  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.
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. 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. 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. 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 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.
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. QUERCUS ALBA LinnÆus. White Oak. (× 1/2.) 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 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 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. QUERCUS BICOLOR Willdenow. Swamp White Oak. (× 1/2.) QUERCUS MUHLENBERGII Engelmann. Chinquapin Oak. (× 1/2.) 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 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 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. 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. 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. QUERCUS PRINUS LinnÆus. Chestnut Oak. (× 1/2.) 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. QUERCUS STELLATA Wangenheim. Post Oak. (× 1/2.) 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 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 (871/2 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. QUERCUS MACROCARPA Michaux. Bur Oak. (× 1/2.) 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 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. Distribution.—Maryland to Missouri, Remarks.—Wood and uses similar to that of white oak. In our area it is usually known as bur oak. QUERCUS LYRATA Walter. Overcup Oak. (× 1/2.) 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. QUERCUS IMBRICARIA Michaux. Shingle Oak. (× 1/2.) 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. QUERCUS RUBRA LinnÆus. Red Oak. (× 1/2.) 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. QUERCUS PALUSTRIS Muenchhausen. (× 1/2.) QUERCUS SCHNECKII Britton. Schneck's Oak. (× 1/2.) 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 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. 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. QUERCUS ELLIPSOIDALIS E. J. Hill. Hill's Oak. (× 1/2.) 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 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. 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. QUERCUS COCCINEA Muenchhausen. Scarlet Oak. (× 1/2.) In the northern part of the State it is a rare or infrequent tree, while in favorable habitats in the hill country of the southern part of the State it is a frequent to a common tree. Remarks.—Wood similar but much inferior to red oak. The cut in this State is marketed as black oak, from which it is rarely separated. Distribution.—New Jersey and Missouri, south to Florida and west to Texas. The known distribution in Indiana would be that part of the State south of a line drawn from Vincennes to North Madison. It is local except in the southwestern counties. In our area it is found on both high and low ground. In Jefferson and Clark Counties it is found only in the flats where it is associated with beech, sweet gum, pin oak, red maple and black gum. A colony was found in Washington County on high ground, about eight miles southwest of Salem associated with black and post oak. In Harrison County about two miles southeast of Corydon it was found on the crest of a ridge with white and black oak. In Daviess County about four miles east of Washington it is associated with black and post oak. In Knox, Gibson, Pike and Warrick Counties it is local on sand ridges with black oak. It occurs in the greatest abundance in the river bottoms of Gibson, Posey and Spencer Counties, where it is generally associated with pin, Schneck's, shingle, swamp white, black and post oaks, and sweet gum. In the last named counties it is fairly well distributed, and is a frequent to a common tree. Brown's QUERCUS FALCATA Michaux. Spanish Oak. (× 1/2.) Remarks.—Wood and uses similar to that of red oak. In Indiana it is all sold as red oak. In all parts of its range in Indiana it is known as red or black oak. However, the best accepted common name of this species throughout its range is Spanish oak, and since no other species is known by this name, it should be used for this species. The bark of this species varies considerably in color and tightness. The leaves are exceedingly variable in form. The leaves on the same tree will vary from 3-lobed to 11-lobed. Usually the lobing is deepest in the leaves nearest the top of the tree. Leaves of small trees, coppice shoots, and of the lower branches of some trees are often all or for the greater part 3-lobed. The color of the pubescence of the lower surface of the leaves varies from a gray to a yellow-gray. The variations have lead authors to divide this polymorphic species into several species and varieties. The author has included all the forms that occur in Indiana under one name. This species is variously known as Quercus digitata, Quercus triloba, Quercus pagodaefolia, and by the most recent authors as Quercus pagoda and Quercus rubra and its varieties. Specimens in the author's collection from Jefferson County were reported by Sargent QUERCUS MARILANDICA Muenchhausen. Black Jack Oak. (× 1/2.) Distribution.—New York to Nebraska, south to Florida and west to Texas. In Indiana it is known to the author from Sullivan, Greene and Clark Counties and southwestward. It has been reported from Jefferson County by Barnes which is no doubt correct. Doubtful records are those by Brown for Fountain County, Miami County by Gorby, and Phinney's report for the area of Delaware, Jay, Randolph and Wayne Counties. It has been reported for the vicinity of Chicago by Higley and Raddin. It may be local on sterile, sandy ridges of the northern part of the State, but very local if it does occur. It is generally found in very poor soil on the crest of ridges associated with black and post oak. However, it has been found in Greene, Sullivan and Knox counties on sand ridges and at the base of sand ridges associated with black and post oak. The species has a very limited mass distribution and is only occasionally found and in colonies of a few trees each. Remarks.—Trees too small and scarce to be of any economic importance. |
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