STATE LIBRARY OF PENNSYLVANIA
3 0144 00380419 2
COMMON
TREES
of
INDIANA
b H
JOSEPH S. I LUCK
Presented to the Schools ot Indiana
by the
Charles Lathrop Pack Forestry Trust
s
582.1609
IL6co
1927
ad Distributed
fjby
i Tree Association
jton, D. C.
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c&rees
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest *
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
—by Joyce JQlmer
SS^.ll, 6*77
X.
COMMON
TREES
of
Indiana
<ZBy
Joseph s. illick
and
CHARLES C. DEAM
State Forester of Indiana
A handy pocket manual of the
Common and Introduced
Trees of Indiana
Presented to the Schools of Indiana
By the
Charles Lathrop Pack Forestry Trust
Published and Distributed
By
The American Tree Association
Washington, D. C.
1927
STATE U3RARYOF PENNSYLVANIA
“ 1 / the Nation Stives the c £>rees
t&he c&rees will Stive the Nation ”
—CHARLES LATHROP PACK
With grateful acknowledgment to the United States Forest Service
for the use of 14 cuts.
TEN COMMANDMENTS
OF THE TRAIL
By Henry Wellington Wack, F. R. G. S.
(Copyright, 1926)
By Courtesy of Nature Magazine.
FIRST. Use the By-Ways—not the Highways.
SECOND. Don't go Walking to beg a Ride. The Auto¬
riding Hiker is a Fraud.
THIRD. Everything belongs to Somebody. Then respect all
Private and Public Property. Be not the Author of its dis¬
placement, disfigurement or disappearance.
FOURTH. Keep ofF Prohibited Ground. Neither fish nor
hunt on Posted Land. Trespassers create bad will toward
all Nature Lovers. Campers and Sportsmen.
FIFTH. Leave Gates, Fences, Signs, Stakes, growing grain
and crops as you found them. Walk around, never across,
all planted fields.
SIXTH. Pluck no wild flowers—they belong to all. Leave
them for all to enjoy. Pick no cultivated Fruit. Resist the
boyhood call of the Melon Patch I
SEVENTH. Clear away twigs, leaves and pine needles down
to moist earth, before laying a Camp Fire one fool square.
Keep cook fires low, and less than one-fifth the size of the
clearing. Large fires prevent cooking, but destroy forests.
Only small fires are safe, quick and comfortable to cook with.
Put camp fires out with Water, not with a kick. See that
the peat or humus around the fire is not burning under¬
ground to destroy the woodland after you have left. A
single spark may fly a hundred feet and burn a million trees.
Arson is no greater crime than stupidity or neglect on the
Trail.
EIGHTH. Leave campsites clean; Burn all garbage; replace
cut Firewood and Supplies found in camps. You are the
Guest of an absent Host—not the vandal of a present oppor¬
tunity. Leave a note of thanks in a wilderness shelter you
have used. Put it in order before you depart.
NINTH. Silence, or speech in whispers, is the sign of trail
experience and good woodmanship. Only fools and asses
bray in a Forest.
TENTH. When you leave a beautiful Woodland or descend
from a Mountain, stop, turn around, and gaze reverently
awhile. Then thank God for the boon our Forests are to all
Mankind. Treat Life’s Trail responsibly and keep it clean.
To the seeing eye and the generous soul, Nature's beauty—
her mysteries and charm—forever call us to her Trails!
This handbook aims to open the
pathway to the delightful study of trees,
and to help fashion a right attitude toward
the green and glorious out-of-doors. It
was prepared to satisfy a growing demand,
particularly among the young folks of this
State, for interesting and helpful informa'
tion about the common trees.
Each year a greater number of boys
and girls go out into the fields and forests
to take part in some outdoor program of
education. To be able to participate in
such a wholesome and practical program
of education is to enjoy one of the greatest
educational privileges ever made available
to the young folks of any land.
The inspirational and descriptive sec-
tions of this book are offered to its readers
to study, because a true appreciation of
trees and a correct working knowledge of
them will go far to guarantee a sound pro¬
gram of forest conservation, one of the most
vital economic problems now confronting
the American people.
All the common trees native to this
State and a number of introduced trees
are described in this handbook. A few
of the less common trees had to be omitted.
Whoever becomes acquainted with the trees
treated in this handbook will have a good
working knowledge of the trees of the
State and be prepared to appreciate their
importance in everyday life.
FOREWORD
By Charles Lathrop Pack
President of the American Tree Association
WASHINGTON, D. C.
A LL GOOD THINGS must be known to be appreciated.
There are many things so common in our daily lives
that we accept them with little thought. So much a part of
our existence they are that they become, perhaps, little
known and often less appreciated. Trees run this risk.
Shading us, protecting us, purifying our water supply,
furnishing the homes that are built from them, providing the
paper we use and serving us in thousands of ways, trees
deserve to be known and to be appreciated. Without them
existence would be worth little.
Our country is the greatest in the world. In wealth, in
standards of living and in comforts it stands alone. Nature
endowed it with boundless resources. We have taken this
wealth and built a great nation. The trees in our forests have
been our greatest resources; they have made possible what has
been accomplished.
When our forefathers came to this vast land it was cov¬
ered with nearly nine hundred million acres of forest. To¬
day only one-fifth of this immense resource remains. A
quarter of a billion acres of this original forest are growing
young trees, many of little value. More than eighty million
other acres whose destiny is to produce forests alone, are pro¬
ducing nothing. Of what remains to us of our forests, we
are using four times as fast as we are allowing or helping
Nature to replace.
That is the situation with our forest. One tree or one
hundred trees do not make a forest. But one tree stands for
the forest. We send one man to our Congress to speak for
thousands. We can plant a tree in our dooryard and let it
speak for millions.
This is the problem of today. It is a problem that the
citizens of tomorrow will have brought home to them. They
will need to know the trees to meet it.
This little book is the personal story of the trees that
grow commonly in the soil of our State. It is the story of
the trees whose forefathers peopled the great majority of the
acres of our State. They are your trees; citizens of your
State; companions of your life; servants of your comfort.
Knowledge of trees is more than a duty of good citizens.
It is a joy to the one who has this knowledge. The tree is a
6
Common Trees
living thing. It grows as we grow. It pushes upward as
we should push upward in life. It spreads its branches out¬
ward, as we should spread the branches of our minds, broad¬
ened by experience in life. The tree is a constant lesson to
humanity,—a lesson in erectness, in courage, in dignity and
in steadfastness. It serves us in thousands of material ways,
so should we know it that it may serve us in human ways
as a guide and a friend.
Throughout our great country our future citizens are
everywhere widening their acquaintance with trees. Through
various organizations, as well as the schools, they are dis¬
covering the happiness that this knowledge brings.
This little book will serve as a letter of introduction to the
common trees in your yard, on your street, in the woodlot
on the edge of the city and in the young forest beyond. You
can use it freely and many times. It will give you the knowl¬
edge that leads to appreciation, and this will lead to enjoy¬
ment even beyond expectation.
A NOTICE
(A notice found nailed to a tree in one of the parks of Seville, Spain.
Copied from the book “Spanish Sunshine,” by Elinor Eisner.)
(By Courtesy of Mrs. Samuel Heilner)
“To the Wayfarer—
Ye who pass by and would raise your hand against me
Harken ere you harm me!
I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights.
The friendly shade screening you from the summer sun.
My fruits are refreshing draughts,
Quenching your thirst as your journey on,
I am the beam that holds your house.
The board of your table,
The bed on which you lie.
