hills, and is seldom seen far from the Ohio River. It frequently arrives at the height of 100 feet and the diameter of four feet."

=Remarks.=--The wood is soft, white and resembles the sap wood of the tulip tree for which wood it is commonly sold. Too rare in Indiana to be of economic importance. Young[64] reported a purple flowered form of buckeye from Jefferson County, but since no specimen was preserved and the size of the plant is not given, it will not be considered here. The form was reported as rare under the name of =Æsculus flava= var. =purpurascens=.

AESCULUS OCTANDRA Marshall. Sweet Buckeye. (× 1/2.)]

TILIÀCEAE. The Linden Family.

TÍLIA. The Basswoods.

Trees with medium sized twigs; leaves alternate, mostly taper-pointed, oblique cordate or truncate at the base, serrate; flowers in axillary or terminal cymes, white or yellow, fragrant, peduncles of the cymes with a leaf-like bract adhering to about half their length; fruit nut-like, woody, 1-celled.

Leaves smooth or nearly so beneath 1 T. glabra.

Leaves densely white or gray pubescent beneath 2 T. heterophylla.

=1. Tilia glàbra= Ventenat (_Tilia americana_ Linnæus of authors). Linn. Basswood. Plate 118. Medium to large sized trees with deeply furrowed bark, much resembling that of white ash or black walnut; twigs when chewed somewhat mucilaginous, usually somewhat zigzag; leaves on petioles 2-6 cm. long, blades ovate to nearly orbicular, 5-15 cm. long, short or long acuminate at the apex, margins more or less coarsely or finely serrate with teeth attenuate and ending in a gland, dark green and smooth above, a lighter green and generally smooth beneath at maturity except tufts of hairs in the axils of the principal veins, or sometimes with a scanty pubescence of simple or stellate hairs beneath; flowers appear in June or July, when the leaves are almost mature; bracts of the peduncles very variable, generally about 8-10 cm. long, rounded, or tapering at the base, obtuse or rounded at the apex, smooth both above and beneath at maturity; peduncles from very short up to 6 cm. in length; pedicels of flowers variable in length on the same and on different trees, generally about one cm. long; styles pubescent near the base on all of the specimens at hand; fruit woolly, globose or somewhat ellipsoidal, generally about 6 mm. in diameter.

=Distribution.=--New Brunswick to Manitoba, south to Georgia and west to Texas. More or less frequent to common in rich moist soil in all parts of Indiana. It is the most frequent and common in the lake area of the State but was almost as frequent and common throughout the central part of the State until the hilly area is reached where its habitat disappears for the greater part. In the hill area it is confined to the basins of streams, although sometimes found on the high rocky bluffs of streams. Rare or absent in the flats. In most of its area it is associated with white ash, slippery elm, beech, maple, shellbark hickory, etc.

=Remarks.=--Wood soft, light, straight and close-grained, white and seasons well. On account of its softness and lightness it has always been a favorite wood where these two factors were important considerations. Is practically odorless, hence, is a desirable wood to contain food products. Its principal uses are lumber, heading, excelsior and veneer. The supply of this species in Indiana is now practically exhausted.

TILIA GLABRA Ventenat. Linn or Basswood. (× 1/2.)]

In Indiana this species is commonly called linn, and only in a few counties near the Michigan line is it known as basswood. The name basswood is a corruption of the name bastwood, meaning the inner tough and fibrous part of the bark, which was used by pioneers for tying shocks of corn, and other cordage purposes. However, Dr. Schneck gives the name whittle-wood as one of its common names; and in some localities it is called bee tree, because bees find its flowers rich in honey.

Linn is adapted to a rich moist soil, transplants fairly well, and grows rapidly. It has been used to some extent as an ornamental and shade tree, but its use as a street shade tree is no longer recommended because it is not adapted to city conditions, and is killed by the scale. It could, however, be recommended as an integral part of a windbreak, or woodlot where the land owner has an apiary.

