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.

Plate 47

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.

Plate 48

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.

Plate 49

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.

Plate 50

Plate 51

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.

Quercus velùtina14. 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.

Plate 52

Plate 53

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.

Plate 54

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.

16. Quercus falcàta Michaux. Spanish Oak. Plate 55. Large trees; bark thick, rather deeply fissured, furrows usually narrow, ridges generally broad and broken into short lengths, the outer bark is reddish, except sometimes it becomes grayish by weathering; twigs densely pubescent at first, remaining more or less pubescent during the first year, or becoming smooth or nearly so and a reddish brown by autumn; leaves on petioles 0.5-6 cm. long, ordinarily about 2-3 cm. long, blades very variable in outline, ovate, ovate-oblong or obovate, usually somewhat curved, wedge-shaped, rounded or truncate at the base, shallow or deeply lobed, generally about ²/₃ of the distance to the midrib; lobes 3-11, commonly 5-9, the number, size and shape of the lobes exceedingly variable, the longest lateral lobes are generally near the middle of the leaf, sometimes the lowest pair, sometimes the upper pair are the longest, terminal lobe triangular or oblong, generally widest at the base, although frequently widest at the apex, lateral lobes widest at the base and gradually becoming narrower, towards the apex, rarely somewhat wider at the apex, generally somewhat curved, lobes generally sharp-pointed, sometimes wide-angled or rounded at the apex, margins of lobes entire, wavy, toothed or lobed, sinuses wide and rounded at the base; leaves densely pubescent on both surfaces at first, gradually becoming smooth and dark green above by autumn, the under surface remaining covered with a tomentum which is grayish or yellowish; acorns sessile or nearly so, solitary or in pairs; nuts broadly ovoid, generally 10-12 mm. long, broadly rounded at the base, rounded at the apex, enclosed about one-half their length by the cup; cups strongly convex at the base; scales blunt, grayish and pubescent on their backs, their margins reddish and generally smooth.

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[43] report for Fountain County should not be recognized without a verifying specimen, since his list was compiled from a list of common names of the trees which he obtained.

Plate 55

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[44] as Quercus rubra var. triloba.

17. Quercus marilándica Muenchhausen. Black Jack Oak. Plate 56. Mature trees generally 10-30 cm. in diameter; bark resembles that of a gnarled black oak; twigs generally scurvy-pubescent the first year; leaves on petioles from nearly sessile to 2.5 cm. long, usually less than a cm. long, blades 7-15 cm. long, broadly obovate, often almost as wide as long, narrowly rounded at the base, with three primary lobes at the apex, sometimes with two small lateral lobes, the apex is sometimes almost rounded and the position where the lobes usually occur is indicated by three primary veins which end in a bristle, the apex of the leaf is generally about equally divided into three lobes by two very shallow rounded sinuses, the lobes are rounded or merely acute; sometimes the terminal lobes develop a secondary lobe, leaves very pubescent both above and beneath when they first appear, becoming smooth and glossy above at maturity, and remaining more or less pubescent beneath; acorns sessile or nearly so, single or in pairs; nuts ovoid or oblong, 1-1.5 cm. long, broadly rounded at the base, rounded or somewhat conic at the apex, enclosed for about half their length in the cup-shaped cup; scales blunt, not closely appressed, pubescent on back, light reddish-brown; kernel bitter.

Plate 56

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.

ULMÀCEAE. The Elm Family.

1. ÚLMUS. The Elms.

1. Ulmus fúlva Michaux. Slippery Elm. Red Elm. Plate 57. Fairly large trees with deeply fissured reddish-brown bark without white streaks between the layers of the ridges, twigs very pubescent and green at first, becoming gray or reddish-brown at the end of the season and remaining more or less pubescent for a year or more; buds ovate, a very dark reddish brown, the scales more or less pubescent; leaves ovate, oval or slightly obovate, average blades 8-15 cm. long, hairy on both surfaces at first, remaining more or less pubescent beneath until maturity, and becoming very rough above with a few scattered hairs remaining, fragrant when dried, fragrance remaining for years; fruit ripening the last of April or the first of May before or with the unfolding of the leaves; samara orbicular or obovate, usually longer than wide, average size 13-17 mm. long and 9-12 mm. wide, the margin as wide or wider than the seed, margin glabrous, seed densely pubescent on both sides; wood hard, strong, light when well seasoned and not warping as badly as white elm.

Distribution.—Quebec south to Florida, west to Texas, Nebraska and North Dakota. Found in all parts of Indiana. In the prairies or in the "flats" it may be absent in one or more contiguous counties and may be entirely absent on the crests and upper slopes of ridges. It prefers a moist well drained soil, and where it is found it is usually a frequent to a common tree, although rarely is it found as a very common tree. It is usually associated with sugar maple, beech, white ash, linn, tulip, white oak, etc.

Remarks.—This tree usually is from 3-6 dm. in diameter and tall for its diameter. However, larger trees occur. In the Ind. Geol. Rept. 6:70:1875 mention is made of a tree in Jackson County that was "18 feet in circumference." The uses of the wood are similar to that of white elm. The inner bark collected in spring is much used in medicine under the name of slippery elm.

Plate 57