And the timber that builds your boat,
I am the handle of your hoe,
The door of your homestead,
The wood of your cradle,
And the shell of your coffin.
I am the bread of kindness, and the flower of beauty.
Ye who pass by, listen to my prayer; harm me not.”
of Indiana
7
EACH CITIZEN'S DUTY
By Hon. Ed JACKSON, Governor of Indiana
T HE standard of living in any nation is in direct pro¬
portion to the amount of wood used per capita. From
the cradle to the grave our trees render us economic service
by supplying us wood for warmth, shelter and industry.
They shelter our wild life, regulate our water supply, and
afford a glorious picture throughout the landscape.
The virgin Indiana forest of magnificent ash, tulip, oak,
maple, and walnut has been the first of our natural resources
to be so completely harvested. Our natural forest reproduc¬
tion upon which depends the restoration of this important
resource has been subjected to damages by fire and grazing
until many of our Indiana woodlots are either completely
destroyed or in immediate danger of destruction.
The Department of Conservation through its Forestry
Division is taking the important primary measures of forest
restoration in Indiana by classifying forest land for tax
exemption, raising forest seedlings at cost for reclaiming idle
land, and furnishing forestry advice to farmers and other
land owners of Indiana.
Their important work must be aided by strong public
sentiment and a widespread public interest in trees. This
book will aid in creating such an interest.
The unproductive condition of our native woodlands costs
the citizens of Indiana at least $15,000,000 a year for the
imported lumber alone which might be grown in our own
state. A greater interest in trees and forestry is an important
part of each citizen’s duty.
EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION
FORESTS OF INDIANA
Of all the natural resources of Indiana, its forests were by far the
greatest. A century of thoughtless wastefulness has almost completely
destroyed this vast wealth. Only here and there do occasional relic trees
tell of the splendor of the virgin forests.
The scattered woodlots remaining are of such poor quality and meagre
stand that they give little conception of the original forest.
As an incidental result of this wastefulness, we have approximately a
million acres of abandoned and wasting land, and this wrecked area is
rapidly increasing.
If we reclaim our inheritance, intensive forestry must be carried on for
many years. Forest and soil are the only natural resources that can be
restored and then maintained in ever-increasing values. The effort to
restore and maintain soil fertility is already well in hand.
The next step, and at the same time the most exigent economic problem
confronting the state, is the reclamation of these waste lands by afforesta¬
tion and the reinforcing of existing wooded areas with species of high
value.
8
Common Trees
Every loyal and intelligent citizen of Indiana should lend enthusiastic
support to this great task.
That through a fuller knowledge of our forests, a wider interest may
be awakened and that the coming generation may see more clearly than
their fathers the imperative need of conserving and maintaining this great
asset, this book has been prepared.
Stanley Coulter,
Chairman of the Department of Conservation,
State of Indiana.
EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD AID
Forestry offers perhaps the greatest opportunity for constructive work
in Conservation. Other great natural resources, our coal, gas and oil,
which have been wasted with such criminal extravagance, can never be
restored.
But while our forests have been exploited with shameful recklessness,
they may, in a measure at least, be restored by a persistent and intensive
treatment of existing "stands” and the afforestation of denuded areas.
A million acres of denuded and wasting land and scant stands of
inferior species on existing wooded areas together furnish an exigent
economic problem which the Department of Conservation is endeavoring
to solve.
At the best, the problem would be difficult; under the financial limita¬
tions of the Department it is one involving years and decades of patient
and intelligent effort.
The situation is one that should challenge not only the interest but
the patriotism of every citizen of the State. A great natural resource
wasted almost to extinction, yet one capable of again being made a great
state asset by means of long continued, co-operative work.
This much to be desired consummation cannot be brought about by
the Department of Conservation working alone. Every community,
every land owner, every citizen, should lend to the movement an in¬
creasingly intelligent and active support.
The existing conditions should not be a cause for despondency, but a
clarion call to a civic duty. The schools should teach the vital necessity
of afforestation and of improving and maintaining existing wooded
areas. Indifference and lethargy must be replaced by intelligent interest
and action if the problem is solved.
Quite apart from the economic values involved are the higher and
more far-reaching aesthetic and recreational values implicit in the main¬
tenance and extension of the forested areas of Indiana.
More and more are our citizens demanding recreational opportunities
and demanding that they be furnished amid beautiful surroundings. Our
forests, more than any other single natural feature, meet this demand.
Out of this demand has grown Indiana’s unrivaled park system, its game
preserves, its state forests, its "monuments” perpetuating not merely
beauty of surrounding, but the beauty of life and achievement of the
days long gone.
of Indiana
9
Every citizen proud of Indiana, full of hope for her future, should
lend aid to this Division of the Department of Conservation to the end
that the former wealth and beauty of the state may in a measure be
restored and through us become the perpetual heritage of our children
and our children's children.
Richard Lieber, Director,
Department of Conservation, State of Indiana.
WHY STUDY OUR TREES?
By C.HAS. C. Deam, State Forester
A FOREST is a collection of trees. For the best man¬
agement of a forest, it is necessary to know the sev¬
eral kinds of trees of which it is, or should be composed.
Thus the study of the trees becomes of prime economic im¬
portance. Trees have contributed so much to our wealth
and happiness that a study of them needs no argument.
The study of trees is far reaching. Take, for example,
the study of the white oak, which is one of our most com¬
mon and valuable trees. The first step is to distinguish this
tree from trees of other families of trees, and lastly to know
it from its brother oaks. This may be done by closely ob¬
serving the bark, buds, leaves, fruit and wood. This kind of
study develops discriminating observation and careful deduc¬
tions. Further, the study of the white oak will teach
geography, because an interest will be aroused in knowing
where this tree is found. Does it grow as far east as Maine,
as far south as Florida and as far west as California? It
will teach geology and soils, because it will soon be learned
that this tree grows both in low rich woods, and on ridges
in almost pure sand and on ridges of poor clay or stony
soils. Seeing this tree growing in different places shows
that it reaches its maximum size in certain kinds of soil,
while it is entirely absent in other kinds of soils which are
derived from other kinds of rock. Why is this? Observa¬
tions will show that this tree is of excellent form and is
long lived. These qualities recommend it for shade tree
planting. In the woods it is seen that it is the injured tree
that is usually blown over by the wind. This means that
fire and grazing should not be permitted in the woods, because
they injure more trees than all other agencies. Further obser¬
vation will often show that the tree sometimes during its life
has been attacked by some kind of insect. Scientists tell us
that over 400 kinds of insects feed upon the white oak, but
that none are so destructive as to kill it. Now and then a
hole may be seen in a large branch, in which a squirrel or
bird may make its home. The large collection of dead
leaves and twigs sometimes seen in the top is the place where
some squirrel or bird has reared its family.
10
Common Trees
No one can walk in the woods and study the trees without
becoming interested in the shrubs, wild flowers, birds and
other wild life. A walk through the woods after a snowfall
will show all kinds of tracks in the snow. Was it a bird,
rabbit, mouse, squirrel, skunk, mink, fox or some unknown
animal? Usually the interest in the tracks will be sufficient
to ascertain the author of them.
A study of trees will always result in a study of nature
as a whole—the most luring, healthful and instructive of all
studies. A study of nature’s laws carries one back to the
beginning of time. Her laws are just in that she has no
favorites. From her laws a philosophy can be developed
that will be a help in every-day life.
Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack, President of the American Tree
Association, has wisely and understanding^ said that trees
make better citizens.