=2. Tilia heterophylla= Ventenat. Linn. White Basswood. Plate 119. Usually large trees; bark similar to the preceding but lighter in color; twigs similar to the preceding species; leaves on petioles 2-8 cm. long, blades ovate to nearly orbicular, generally 7-15 cm. long, generally oblique at the base, oblique-truncate or cordate at the base, abruptly short or long acuminate at the apex, margins serrate with teeth attenuate and ending in a gland, at maturity smooth and a dark yellow-green above, the under surface generally densely covered with a silvery or gray tomentum, however, on some specimens the pubescence is thin and appears as a stellate pubescence, the tufts of hairs in the principal axils of the veins are reddish brown, in addition to the pubescence reddish glands are often found on the veins beneath; flowers appear in June or July when the leaves are almost mature; bracts very variable. 4-15 cm. long, generally on short peduncles, rounded or wedge-shape at the base, generally rounded at the apex, sometimes merely obtuse, glabrous both above and below, or more or less densely pubescent beneath and generally sparingly pubescent above; pedicels of flowers variable in length, usually about 1 cm. long; styles of flowers pubescent at the base; fruit globose or somewhat ellipsoidal generally 6-8 mm. in diameter.

=Distribution.=--This species as understood by Sargent ranges from West Virginia to Indiana and south to Florida and west to Alabama. In Indiana it is confined to counties near the Ohio River. Specimens are in the writer's herbarium from Dearborn, Ripley, Switzerland, Jefferson, Clark, Harrison, Crawford, Perry, southeastern Dubois and east Spencer Counties. Practically in all of its range in Indiana it is found on the tops of high bluffs along streams or on the slopes of deep ravines. It is an infrequent to a common tree where found. In general in the counties just mentioned it supplants the other species of _Tilia_. It was reported from Wayne County by Phinney, and Schneck says a single tree was found near the mouth of White River. The last named tree may be _Tilia neglecta_ which is said to be found just west in Illinois.

TILIA HETEROPHYLLA Ventenat. White Basswood. (× 1/2.)]

=Remarks.=--Wood and uses similar to that of the preceding species. In Indiana the species are not commercially separated.

A satisfactory division of the species of _Tilia_ of the United States has long been a puzzle. C. S. Sargent[65] has recently published his studies of the species and credits Indiana with two species and one variety. His range of _Tilia neglecta_ might include a part of Indiana, and it may be that the pubescent forms of _Tilia glabra_ in our area should be referred to that species. Specimens No. 28043 and 28047 in the writer's herbarium collected from trees on the high bluff of Graham Creek in Jennings County, Sargent refers to =Tilia heterophylla= variety =Michauxii= Sargent. While Sargent's key to _Tilia_ quite distinctly separates the species and varieties, yet when specimens are collected from an area where the species overlap and seem to intergrade, the task of referring a specimen to the proper species or variety is not an easy one. In fact the writer acknowledges his inability to satisfactorily classify our forms of _Tilia_, and the present arrangement should be accepted as provisional.

CORNÀCEAE. The Dogwood Family.

Trees or shrubs; leaves simple, alternate, opposite or whorled; fruit mostly a drupe, 1 or 2 seeded.

Leaves alternate; flowers of two kinds, the staminate in
heads, 5-parted; stigmas lateral. 1 Nyssa.

Leaves opposite; flowers perfect, 4-parted; stigmas
terminal. 2 Cornus.

=1. NYSSA.= The Tupelos.

=Nyssa sylvática= Marshall. Gum. Black Gum. Sour Gum. Yellow Gum. Pepperidge. Plate 120. Medium to large sized trees; bark on old trees deeply and irregularly furrowed, the ridges broken up into small lengths; twigs at first pubescent, becoming glabrous; leaves oval-obovate or oblong, blades 5-12 cm. long on petioles 0.5-2 cm. long, rather abruptly acuminate at apex, narrowed at the base, sometimes rounded, margins entire, petioles and both surfaces pubescent when they unfold, becoming glabrous above and glabrous or nearly so beneath at maturity; flowers appear in May or June, the staminate in clusters, numerous, small greenish-white, the pistillate 2-8 or solitary; fruit ripens in autumn, a fleshy drupe, 1-3 of a cluster ripening on a pedicel 2-6 cm. long, ovoid, usually 10-12 mm. long, blue-black, sour and astringent; stone generally cylindric and tapering at each end and with 10-12 indistinct ribs.

NYSSA SYLVATICA Marshall. Black Gum. (× 1/2.)]

=Distribution.=--Maine, southern Ontario, southern Michigan, southeastern Wisconsin[66] to Missouri and south to the Gulf. Found throughout Indiana and no doubt was a native of practically every county. It is an infrequent to a very rare tree in the northern half of the State, becoming a common tree in certain parts of the southern counties. In the northern part of the State it is usually found on dry ground associated with the oaks, although it is also found with sugar maple and beech.