THE FORESTRY SITUATION
By RALPH F. Wilcox, Acting State Forester
T HE Department of Conservation, through the Division
of Forestry, is charged with the responsibility for re¬
storing the forest resources of Indiana. The inertia of public
support to the forestry movement is being overcome and con¬
siderable momentum is noticeable.
The Division of Forestry recognizes certain problems of
forestry in this state and believes this splendid handbook of
Indiana trees offers an opportunity to present an analysis of
the present forestry situation.
Indiana has been importing forest products, chiefly lum¬
ber since 1885. According to available statistics, a billion
board feet of lumber alone were consumed in the state in
1925. Only two hundred million feet were produced locally,
making Indiana a net purchaser of eight hundred million feet,
or four-fifths of her total consumption. The probable cost
of this import was $32,000,000. At least $12,000,000
worth of this lumber bill could have been produced in In¬
diana to the advantage of local labor and business prosperity.
The question of stopping this $12,000,000 leak in our
state pocketbook makes forestry a problem in economics as
well as of sentiment for trees.
of Indiana
11
There are three phases to the problem. In order of their
importance they are, protection of our existing forests from
fire and grazing, improvement in composition of these forests,
and the reforestation of waste or idle land by state acquisi¬
tion and private enterprise.
Insufficient funds prevent any organized forest fire con¬
trol. Grazing, which threatens our forests more than fire is
discouraged by general publicity work and is completely
stopped on about twenty thousand acres of forests which
have been classified under the present forest tax exemption
law with a prohibitory grazing clause. A program is being
carried out to increase the campaign against forest grazing.
As to the improvement of our existing stands the several
hundred forest owners whose land has been inspected for
classification have been advised about proper forestry prac¬
tice in their particular woods. Many have followed this ad¬
vice. Protection and woodland improvement are both ac¬
complished with our present forest tax law. This makes
forestry financially attractive by giving forest land a tax
assessment of one dollar an acre.
The policy of the Department of Conservation to raise
and distribute forest seedlings at cost to Indiana citizens is
very important. Seedling orders nearly double each year.
Since 1922 the State Nursery has furnished nearly a half mil¬
lion trees for state and private planting. It is expected that a
million trees annually will be distributed after 1930.
Since 1903 the state has acquired forty-five hundred acres
of forest land at the Clark County State Forest. The aban¬
doned land is planted to experimental forest plantings which
in time will earn revenue and afford the scientific research
necessary as a background for future forestry practice in the
state.
The legislature of 1927 increased the funds for reforesta¬
tion so that more state forests can be established and the
growing of forest seedlings continued on a larger scale.
The services of the Division of Forestry, in so far as a
limited personnel permits, are available to all who are inter¬
ested in the important economic task of forest development.
“Common Trees of Indiana” carries the message of trees and
their preservation and therefore performs real service in the
crusade for more and better forests.
12
Common Trees
HISTORIC TREES OF INDIANA
By PROF. O. B. Christy, Muncie State Normal School
The most famous tree that has stood upon Indiana’s soil
was the Constitution Elm, located at Corydon, Indiana.
Under this tree the Constitution of Indiana was written
largely by the founders during the summer of 1816. The
old state capitol was built near this tree. The warm
weather and the flies were perplexing problems for those
constitutional framers, and in order to proceed more rapidly
with their duties they gathered near by under the spreading
branches of the venerable Elm. Although it was a large tree
at that time, it continued to grow and develop for many
decades, until its branches reached a spread of one hundred
and twenty-four feet in diameter. It was one of Indiana’s
graceful, beautiful trees as well as becoming known through¬
out the land as the Constitutional Elm. As the years went
by the tree became one of the valuable land marks of the
state and the pilgrimages to it became numerous. The
state's centennial celebration was held under it in 1916. A
few years after this event the tree was attacked by the
ozonuim root rot, and all efforts to prolong its life seemed
useless. During the spring of 1925 the vitality of the
venerable old land mark had become so sapped that only a
few leaves put forth from its branches. Before the summer
had passed the last signs of life had disappeared and the old
monarch bid farewell to the grateful state which it had
watched from infancy to a strong and prosperous common¬
wealth.
In Greene County, Indiana, a mile and a half south of
Worthington, was located one of the largest hardwood trees
in the United States. This was a sycamore, forty-five feet
and three inches in circumference one foot above the ground,
and forty-two feet and two inches in circumference five feet
above ground. The trunk forked into two symmetrical
branches, one nearly nine feet and the other nearly 8 feet in
diameter, the east one was twenty-three feet and two inches
in circumference. The height of the tree was about one
hundred and forty feet, but its spread was about one hundred
feet.
This old tree was a reminder of the days when Indiana
was like the Oregon, Washington and California forests. It
was not widely known until a survey was made by the
American Genetic Association, declaring it to be the largest
hardwood tree in United States. After this many pilgrim¬
ages were made to it. About two years ago it was destroyed
by a wind storm.
of Indiana
13
THE WOODS
W HERE is the boy with spirit so low who upon hearing
the name Robin Hood does not long to go to the
woods; and where is the girl who upon hearing the name
Gene Stratton Porter, does not wish to go out among the
beauties of nature. There is only one way for boys and
girls to satisfy this longing for the out-of-doors and that is
to get ready, go out into the open, and there fill up on the
many good things that nature holds ever ready to give to us.
The forest is much more than a grouping of trees. It is
a complex community of living things. Associated with the
trees are shrubs, wild flowers, ferns, fungi, mosses, and many
other plants. And among this varied plant life live the
birds, the deer, the rabbits, the snakes, the squirrels, and a
long list of other animals. All these living things are a part
of the forest. To know the forest fully means that we know
these wonderful creatures of a great creation. Blessed is the
boy and the girl who can go out into the woods and learn
the many interesting and useful lessons that a woods environ¬
ment makes available.
There is no better place for summer play than among the
trees. A tree environment is the best place to seek adventure,
to become handy and hard, to see beauty, to think quietly,
to walk reverently, to become acquainted with trees, flowers,
and ferns, and to study the feathered folks and their furred
friends. But we cannot have these privileges unless we care
for our forests. It is a sad story, but only too true, that the
forests have been swept with haste from the face of the civil¬
ized world. Few original forests, except those out of reach,
are now left.
It is time to begin a constructive occupancy of the earth.
To exist as a Nation, to prosper as a State, and to live as a
people, we must have forests. But to have them we must
do our part in rebuilding the wrecked and wasted forest areas
that now abound everywhere. Forest fires must be stopped.
More and better trees must be produced. Existing forests
must be handled more wisely. Idle forest land must be put to
work. Unless these and many other necessary things are done,
forest restoration will not move forward. Our forest slogan
should be, “Let’s have good forests and get them now.” If
you want to do an act of kindness —Protect the Forests.
If you want to do an act of faith —Plant Forest Trees. If
you want to prove that you are unselfish —Devote Yourself
to the Woods.
14
Common Trees
THE TREES
TTREES are much more than columns of wood that lift their
heads toward the sky. They are living and friendly
creatures of a great and wonderful creation. They are glori¬
ous nature-made objects, surpassed only by him who walks
among them in living beauty and thinking grace. They are
the earth's fairest cloak, designed primarily; for a life of service
and to broadcast happiness and bring comforts to the people
of the earth.
The botanist tells us that “a tree is a woody perennial
plant having a single main stem commonly exceeding 10 feet
in height and usually devoid of branches below, but bearing
a crown of branches and foliage at the summit.” This may
be a good descriptive definition of a tree, but it does not really
tell us what trees are. To really know trees we must have
a knowledge of more than the length of their trunk, the
position of their crown, and the distinctive characteristics
of their bark, branches, twigs, buds, leaves, flowers, fruit
and other structural features. Trees are living things, and
in their lives are more interesting and worthwhile lessons
than in their structures. The lives of trees unfold to us
beautiful messages and fashion an attitude of tree apprecia¬
tion without which tree knowledge is soulless.
There is a human as well as a material side to trees. They
do so many things that man doeth. To say that they breathe,
eat, drink, grow, reproduce, work, and rest is naming only
a few of their common functions. They have habits, pos¬
sess peculiarities, and are adaptive to the environment in
which they live. All these attributes place them among the
most interesting living things on the face of the earth.
Many a time have I been impressed with the quiet and
natural ways of trees and their clean and normal lives. It
will ever be to our credit if we too can grow, live and give
in the same quietness and naturalness. Then, too, they stand
erect, reach high, root deep, and do many good deeds. In
many ways the acts of trees are worthy patterns for all of
us. If our lives give shelter, pleasantness, and relief as do
the trees, they will bring blessings and comforts in growing
abundance.
of Indiana
15
TREES ARE OUR FRIENDS
T REES live TO give. Whenever we look at a tree we
should think it has some gifts for us. If the gifts are
not wood or food, shade or shelter, they may be one of a
long list of other good things we need in our everyday life.
Trees are such commonplace things that we often overlook
their full service to us. Let us pause just long enough to list
a few of the things our tree friends do for us:
Trees make a great contribution to the world’s beauty.
They pay beauty dividends every day. No place is complete
without them. A home without trees is charmless. A road
without trees is shadeless. A park without trees is purpose¬
less. A town without trees is cheerless. A country without
trees is hopeless.
Trees give us shade and shelter. Beneath their friendly
branches man has found refuge from the scorching sun and
the angry winds. Today, as in ages past, man seeks the
shade of friendly trees to write and enjoy what others have
written. Some of the world’s greatest thoughts were born
in the soft shades of friendly trees. Wherever I see trees
shading occupants of benches in our city parks as they shel¬
ter the lambs that gather at their feet in the pasture, I think
of their friendliness.
Trees help purify the atmosphere. They give out enor¬
mous quantities of oxygen through the tiny openings in
their leaves. In this way they help make and maintain the
pure air we need to keep us alive.
Trees help supply us with wholesome water. The best
drinking water comes from the springs that flow from tree-
covered watersheds. The pure water that trickles out from
among the roots of trees is a great factor in maintaining the
health of our people.
Trees safeguard us against drought and protect us against
raging floods. They increase the low wafer runoff in sum¬
mer and decrease the high water runoff in early spring.
Trees feed, shelter, and give homes to the wild animals
of the forest, particularly the birds.
16
Common Trees
Trees give us rich food. Every boy and girl remembers the
delicious chestnuts, walnuts and hickory nuts gathered from
trees. The cherries, apples, pears, and the tasty persimmons
are also among our favorite fruits.
Trees enrich the soil. Their leaves, upon falling to the
ground, are a big factor in maintaining the fertility of our
soil. Tree-enriched soils make possible the production of
many of the necessary crops of life.
Trees give us a wonderful environment for play. There
is no better place to play and rest than among the trees.
The lap of a tree is the most comfortable and attractive rest¬
ing place on the face of the earth. Clean, outdoor play
grounds make clean young hearts. The right use of leisure
is as vital to good citizenship as the right use of toil.
Trees supply us with wood, which is one of the most
necessary things of life. We use it every day. We cannot
get along without it. It is essential to our welfare and our
life.
Not all the good things that trees do for us have been
listed. There are many other ways in which they help us.
Enough benefits have been recorded, however, to convince
every boy and girl and their teachers, that trees are truly
among our best helpers and greatest benefactors.
WITHOUT TREES
W ITHOUT TREES this would be a dreary and uncomfort¬
able world. Trees are among nature’s best gifts, but
they are so common that we do not half appreciate their
shade and beauty. We partake of their food and wood as a
matter of course. Oft it is with trees as with friends; we
do not appreciate their real value until we have lost them.
What would we think and how would we feel if some
powerful dragon would rush through our streets and about
our countryside and over-night destroy all the trees. Then,
as never before, would we think of their gifts and realize
how intimately they serve us.
Without trees man would be without many indispensable
things of life. Without trees the birds, squirrels, and many
other wild folks would be homeless. Without trees many
of Indiana
17
of the choicest wild flowers and ferns would be without a
sheltering canopy. Without trees the whole balance of nature
would be destroyed and human life imperiled.
Man cannot get along without trees. Apart from their
practical value, they make for better manhood and woman¬
hood by inspiring cleaner thoughts and higher ideals. The
spiritual value of loving them and being with them is beyond
estimate. If we want to continue as a happy people and a
prosperous nation we must see to it that we have plenty of
thrifty and healthy trees. This is our civic and social duty.
Treeless lands are as cheerless as creedless countries are hope¬
less.
THE PARTS OF A TREE
W HEN we look at a tree we can recognize in its makeup
three principal parts. They are the roots, the stem,
and the crown. The roots comprise that part of a tree that
is usually found below the ground. Our common trees
have two general type of root systems, namely, shallow-
rooted and tap-rooted. Such trees as the spruces, the hem¬
locks, and the pines have roots that tend to spread and lie
close to the ground. These shallow-rooted trees are, as a
rule, not windfirm. Other trees, such as the hickories, the
oaks, and the walnuts develop a long taproot. These trees
are firmly anchored and rarely uprooted.
Roots have three main lines of work. They anchor the
trees to the ground, absorb water from the soil, and trans¬
port water to the stem. Without roots, trees could not stand
up, and without roots trees would starve for they supply
water and food to the stem, branches, twigs, leaves, and other
parts of the crown. The principal work of the big roots
near the stem is to help the trees stand up, while the fine root
hairs at the end of the rootlets are the ones that absorb the
water from the soil.
The stem of a tree, also called trunk and bole, is the
main axis extending from the roots to the crown, or to the
tip in case of an unbranched stem. Tree stems show a wide
range in form. They range from long to short, straight to
crooked, and from erect to prostrate. An examination of a
cross-section of a stem will show three principal parts—
bark, wood, and pith. In the central part of the stem is
the pith. About it is the wood, which in many trees can be
divided into the darker heartwood and the lighter sapwood.
Between the wood and the bark is a thin layer known as
the cambium. This is the most vital part of a tree, for it is
here that all new wood and bark are made up. When a tree
18
Common Trees
is girdled, the ring of cambium is severed. This kills the
tree, for the thin cambium layer is the life-giving part of
the stem. The most valuable part of a forest tree is the
stem, for in it is produced the wood that is used so exten¬
sively by man. The principal functions of the stem are (1)
support of the tree crown; (2) transportation of food and
water; and (3) storage of food. During the winter months
considerable food is stored in the stem for use early in spring
when growth starts.
The bark may be divided into two parts—the outer or
dry bark, and the inner or living bark. The bark of some
trees is very valuable. Some of their products are tannin,
cork, dye, and other important commercial products. The
bark is very helpful in identifying many of our common
trees. The beech can always be recognized by its smooth
gray bark, the shagbark hickory by its shaggy bark, and the
paper birch by its white bark which peels off in thin papery
scales. Other trees also have very distinctive features.