=Remarks.=--Wood heavy, soft, very difficult to split. Woodsmen always speak of two kinds of black gum. There is one form which splits easily which is designated as "yellow gum." This distinction has not been substantiated. The uses of gum are many. The quality of not splitting makes many uses for it. The greater amount of gum is used as rough stuff. In the manufactures it is used for mine rollers, heading, boxes, hatter's blocks, water pipes, firearms, wooden ware, musical instruments, etc.

The distinctive habit of growth of the black gum together with the gorgeous coloring of the autumnal foliage recommend this species for ornamental planting. It has an upright habit of growth, although the trunk is more or less crooked. The crown when grown in the open is usually pyramidal, composed of horizontal crooked branches.

=2. CÒRNUS.= Dogwood.

=Cornus flórida= Linnæus. Dogwood. Flowering Dogwood. Plate 121. Usually a small tree[67] 1-2 dm. in diameter; bark deeply fissured, the ridges divided into short oblong, pieces; branchlets slender, in winter condition turning up at the tips; twigs green and smooth or nearly so from the first; leaves oval or slightly obovate, blades generally 5-12 cm. long on petioles about 1 cm. long, generally abruptly taper-pointed at apex, gradually narrowed and generally oblique at the base, margins thickened and entire, or very slightly crenulate, appressed pubescent both above and beneath, light green above and a grayish-green beneath; flowering heads surrounded by an involucre of 4 large white or pinkish bracts; the mature bracts are obovate, 2-4 cm. long, notched at the apex, appear before the leaves in April or May; flowers are in a head, numerous, small and greenish, opening usually about the middle of May as the leaves appear or even when the leaves are one-third grown; fruit ripens in September or October, an ovoid red drupe about 1 cm. long, usually about 3-5 flowers of a head mature fruit; stone elliptic and pointed at each end.

CORNUS FLORIDA Linnæus. Dogwood. (× 1/2.)]

=Distribution.=--Southern Maine, southern Ontario, southern Michigan, to Missouri and south to Florida and west to Texas. Found in all parts of Indiana. Frequent to very common in all beech-sugar maple woods of the State. It is very rare or absent in the prairie area of the northwest part of the State, although it has been found in upland woods in all of the counties bordering Lake Michigan. It is also a frequent or more common tree in most parts of the State associated with white oak, or in the southern part of the State with black and white oak. It prefers a dry habitat, and is rarely found in wet situations.

=Remarks.=--Wood hard, heavy, strong, close-grained and takes a high polish. The Indians made a scarlet dye from the roots. It was used much by the pioneers for wedges, mallets and handles for tools. The trees are so small that they do not produce much wood. The present supply is used principally for shuttles, golfheads, brush blocks, engraver's blocks, etc.

The mature fruit is much relished by squirrels and birds.

The tree is quite conspicuous in the flowering season, and when the fruit is maturing. These features recommend it for ornamental planting, and it is used to some extent. The tree has a flat crown, and is quite shade enduring. It is very difficult to transplant, and when the tree is transplanted, if possible, some earth taken from under a live dogwood tree, should be used to fill in the hole where it is planted.

=ERICÀCEAE.= The Heath Family.

=Oxydéndrum arbòreum= (Linnæus) DeCandolle. Sour Wood. Sorrel Tree. Plate 122. Small trees with a gray and deeply fissured bark, much resembling that of a young sweet gum tree; twigs and branchlets greenish and smooth; leaves alternate, on petioles about a cm. long, oblong-oval, generally 10-15 cm. long, narrowed at the base, acute or acuminate at the apex, margins entire toward the base or sometimes all over, usually about three-fourths is irregularly serrate with very short incurved teeth, glabrous above and beneath except a puberulence on the midrib and sometimes on the petiole to which an occasional prickle is added beneath; flowers appear in June when the leaves are full grown, in large panicles at the end of the year's growth, white, the whole inflorescence covered with a short gray pubescence; fruit a capsule about 0.5 cm. long on an erect and recurved pedicel of about the same length, maturing in autumn.

OXYDENDRUM ARBOREUM (Linnæus) DeCandolle. Sour Wood. Sorrel Tree. (× 1/2.)]

=Distribution.=--A tree of the elevated regions of the area from southeastern Pennsylvania to Florida and west to southern Indiana and south to Louisiana. In Indiana it is definitely known to occur only in Perry County at the base of a beech spur of the Van Buren Ridge about 7 miles southeast of Cannelton. Here it is a common tree over an area of an acre or two. The largest tree measured was about 1.5 dm. in diameter and 12 meters high. Here it is associated with beech, sugar maple, dogwood, sassafras, etc. When coppiced it grows long slender shoots which the boys of the pioneers used for arrows. A pioneer who lived near this colony of trees is the author of this use of the wood and he called the tree "arrow wood."