The crown of a tree is made up of many parts such as
branches, twigs, buds, leaves, flowers, and fruit. The
branches and twigs have many markings, such as lenticels
(breathing pores), leaf-scars, and bundle-scars, which are
helpful in recognizing trees. The buds of most trees are
either opposite or alternate in their arrangement. They are
among the best tree features to use for the identification of
trees in winter. In summer the leaves have the most dis¬
tinctive characteristics. In using them in tree identification
work, it is helpful to classify them into four major groups:
(1) those with opposite leaves; (2) those with alternate
leaves; (3) those with simple leaves; and ( 4 ) those with
compound leaves. If this simple classification method is fol¬
lowed, tree identification becomes easy and interesting.
THE FOOD OF TREES
W E KNOW that trees grow. They get bigger from year to
year. In order that they can grow they must feed.
The raw material out of which trees make their food comes
from two sources—the soil and the air. The rootlets with
their many small root-hairs absorb water and with it many
food substances are held in solution. During the growing
season there is a continuous flow of sap from the roots
through the stem to the leaves, where it is converted into
nutritious tree food. When the sunlight plays upon the
granules of leaf green, tree food is manufactured. To make
the food, water is brought from the stem through the leaf¬
stalks into the leaves. Then a complex chemical process takes
of Indiana
19
place. This is the reason why leaves have been called the
laboratory of the trees. The principal product derived from
this process, known by the technical name of photo-synthe¬
sis, is starch. As rapidly as the food is manufactured in the
leaves, it makes its way down through the cells of the twigs,
branches, and the stem. A continuous stream of nutritious
sap is moving downward. The thin layer of cambium cells
which encircle the tree then draws upon this food supply to
build up new wood, bark, and other tree tissue. When there
is an excess of food material it is stored in the roots, stems,
branches, and twigs for later use.
It is interesting to know that in making the starch, oxy¬
gen is a by-product. This explains why it is healthy to have
green growing plants about us in daytime. Leaves prepare
food only in daytime, and their output is the greatest in full
sunlight, and is almost negligible during dark nights. This
is the reason why we find the most luxuriant tree growth
in moist, sunny, and warm regions. It is also worth know¬
ing that during the periods of the year when the leaves are
not manufacturing food, the trees live upon a food supply
stored up during the long and light days of summer time.
THE ENEMIES OF TREES
T REES have many enemies. They are fighting for their
lives all the time. There are 200,000 known kinds of
insects that attack trees. It is estimated that caterpillars,
beetles, borers, and other insects cause a loss of one hundred
million dollars every year. Birds help us a lot in holding
the insects in check. But they cannot wage war unaided.
We must take a hand in this serious insect problem.
When we think of tree enemies we must not overlook tree
diseases, such as blights, rusts, and rots. They too are a
serious menace. These diseases affect the tree’s health, just
as human diseases affect our health. Not many years ago the
chestnut was the foremost tree in many eastern states. Now
middle-size to large chestnut trees are very scarce. There is a
good reason for this. In 1904 the deadly chestnut blight was
imported from China. In twenty years it travelled over
practically the entire range of the chestnut, killing trees by
the millions. So far no practical method of control has been
found. As a result of its destructive work the chestnut tree
is rapidly vanishing.
There are thousands of other tree diseases continuously at
work holding back the growth of trees. And decay is always
hard at work destroying the wood that the trees have built
up. Trees must be kept strong and healthy so they can
20
Common Trees
throw off disease. To accomplish this we must keep our for¬
ests clean. Unless we do this we will pay an ever increasing
price for lumber, and later on we will have no more forests
to draw on.
T WO great enemies of our trees are fire and grazing.. Graz¬
ing is a greater menace to the perpetuation of the forests
in Indiana than fire. The carelessness of man is responsible
for nearly all forest fires. Failure of forest owners to realize
the evils of grazing and to protect their wood crop from cattle
as they would protect an agricultural crop is rapidly destroy¬
ing our remaining forests of the central hardwood region.
With these things in mind let us consider a few of the things
done by forest fires and grazing.
FOREST FIRES
1. Forest fires destroy the beauty of the woodlands.
2. They destroy animal and plant life.
3. They destroy tree seeds and seedlings that would grow
into valuable stands of timber.
4. They kill an enormous number of promising young,
middle-aged and old trees.
5. They consume large quantities of felled timber and
other forest products.
6. They destroy the leaf litter on the forest floor.
7. They impoverish the forest soil. Many bare and
sterile hillsides are the result of repeated forest fires.
8. Forest fires open the way for the destructive work of
insects, fungi, erosion, floods, and drought.
9. They frequently destroy buildings, crops, and fences,
and occasionally homes.
10. They may also be responsible for the loss of human
lives.
There is no end to the damage forest fires do. They bring
no good to anyone. In their wake we find waste and impov¬
erishment. To prove our citizenship we must begin right
now to battle this red foe.
FOREST GRAZING
1. Forest grazing destroys young forest trees.
2. It destroys the reproduction of the forest.
3. It deforms young trees which are not actually eaten.
4. It retards the growth rate by packing the forest soil.
5. It thins the woods and exposes the soil to drought.
6. It destroys a profitable wood crop to afford little or
no pasture. Leaves of young trees have little or no
actual food value.
of Indiana
21
7. It makes an unnatural forest condition and ruins the
native beauty of a dense woods.
8. It opens the forest to sunlight and invites destruction
by insects.
Forest grazing unless checked will destroy practically all
the woodlots in Indiana. Like fire, continued grazing in a
woods prevents perpetuation of the forest after logging by
destroying young trees. It is not the increasing death rate
which threatens a race so much as a decreasing birth rate.
The natural birth rate of a hardwood forest is prolific and
future forests must be insured by protecting these young trees.
Grazing destroys them.
Every boy and girl should become a tree protector, and it
would be well for the grown-ups to turn a heedful ear to the
lessons of forest protection. If we want to continue as a
nation of wood users we must become a nation of wood
growers. To do this effectively we must wage a constant
warfare against the foes of our friends—the trees. PRE¬
VENT FOREST FIRES AND GRAZING—IT PAYS is a
slogan that should be repeated over and over again until it
becomes a household word, for everybody loses when our
forests are destroyed.
WHAT FORESTRY IS
F ORESTRY is the art of handling forest land in such a
way that it will be of the greatest service to man. This
implies a good working knowledge of forest trees, for they
are the principal members in the make-up of the forest. A
correct working knowledge of trees will go far to guarantee
a sound program of forest conservation, which is one of the
most vital problems confronting the people of our state.
WHEN TREES GROW
M OST people believe that trees grow from early spring
when the leaves begin to come out until the first frost
when they start to show their autumn color. That this wide¬
spread belief is not correct is now known. For instance in
the latitude of southern Pennsylvania the native forest trees
make 90 per cent of their height growth in 40 days of spring
and early summer.
Not all trees begin to grow at the same time. Some begin
early in spring, while others delay starting their growth
until late April or early May. The Wild Black Cherry
starts about the first of April, while the Tulip Tree or Yellow
Poplar does not begin until late in April, and the Norway
Spruce waits until early in May. The fact that the different
trees start their growth at different times may not seem
strange, but where is the person who is not amazed to learn
22
Common Trees
that the Sweet Buckeye has its whole height growth for the
season completed in some regions by the tenth of May. For
ten years the author has watched different specimens of this
tree in Pennsylvania, and with no single exception all the
height growth for the year was finished by May 10. This
means that the height growth took place in 35 days in spring¬
time.
An even greater revelation of this growth study was the
fact that growth takes place by leaps and bounds. Periods
of rest often occur between periods of growth. These rest
periods may be long or they may be short. In this respect
trees are not different from boys and girls who are willing
to have long rest periods scattered freely among their work¬
ing hours.