=EBENÀCEAE.= The Ebony Family.

=Diospyros virginiàna= Linnæus. Persimmon. Plate 123. Small or medium sized trees with deeply and irregularly fissured bark, the ridges broken up into short lengths; twigs pubescent; leaves alternate, oval, oblong-oval or ovate, generally 8-15 cm. long and 3-7 cm. wide, narrowed, rounded or cordate at the base, short pointed at the apex, margin entire but ciliate, slightly pubescent above when young, becoming glabrous on age, more or less pubescent beneath, sometimes glabrous except the midrib and margin; flowers appear in May or June on the year's growth when the leaves are about half grown, greenish yellow, the staminate on one tree and the pistillate on another; fruit ripens in August, September or October, depressed-globose or oblong in shape, 2-3 cm. in diameter, generally with 1-4 very hard flat seed.

=Distribution.=--Connecticut to Iowa and south to the Gulf. In Indiana it is confined to the south half of the State. We have no record of wild trees being found north of Indianapolis, except Prof. Stanley Coulter reports three trees growing in Tippecanoe County in situations such as to indicate that they are native. It is doubtful if it was ever more than a frequent tree in the original forest. In some of the hill counties of the south central part of the State, it has become a common tree in clearings and abandoned fields. It grows long surface roots from which numerous suckers grow which form the "persimmon thickets." It seems to thrive in the poorest and hardest of soils. However, it reaches its greatest size in the alluvial bottoms of the Lower Wabash Valley. Here large and tall trees have been observed on the low border of sloughs, associated with such water-loving plants as water-locust, button-bush, swell-butt ash, etc. It thrives equally well on the high sandy ridges of Knox and Sullivan Counties.

DIOSPYROS VIRGINIANA Linnæus. Persimmon. (× 1/2.)]

=Remarks.=--The fruit is edible and the horticultural possibilities of this tree have never received the attention they deserve. The opinion is current that the fruit does not ripen and is not edible until it is subjected to a frost. This is an error. The best and largest fruit I have ever eaten ripened without a frost. A large native tree on the Forest Reserve in Clark County ripens its fruit in August, which is of an excellent quality and usually has only one, and rarely more than three seeds. The fruit of this tree is of the oblong type. The fruit varies much in size, time of ripening and quality. Some is scarcely edible. Some of the native trees bear fruit when they are not over eight feet tall, some are usually prolific bearers while others bear sparingly. For this reason if one wishes to grow persimmon trees it is best to buy grafted trees from some reliable nurseryman. The tree is hardy throughout Indiana and while it is a very slow growing tree, it can nevertheless be recommended for ornamental and roadside tree planting. It is to be noted that cattle will not browse persimmon, and that hogs greedily eat the ripe fruit. The fruit of many trees does not fall until early winter, and such trees are a granary for several kind of animals of the forest.

The wood is hard, heavy, strong and close-grained. Practically the whole output of persimmon lumber is used in making shuttles. In Indiana the tree is too rare to furnish much lumber.

=OLEÀCEAE.= The Olive Family.

Leaves compound; fruit dry, a samara. 1 Fraxinus.

Leaves simple; fruit fleshy, a drupe. 2 Adelia.

=1. FRÁXINUS.= The Ashes.

Trees with opposite, odd-pinnate leaves; flowers appear in April or May in clusters from the axils of last year's leaves, the staminate and pistillate on different or sometimes on the same tree; fruit a 1-seeded samara.

Bark of mature trees furrowed; fruit not winged to the base.

Body of fruit robust, round and rather abruptly passing
into the wing; the body rarely winged 1/3 its length.

Shoots and axis of leaves smooth. 1 F. americana.

Shoots and axis of leaves velvety pubescent, at least
when young. 2 F. biltmoreana.

Body of fruit flattened and gradually passing into the
wing; the body usually winged more than 1/3 its length.

Shoots glabrous, or practically so. 3 F. lanceolata.

Shoots velvety pubescent, at least when young.

Calyx of fruit less than 3 mm. long; body of
samara just below the wing less than 3 mm.
wide, rarely 4 mm. wide, usually 1.5-2.5
mm. wide; samaras 3-4.5 cm. long. 4 F. pennsylvanica.

Calyx of fruit more than 3 mm. long, generally
4-5 mm. long; body of samara just below the
wing more than 3 mm. wide, usually 4-5 mm.
wide; samaras generally 4-6 cm. long. 5 F. profunda.