Several years ago, the author tagged a chestnut oak tree
and measured its growth carefully. It began growing on
April 17, and grew regularly until May 23. Then it began
a rest period of 32 days. On June 24 it started to grow
again and continued until July 13. If you figure out this
tree’s height growth you will find that at the beginning of
the season it grew for 36 days, then rested for 32 days, and
thereafter grew again for 20 days. During the first growth
period it grew 10 inches—an average of about one-third of
an inch per day, and during the second period 13^ inches—
This was one of the most interesting tree studies ever
undertaken by the writer of this handbook. He hopes that
many boys and girls will continue this study and help add
to our tree knowledge.
DO TREES BREATHE?
T HAT trees breathe is a firmly established scientific fact.
Year after year, during night and day, in summer and
in winter, trees inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.
Trees breathe from the time they are seeds until they die.
The leaves are often called the lungs of a tree. It is true
most of the oxygen enters through little openings on the
leaves. Most of these tiny openings are on the lower leaf
surfaces. They have been given the technical name of sto¬
mata. On the leaves of some trees there have been counted
as many as 100,000 openings on a square inch. These little
doorways open to let in oxygen and to let out carbon diox¬
ide. During the day trees also take in carbon dioxide and
give off oxygen through the small leaf openings. This is
a part of the process of food manufacture known under the
scientific name of photosynthesis. Not all the oxygen is
of Indiana
23
inhaled through the leaves, for some is taken in through little
openings on the twigs known as lenticels. They can read¬
ily be recognized as pale to brown dots. On some trees,
such as the birches, cherries, and sumacs, they are large and
easily visible to the naked eye, while in other trees they are
small and obscure.
Trees also transpire, that is, give off water. We may call
it perspiring or “sweating.” When an excess amount of
water is delivered to the leaves it is given off through small
stomata, the same openings through which the trees breathe.
This excess water is given off as an invisible vapor. Scientists
have estimated that a big oak may transpire as much as 150
gallons of water during a single day of summer.
HOW TO TELL THE AGE OF TREES
S OME TREES reach a great size and become very old, while
others remain small and die young. A definite age limit
cannot be set for each kind of tree, but for general use our
common trees may be said to be long-lived or short-lived.
Of our native trees, the White Oak, Button-wood, White
Pine, and Hemlock are long-lived trees, and the Poplars,
Willows, some Cherries, and a few Oaks are short-lived.
Some of the Sequoias of California exceed the 3,000-year
an average of more than three-fifths of an inch per day.
mark, and the big Cypress Tree of Tule growing in the
state of Oaxaca, Mexico, has been estimated from 4,500 to
5,000 years, and is sometimes spoken of as “the oldest liv¬
ing thing in the World.”
It is not always easy to tell the age of a tree. Sometimes
accurate written records are available. In other cases it may
be possible to get a reliable verbal statement from one who
knows exactly when a specific tree or a group of them was
planted. In the absence of accurate records or reliable state¬
ments, the best way to tell the age of a tree is to count the
annual rings on the cross section of the stem near the ground,
and add to this count the number of years it took the tree to
grow to the height at which the count was made. In case of
a felled tree, the stump section is a good place to make the
count. The number of rings on the top section, plus the
number of years it took the tree to grow to the height of
the stump, gives the total age of the tree, for each ring usu¬
ally represents a year’s growth. To determine the age of
standing trees an instrument is in use known as an increment
borer. By means of this borer a small core about Yg of an
inch in diameter is taken from the stem, and rings thereon
are counted. The results furnish a good basis for estimating
24
Common Trees
the age of trees. It has proved very valuable to foresters in
studying the growth of standing forest trees.
There is another method that is helpful in telling the age
of such trees as White Pine, which develop their lateral
branches in distinct whorls or stories one above another.
The distance between these whorls of branches normally
represents a year’s growth. If the branches have fallen off
or been removed, one can often see the circle of branch scars
on the stems. By counting the number of sections between
these separate stories of branches one can estimate very closely
the age of the trees in question. The age of young hard¬
wood trees can also be told by counting the rings of terminal
bud-scale scars upon the twigs and the slender stems. The
portion of the twigs from the tip to the first ring of bud-
scale scars is one year’s growth. The distance between the
first and second rings is another year, and so on as far down
the stem as these scars remain visible.
Telling the age of trees is fascinating pastime. After you
have been successful in telling the age of a few trees you
will find yourself questioning the age of others. You will
not have gone far in your study of the age of trees until you
will be convinced that the age of young trees like that of
children is far more easy to tell than that of grown-up trees.
WHERE TO STUDY TREES
T HE best place to study trees is right where you are—
if a tree happens to be near. If you are in a city
and it is not convenient for you to go out into the woods,
you can study the trees on the home grounds, along the
streets, or in the parks. Do not forget to get acquainted
with the tree that may stand near your front door. Other
satisfactory places are fence rows, stream banks, waste places,
abandoned fields, and woodlots. But the best place of all
to get an acquaintance with trees is out in the great forest
stretches on the mountain tops and in mountain valleys.
Out there the trees are so plentiful and look so natural.
Then too we must not forget that many trees have been
planted in all parts of the State. Among these planted
trees are some very rare and interesting specimens. They
can be found on private estates, public parks, arboretums,
and forest plantations. A real tree treat is available to
those who will journey to these great tree places.
Each year an increasing number of people go a-camping.
When in camp one has unexcelled opportunities to study
the native trees. The author has visited many places in
of Indiana
25
Indiana. At each were found from 40 to 75 different
native trees, and at some a considerable number of intro¬
duced trees have been planted. To name and list the trees
on and about the camp ground is not only a pleasant past¬
time but also a profitable undertaking. Rich, indeed, is
the boy or girl who can say “I can name all the trees about
our camp.” "I have named and listed all the trees between
Oak lane and Cedarville,” “Shoemaker’s island is a tree
paradise—I found 57 different species there.” To know
all the trees on a particular plot of ground is an achievement
of merit for any boy or girl, and even grown-up folk who
can name the trees that help to make our land so beautiful,
have a right to feel proud of their accomplishment.
HOW TO STUDY TREES
T HE FIRST THING one usually wants to know about a tree
is its name. Each tree has two kinds of names—the
common name and the scientific name. One of our best known
trees has the common name of WHITE OAK. Its scientific
name is Quercus alba. Some trees have five to ten or more
common names. Whoever knows the common and scien¬
tific names of a tree has mastered the first step in tree iden¬
tification.
There are a number of common ways to get acquainted
with trees. Some students are fortunate enough to have good
teachers who know the trees. When this is true, tree identi¬
fication is very easy. But there are other less fortunate ones
who must study them from books. The study of trees is
one of the purest delights of outdoor life. It is so pleasant,
so fascinating, and so stimulating that it becomes a pastime
of rare delight. To know trees is to love and protect them.
In teaching our boys and girls about trees we will place in
their possession an unafraid attitude towards the out-of-
doors and thus instil into them the duty of preserving tree
homes for our cheery bird friends “Whose habitations in the
treetops e’en are half-way houses on the road to Heaven.”
Fortunate are the boys and the girls who can tell the names
of trees, know the quality of their fruit, the fragrance of their
flowers, the form of their leaves, the flavor of their twigs,
the color of the bark, and the properties of their wood;
especially whether the wood is tough or brittle, easy or hard
to chop and split into firewood.
26
Common Trees
EXCELLENT BOOKS ON TREE AND SHRUBS
OF INDIANA
Y OUR attention is called to two books, “Trees of
Indiana’’ and “Shrubs of Indiana,” by Charles C.