Bark of mature trees scaly or flaky; fruit winged to the base.

Twigs usually 4 angled; leaflets on very short
stalks. 6 F. quadrangulata.

Twigs round; leaflets sessile. 7 F. nigra.

=1. Fraxinus americàna= Linnæus. White Ash. Gray Ash. Plate 124. Large trees with deeply furrowed bark; twigs smooth, greenish gray and often covered with a bloom; leaves generally 2-3.5 dm. long, rachis smooth; leaflets 5-9, usually 7, generally 5-14 cm. long, on stalks generally 0.3-1 cm. long, the terminal one on a stalk 2-4 times as long, leaflets ovate to narrow-oblong, narrowed, rounded or oblique at base, short or long acuminate at apex, sometimes merely acute, margins entire or irregularly serrate, usually not serrated to the base, teeth short, dark green and smooth above, glaucous beneath, sometimes almost green beneath about Lake Michigan and in the northern tier of counties, usually pubescent beneath along the midrib and along the veins, sometimes glabrous; calyx persistent on the fruit, about 1 mm. long; fruit ripens in September and October, linear, 3-4.5 cm. long, variable in size and shape, body of samara cylindrical, somewhat narrower than the wing and usually 1/3-1/4 the length of the samara, each face of the body usually striated longitudinally with about 8 faint lines; wing terminal, generally about 0.5 cm. wide, pointed or notched at apex.

=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia to Minnesota and south to the Gulf. Frequent to common in all parts of Indiana. It is the most abundant in the northern two-thirds of the State, where it is associated principally with beech, sugar maple, linn, slippery elm and red oak. In the hilly part of the State it is found principally near water courses and in ravines, and rarely on the white and black oak ridges. It is rarely found in the low "flats" of the southeast part of the State, or in the shingle oak bottoms along the Patoka River.

=Remarks.=--The foliage of the white ash is quite variable in the texture of the leaflets. Leaflets on some trees are quite thin while those of other trees are thick and leathery, and no doubt would be classed by Sargent as variety =subcoriacea=[68].

FRAXINUS AMERICANA Linnæus. White Ash. (× 1/2.)]

A form of white ash with reddish-purple fruit is found from Steuben to Clark County. This form is the prevailing type of white ash in Wayne County in the vicinity of Centerville. It has been described by Fernald as forma =iodocarpa=.[69]

The wood is heavy, hard, strong, elastic, sap wood white and the heart wood light brown. It is one of the most valuable of Indiana woods, and is used by almost all wood using industries. Its principal uses include handles, butter tubs, car and vehicle stock, automobiles and implements.

The white ash has been under cultivation at the Clark County State Forest for fifteen years, and the present indications are that it is one of the very best species to use for forest planting. It is hardy; grows in nearly all kinds of soil, although it prefers a moist, rich soil; transplants successfully; grows rapidly; bears pruning well; erect in habit of growth, and so far in our area forest plantings have not been destroyed by injurious insects. However, in some parts of the State, where trees have grown in the cities, some have been killed by scale insects. Aside from this the white ash would be an excellent tree for roadside planting, because it comes into leaf late, and never produces a dense shade.

At present seed collectors are not able to separate the species of ash, and as a consequence white ash seedlings bought from a nursery are not always true to name. For this reason it is suggested that to obtain seedlings true to name that seed be collected and planted from a tree true to name. The seed should be planted in a sandy soil in rows, about 25 seeds to the foot, and covered about an inch deep with earth. The trees should be planted 4 × 4 ft. to 8 × 8 ft. apart.

=2. Fraxinus biltmoreàna= Beadle. Biltmore Ash. Plate 125. Large forest trees, resembling the white ash. Young trees acquire the furrowed bark character earlier than the white ash, furrows of the bark of mature trees are usually deeper, and the ridges correspondingly farther apart; twigs are robust like the white ash and always velvety pubescent except in age when they may become smooth; leaves generally 2-3.5 dm. long, rachis pubescent; leaflets 5-11, usually 7-9, generally 5-14 cm. long, on stalks generally 0.3-1 cm. long, the terminal one on a stalk 2-4 times as long, leaflets broadly ovate to narrow ovate, or oblong to narrow oblong, narrowed, rounded, or oblique at the base, short or long acuminate at apex, sometimes merely acute, margins generally entire, sometimes with a few short teeth toward the apex, dark green and smooth above, glaucous and more or less pubescent beneath; fruit similar to the preceding species.