Deam, State Forester. They are published and distributed
at cost by the Division of Forestry of the Department of
Conservation, Indianapolis. Both books are complete in
scientific detail. The botanical characteristics of each species
are technically accurate.
The species are arranged in the order of development ac¬
cording to family, genera, and species. Each species is treated
in order as to botanical characteristics, distribution, and re¬
marks. The books are bound and printed on good quality
paper, with a list of illustrations and index. “Trees of In¬
diana” contains one hundred and thirty-three 5x7 illustra¬
tions. “Shrubs of Indiana” contains one hundred and forty-
six 5x7 illustrations. These books are recommended for
school teachers, botany students, farmers, nurserymen and
horticulturists who might desire greater scientific detail than
is possible in this handbook: “Common Trees of Indiana.”
******
“He that planteth a tree is a servant of God.
He provideth a kindness for many generations, and
faces that he hath not seen shall bless him.”
Henry Van Dyke.
******
“I have written many verses, but the best
poems I have produced are the trees I planted on
the hillside”
Oliver Wendell Holmes.
******
"Under this oak I love to sit and hear all the
things which its leaves have to tell. No printed leaves
have more treasures in history or of literature to those
who know how to listen.”
Henry Ward Beecher.
of Indiana
27
WHITE PINE
Pinus Strobus, Linnaeus
T HERE is no tree in the world that surpasses the White
Pine in beauty, stateliness, individuality, and usefulness.
It is the prince of North American trees. Reliable records
show that the first American house was built of White Pine.
One-third natural size.
It is the only evergreen tree native to eastern North Amer¬
ica that has soft, slender, flexible, straight, bluish-green
leaves grouped in clusters of five. They are 3 to 5 inches
long, adn persist for 2 years.
The cones are 5 to 10 inches long, short-stalked, narrowly
cylindrical, rarely hang long on the trees. The cone-scales
are thin, flat and without spines or prickles.
The trunk is straight, when grown in dense stands is
clear of branches for many feet. The lateral branches occur
in whorls of 3 to 7 arranged in horizontal layers. Upon
falling they leave distinct circles of branch-scars.
The wood is soft, light brown, straight-grained, easily
worked. It is used for a wider range of purposes than any
American wood.
The White Pine is native from Newfoundland west to
Manitoba and Minnesota south to Iowa, Pennsylvania and
Kentucky and along the mountains to Georgia. In Indiana
it is local on the dunes about Lake Michigan. A few trees
occur along Big Pine, Little Pine, Rock and Kickapoo creeks
in Warren county; also along Big Shawnee and Bear creeks
in Fountain county, and along Sugar Creek in Montgomery
county. White Pine is one of the trees recommended for
reforesting abandoned fields in Indiana.
28
Common Trees
JERSEY PINE
Pinus virginiana, Miller
T HE Jersey Pine is a pioneer tree. It is among the first
trees to march out and reclaim abandoned fields and
other waste places. It is unfortunate in its common name,
which implies that it is inferior and undesirable. This is
incorrect, for each year its wood is used more extensively for
pulp, shipping crates, and general construction work, and
locally it is used as a Christmas tree.
JERSEY PINE
One-half natural size.
The leaves occur in pairs. They are 1 to 3 inches long,
twisted, spread widely from each other.
The cones are narrow, conical, sharp-pointed, 2 to 3
inches long, persist for several years. The cone-scales bear
slender prickles.
The twigs are smooth, purplish, tough, usually wavy.
On older trunks the bark peels off in thin scales, giving a
ragged appearance.
The Jersey Pine is found from southeastern New York,
central New Jersey, and north-central Pennsylvania south to
Georgia and Alabama and west to Indiana and Texas. In
Indiana it is confined to the knob area of Floyd, Clark and
Scott counties, and the southeastern part of Washington
county. Whenever this tree grows near an abandoned field
it soon reforests it. This makes it a valuable tree in reforest¬
ing the “knob” area of Indiana.
The Jersey Pine does not become a big forest tree. It
usually reaches a height of 30 to 70 feet and a diameter of
18 inches. The largest specimen found in the northern part
of its range was 82 feet high and 28 inches in diameter.
Another pine found on the dunes about Lake Michigan is the
Gray Pine or Jack Pine, Pinus Banksiana, Lambert. It has
short leaves about 1 %. inches long and unarmed cone-scales.
of Indiana
29
HEMLOCK
Tsuga canadensis, (L.) Carriere
T HE Hemlock, also called Spruce Pine and Hemlock
Spruce, is an important forest tree with a very pleasing
and graceful appearance. As an ornamental tree it has few
equals and as a timber tree it stands in the front rank.
HEMLOCK
One-half natural size.
The leaves are flat, of an inch long, rounded or notched
at apex, dark green and glossy above, with two white lines
on lower surface, joined to the twigs by short and slender
woody stalks. They are spirally arranged, but appear as if
arranged in two flat rows alongside the twigs. A third row
of small leaves point forward on the top of the twigs.
The cones are oblong, light brown, of an inch long,
short-stalked. They often persist throughout the winter.
The cone-scales are about as wide as long.
The outer bark is reddish-brown and scaly; the inner is
cinnamon red. If one takes a pocket knife and bores into
the inner bark and finds it cinnamon red he has a positive
distinguishing characteristic of this tree. The twigs are very
slender, grayish-brown, at first hairy, and rough when
needle-leaves are shed.
The wood is hard, weak, brittle, liable to splinter and dif¬
ficult to work. It is used for coarse lumber, boxes, crates
and pulp, and the bark is rich in tannin.
The Hemlock is found from Nova Scotia to Minnesota
and south to New Jersey and Pennsylvania and along the
mountains to Alabama. It occurs only in a few places in
Indiana, being found on cool slopes of high bluffs on the
south side of streams. It is reported from Brown, Putnam,
Parke, Montgomery, Owen, Jackson, Jennings, Floyd, Clark,
Lawrence and Crawford counties. It is a shade-loving tree
and not very windfirm. It usually reaches a height of 60
to 80 feet, but may become 100 feet high and 4 feet in
diameter.
30
Common Trees
AMERICAN LARCH
Larix laricina (Du Roi ) Koch
T HE American Larch, commonly called Tamarack, is a
northern tree, which sheds all its leaves in autumn.
The leaves are flat, soft, slender and about one inch long.
On the twigs of last seasons growth they occur singly; on
the spurs of older twigs in clusters of ten or more.
The cones are
among the smallest
of any American tree.
They average two-
fifths of an inch in
length, bear about 12
scales, and often per¬
sist for many years.
The glossy brown
twigs are without
foliage in winter and
covered with numer¬
ous stubby spurs.
The bark on older
trunks is reddish-
brown and breaks up
into small roundish
scales.
The wood is
heavy, hard, and
durable in contact
with the soil. It is
used for posts, poles,
ties and in ship
building.
The A m e r i can
Larch is found from
Newfoundland south
to northern New
Jersey and Pennsyl¬
vania and west to
Minnesota and through British Columbia to Alaska. It is
found in bogs, on the border of rivers and lakes in northern
Indiana. The most southern station is in Allen county. It
is fast becoming extinct due to dredging of bogs. It rarely
exceeds 50 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter.
The European Larch (Larix decidua, Mill.) has been
planted as a specimen tree in Indiana and is recommended
for forest planting on well-drained gravelly soil. It has
larger and usually erect cones, stouter and yellower twigs,
and longer and more abundant leaves than the American
Larch.
of Indiana
31
ARBOR VITAE
Thuja occidentalis, Linnaeus
T HE Arbor Vitae, also called White Cedar and Cedar, is
one of the most widely planted evergreen trees in North
America. It develops a conical symmetrical crown and
usually reaches a height of 25 to 50 feet.