FRAXINUS BILTMOREANA Beadle. Biltmore Ash. (× 1/2.)]

=Distribution.=--This species has only recently been separated from the white ash and its range has not been ascertained. It is known to occur in the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia. In Indiana it is known to occur as far north as Wells County. It is commonly associated with the white ash, but much less frequent except in a few districts where it is the prevailing type. Such a district is in Gibson County north of Owensville. Here as well as in other parts of Gibson County very large trees have been observed. In the original forest the pioneers called the very large specimens of ash with deeply furrowed bark "the old fashion" ash. It is believed that most of these specimens were of this species. In the hilly parts of Indiana this species is found in situations too dry for the white ash, and for this reason should be given preference in hillside planting.

On the wooded bluff of White River in Fairview Park north of Indianapolis is a specimen that measures 31 dm. in circumference, b.h. The deepest furrows on the north side of the tree are 6 cm. deep.

=Remarks.=--This species is not yet commonly separated from the white ash and is known to the trade as white ash. Mr. Beadle who first recognized the species, named it Biltmore ash in honor of the Biltmore Estate on which the first tree was discovered. Authors ever since have so called it, and the common name which this form should bear is Biltmore ash.

On the Clark County State Forest is a planting of sixteen year old white ash in which are mixed quite a number of Biltmore ash. This species at a distance, can be distinguished from the white ash by the rougher bark of the trunks and the darker green color of its foliage, and in the autumn by its more colored foliage. A closer view shows that the leaflets of the Biltmore ash stand in a plane above the rachis higher than those of the white ash.

The wood is not commercially distinguished from the white ash, but its mechanical properties rank it somewhat below that species.[70]

FRAXINUS LANCEOLATA Borkhausen. Green Ash. (× 1/2.)]

=3. Fraxinus lanceolàta= Borckhausen. White Ash. Green Ash. Swamp Ash. Plate 126. Medium to large sized trees with fissured bark, the ridges and furrows narrower than those of the white ash; twigs slender and glabrous at maturity; leaves generally 2-3 dm. long, rachis smooth, rarely slightly pubescent; leaflets 5-9, usually 7, generally 5-15 cm. long, on stalks generally about 0.5 cm. or less in length, the terminal one on a stalk 2-4 times as long, leaflets generally narrow-oblong or ovate to narrow ovate-oblong, generally with a narrowed base, sometimes rounded and oblique, short or long acuminate at apex, margin entire near the base, the remainder of the margin generally sparsely serrate with short teeth, dark green and smooth above, a lighter green beneath and more or less pubescent on the petiolules, midrib and veins; calyx persistent, about 1 mm. long; fruit ripens in September and October, linear or spatulate, 3-5 cm. long, variable in size and shape, body 1/3-1/2 the length of samara, compressed or flattened and gradually narrowed to the base, usually less than half as wide as the wing, each face of the body usually striated with about 2-4 lines which are stronger than those near the edge of the body; wing generally 5-6 mm. wide, pointed or notched at apex, and decurrent on the sides of the body for about one-half of its length.

=Distribution.=--Lake Champlain to the Saskatchewan and south to the Gulf. Found in all parts of Indiana. It is usually found in low ground along streams, in swamps, and in low woods. It is usually associated with white elm, red maple, cottonwood, aspens, linn, bur oak, etc., in the south to this list should be added silver maple and cypress. It prefers a habitat wetter than that of the white ash, although the two are found together in wet woods. In swampy woods it is often a common tree. While it has a general distribution in the State, it is much more local than the white ash.

=Remarks.=--This form is not usually separated from the next species, and both are known in books and by nurserymen as green or red ash. The common name, green ash, should be applied to this species to separate it from the true white ash, and the next.

In ash forest plantings on the Clark County State Forest, it is to be noted that this and the next species bear fruit while the trees are as small as 1.5 cm. in diameter, while the white and Biltmore ash which are much older and 6-8 cm. in diameter have never borne fruit. This species and the next bear fruit oftener and in greater abundance than the white or Biltmore ash. It is also to be noted that practically all of the volunteer ash trees found along fences and roadsides, except very large trees, are of the green ash species.

The wood is similar to that of white ash, and the cut is usually sold as that species. However, it ranks below white ash in its mechanical qualities.[71]

While the native green ash is found growing in swamps, it adapts itself to drier situations. It is planted more than any other species of ash in the cold and dry regions of the West and Northwest.

FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA Marshall. Red Ash. (× 1/2.)]

=4. Fraxinus pennsylvánica= Marshall. Red Ash. White Ash. Swamp Ash. Plate 127. Usually medium sized trees much like the preceding; twigs velvety pubescent at maturity; leaves generally 2-3 dm. long, rachis pubescent; leaflets 5-9, usually 7, generally 5-15 cm. long, on stalks generally about 0.5 cm. long, the terminal one on a stalk 2-4 times as long, leaflets generally ovate, ovate-oblong, or oblong to narrow-oblong, generally with a narrowed base, sometimes rounded and oblique, short or long acuminate at the apex, margins sometimes entire, generally entire near the base, the remainder more or less serrated with shallow teeth, dark green and smooth above, a lighter green beneath and more or less densely pubescent all over the lower surface, especially on the midrib and veins; calyx persistent, about 1 mm. long; fruit can not be distinguished from the preceding.

=Distribution.=--Quebec to Manitoba, and south to Florida. Found sparingly in all parts of Indiana. It is usually found in low ground, but frequently on bluffs, and flood plain banks.

=Remarks.=--This species is not commonly separated from the white ash group, but in books it is known as the red ash. This is the common name that should be applied to this form.

This species is not usually separated from the preceding, but it is easily distinguished from it by its pubescent twigs. It can be distinguished from the next by its smaller twigs, smaller calyx and smaller fruit.

The wood is similar to that of the white ash, and the cut is usually sold as that species. In mechanical qualities it is on a par with the green ash.

=5. Fraxinus profúnda= Bush. Swell-butt Ash. Plate 128. Medium or large trees with fissured bark similar to the white ash; twigs robust and velvety pubescent at least while young; leaves generally 2-4 dm. long, rachis densely pubescent, rarely almost smooth; leaflets 5-9, generally 7, on stalks 0.5-1 cm. long, the terminal one on a stalk 2-4 times as long, leaflets ovate, narrow-ovate to narrow-oblong, narrowed or rounded and oblique at the base, short or long taper-pointed at the apex, margins entire, rarely with a few short teeth, dark green and smooth above, a lighter green and densely pubescent beneath, rarely somewhat smooth; calyx persistent, generally 4-5 mm. long, rarely as short as 3 mm.; fruit ripening in September and October, linear, generally 4-6 cm. long, variable in size and shape, body about 1/3 the length of the samara, compressed or flattened and gradually narrowed to the base, the striations on the face of the body not prominent and usually not distinct the full length of the body, samara often unilateral or somewhat falcate; wings notched or merely rounded at the apex, decurrent on the body 1/4-1/2 its length, sometimes almost terminal.

FRAXINUS PROFUNDA Bush. Swell-butt or Pumpkin Ash. (× 1/2.)]

=Distribution.=--Virginia, Indiana and Missouri, and south to Florida. In Indiana the distribution has not been determined. It is a common to an infrequent tree of the river sloughs and cypress swamps of the southwestern counties. Authentic specimens are at hand from Knox, Gibson, Posey, Perry, Bartholomew, Jackson, Marion and Daviess Counties, and specimens from Hamilton, Tipton and Starke Counties, I doubtfully refer to this species. The preferred habitat of this species is inundated swamps, and when it grows in such situations it generally develops a base swollen to a point somewhat above the water level. In Bartholomew County it was found associated with the cow oak, and the trunk resembled the white ash.

=Remarks.=--This species is known by authors and commercially as pumpkin ash. The wood is similar to white ash but is inferior to that species. On account of its habitat this species was little cut until the past few years when ash became scarce. During the past few years most of the deep river and cypress swamps have been invaded and all of the ash cut.

=6. Fraxinus quadrangulàta= Michaux. Blue Ash. Plate 129. Medium to large sized trees with light gray bark, not regularly fissured, scaly at least above; twigs and branchlets more or less distinctly 4-angled, the angles of vigorous shoots develop corky wings about 2 mm. high; leaves generally 2-3 dm. long; leaflets 7-11, generally 7-15 cm. long, on short stalks, usually 1-5 mm. long, sometimes sessile, the terminal one on a stalk generally about 1-2 cm. long, leaflets ovate to lanceolate, narrowed or rounded at the base, generally long acuminate at the apex, margins rather regularly and coarsely serrated with short incurved teeth, yellow-green and smooth above, about the same color beneath and generally smooth except along the veins, midrib and petiolules which are permanently pubescent; calyx very small, usually about 0.5 mm. long, and persisting more or less in fruit; fruit ripens last of June to August, samaras twisted, generally 3-4 cm. long and 8-10 mm. wide, rounded at the base, notched or rounded and apiculate at the apex, the apical end of all specimens at hand twisted to the right, the wing surrounds the body.

=Distribution.=--Southern Ontario to Iowa, and south to northern Alabama and Arkansas. Found sparingly in most parts of Indiana, except the northwest part. There are no records northwest of White and Noble Counties. In the northern two-thirds of the State it is a rare to very rare tree, generally found only along the bluffs of streams. In many areas it is so rare that even the pioneers do not know the tree. It was the most frequent in the southeastern part of the State. Here also it is found principally along the higher banks of streams. While the species is confined principally to high ground it also grew in lower ground. The largest tree seen is on level ground at a fork of the road between Charlestown and Jeffersonville about 3 miles northeast of Jeffersonville. In 1918 this tree measured 28.2 dm. (104-1/2 inches) in circumference breast high.

FRAXINUS QUADRANGULATA Michaux. Blue Ash. (× 1/2.)]

This species has not been observed in the "knob" area of the State or anywhere in the flats of the Lower Wabash Valley. Schneck reports it as rare on the hills of this area. The tree is too rare to definitely determine its associates, although sugar maple is usually found with it.

=Remarks.=--This species is becoming too scarce to be of much economic importance. The cut is usually sold as white ash. The uses of the wood are practically the same as the white ash.

The fruit and foliage of this species most closely resembles that of the black ash, from which it can be distinguished by its greenish-yellow foliage and the habitat in which it grows.

=7. Fraxinus nìgra= Marshall. Black Ash. Plate 130. Medium sized, tall and straight trees with a light gray bark, broken up into small thin plates on old trunks; twigs round, robust and smooth at maturity; leaves 2.5-4 dm. long, leaflets generally 7-11 and 7-13 cm. long, sessile, the terminal one generally on a stalk 0.5-1 cm. long, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, narrowed or rounded at the base, and short or long acuminate at the apex, margins coarsely and rather irregularly serrate with short teeth which are usually somewhat incurved, dark green and glabrous above, not much lighter beneath and glabrous or pubescent along the midrib and larger veins; calyx and corolla none; fruit ripens the last of June to August, similar to the fruit of the blue ash, samaras generally 3-4 cm. long, and 7-10 mm. wide, body winged all around, the base of the samara rounded, the apex notched or rounded, the apical end of the samara twisted more or less to the right in all specimens at hand.

=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia to Manitoba, south to Virginia and northern Arkansas. Local in all parts of Indiana except in the "knob" area of the State. It is generally found in places that are inundated much of the winter season. Its habitat is in cold swampy woods or similar places about lakes. It has no special affinity for streams. It is local in its distribution. Where it is found it is generally a frequent to common tree. In the lake area of Indiana its habitat conditions are frequent, consequently colonies of it are frequent. South of the lake area of the State it becomes rare to extremely local. In the southwest part of the State it has been sparingly found in a few cypress swamps. It is usually associated with white elm, cottonwood, aspens, red maple, bur oak, and is one of the first species to invade extinct tamarack swamps.

FRAXINUS NIGRA Marshall. Black Ash. (× 1/2.)]

=Remarks.=--The wood is tougher but in most qualities is inferior to white ash and cannot be used for handles. The layers of growth separate easily which enables the wood to be separated into thin strips. This fact was known to the Indians who used this wood for making baskets. This use was continued by the white man and in addition it was a favorite wood for making hoops, and in many sections it is known as the "hoop ash." The wood has many uses such as for baskets, splint boxes, butter tubs, vehicle stock, interior finish, furniture, etc. The black burls of the trunk are much sought for by veneer manufacturers.

=2. ADÈLIA.=

=Adèlia acuminàta Michaux.= Pond Brush. Crooked Brush, Plate 131. Small trees, or shrub like, with gray smooth bark, becoming rough or fissured on large trees, the ridges short and broken; branchlets numerous and somewhat spiny; twigs glabrous; leaves opposite on petioles about 1 cm. long, ovate to elliptic-ovate, 4-11 cm. long, with a long narrow base, long acuminate at the apex, margins entire near the base, the remainder more or less coarsely serrated with short rounded teeth, rarely entire, smooth above and beneath; flowers appear last of March to the first of May, the staminate in small sessile clusters along the branchlets, the pistillate in short panicles; fruit a dark purple drupe, oblong, about 15 mm. long; stone with many longitudinal ribs.