ARBOR VITAE
One-half natural size.
The leaves are scale-like, % of an inch long, closely over¬
lap one another, aromatic when crushed, marked with glan¬
dular dots. They are arranged in pairs. Each succeeding
pair alternates with the next pair.
The cones are oblong, Yz of an inch long, with 6 to 12
blunt-pointed, reddish-brown scales. The trunk usually
divides near the base. The bark is grayish to reddish-brown,
usually furrowed, and peels off into thin shred-like strips.
The Arbor Vitae is found from southern Labrador west
to Manitoba and Minnesota and south to North Carolina.
In Indiana it is now native only northwest of Mineral
Springs in Porter county. Formerly it occurred in Lake
county. It has been planted widely for ornamental uses.
More than 50 garden varieties of Arbor Vitae are known.
Some of them, such as White Arbor Vitae and the Golden
Arbor Vitae, are distinguished by their color. Others are
recognized by their form. Among the commonest forms are
the pyramidal, the globose, the juvenile, and the pendulous.
Closely related to the native Arbor Vitae is the Oriental
Arbor Vitae—Thuja orientalis, Linnaeus. This tree has
been planted extensively throughout eastern North America.
32
Common Trees
RED CEDAR
Juniperus virginiana, Linnaeus
R ED CEDAR is a common household word. In recent
years the “red cedar chest” has won its way to a special
place in the modern home.
The leaves are of two kinds, namely scale-shaped and
awl-shaped. The scale-shaped are commonest, one-six¬
teenth of an inch long, closely appressed to twigs, four
ranked. The awl-shaped are narrow, sharp-pointed, spread¬
ing, do not overlap, occur in 2’s and 3’s.
The fruit is a dark blue berry about of an inch in
diameter. Berries are freely eaten by birds.
The bark is very thin, reddish-brown, shallowly fur¬
rowed, peels off in long shred-like strips.
The wood is soft, strong, of even texture, works easily.
The heartwood is distinctly red and the sapwood white.
This color combination and its pronounced fragrance, sup¬
posed to ward off moth and other insects, account for its
wide use for clothes chests, closets and for interior wood¬
work. It is also used extensively for fence posts, lead pen¬
cils and cigar boxes.
The Red Cedar, also called Cedar, and Juniper, is found
from Nova Scotia to South Dakota south to Florida and
Texas. It is found throughout Indiana, but sparingly in
the northern part. It is commonest on unglaciated limestone
soil. This tree grows slowly, needs plenty of sunlight, and
rarely exceeds 50 feet in height and 18 inches in diameter in
Indiana. It has a distinctive narrow conical crown when
growing in the open.
The Common Juniper—Juniperus communis, Linnaeus—
is closely related to the Red Cedar. It is frequent along
Lake Michigan and found inland in Noble, St. Joseph and
Steuben counties. Its awl-shaped leaves occur regularly in
3’s and do not extend along the twigs.
of Indiana
33
BLACK WILLOW
Salix nigra, Marshall
T HE Black Willow reaches the largest size and has the
widest distribution of any native American Willow.
It is the only native willow of timber size, sometimes reach¬
ing a height of 80 feet and a diameter of 4 feet.
It can always be distinguished by its simple, alternate,
long, narrow, sharp-
pointed leaves, 3 to 5
inches long. At the
base of the short leaf¬
stalk round leaf-like
appendages often
clasp the twigs.
The flowers are of
two different kinds.
Both are arranged in
short stubby spikes.
The pollen-bearing
and seed-producing
always occur on dif¬
ferent trees. The
seeds are minute, bear
dense tufts of long
silky down, occur in
large numbers in
small capsules on
drooping tassels.
The bark varies
from light brown to
dark brown and
black. On old trunks
it becomes furrowed
and peels off in scales.
The branches are
slender, brittle, some¬
what drooping. The buds are sharp-pointed, Yz of an inch
long, covered by a single reddish-brown scale.
The wood is pale reddish-brown, used chiefly in boxes,
excelsior, charcoal, pulp, artificial limbs.
The Black Willow occurs from New Brunswick to Flor¬
ida, west to the Dakotas and southern Mexico. It is found
throughout Indiana, but reaches its largest size in the lower
Wabash bottoms. One usually finds it in wet places, but
it will grow on dry situations.
BLACK WILLOW
One-fourth natural Biie, except 2. 4, 6 and 8
which are enlarged.
34
Common Trees
PUSSY WILLOW
Salix discolor, Muhl.
T HE Pussy Willow, probably more than any other tree,
tells the people of both city and country, when spring
is here. During a brief period of spring it gives the chief
touch of beauty to the landscape through its fine display of
yellow blossoms that are visited by thousands of bees.
The leaves are
simple, alternate,
elliptic, 3 to 5 in¬
ches long, bright
green above and
silvery white be¬
low. A distinctive
feature of the
leaves is the wavy
margins with
coarse teeth.
The flowers are
of two kinds.
Both are arranged
in short, stubby
spikes. The pol¬
len-bearing and
the seed-producing
always occur on
different trees.
They appear be¬
fore the leaves and
tell us when spring
is coming. The seeds are produced in large numbers in
hairy long-beaked light-brown capsules.
The bark is thin, smooth, greenish, rarely scaly. The
stout branchlets are marked with orange-colored breathing
pores. The buds are alternate, % of an inch long, duck¬
bill like, flattened on inside, dark reddish purple. The wood
is similar to that of Black Willow.
The Pussy Willow is found in moist meadows or marshes
and along banks of streams and in other wet places from
Nova Scotia south to Delaware and west to Manitoba and
Missouri. It is common in northern Indiana. It is rare or
absent in the unglaciated area of south-central counties. It
rarely exceeds 25 feet in height and is of considerable value
in landscape work, especially along water courses.
PUSSY WILLOW
One-fourth natural size.
of Indiana
35
WIDELY INTRODUCED WILLOWS
'HREE Willows have been widely introduced into In
-i- diana. They are the Weeping Willow, the White
Willow, and the Crack Willow.
The Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica, Linnaeus), a
native of Asia, was introduced into the United States in
1702 by a famous botanist named Tournefort. Sometimes
this tree is called Napoleon Willow because of its associa¬
tion with the great French general during his exile. It has
been planted widely in New Jersey. This tree can always
be distinguished by its weeping habit. Its long drooping
branches are distinctive, and when young they are tough and
pliable, but later become brittle. Its leaves are simple, alter¬
nate, 4 to 7 inches long; in shape they resemble the Black
Willow and in color those of the White Willow.
/
The White Willow (Salix alba, Linnaeus), a native of
Europe, was brought to America by the early settlers. It
is now found from the Atlantic to the Pacific and is given
planting preference where erosion and landslides are to be
stopped. It is found locally throughout Indiana as an orna¬
mental tree. In some places it has escaped cultivation. This
tree sometimes reaches a height of 70 feet and a diameter of
4 feet. The leaves are simple, alternate, 2 to 4 inches long,
one-third to two-fifths of an inch wide, finely toothed along
edge. When young the leaves are pale green and hairy on
both sides, but when mature they are distinctly white only
on the lower surface, whence the name White Willow.
The Crack Willow (Salix fragilis, Linnaeus), a native of
Europe and northern Asia, has been planted widely in Amer¬
ica, especially in the prairie states. It is found locally in
Indiana, particularly about the earlier settlements. It is
readily distinguished from the White Willow by its yellow¬
ish-green twigs and larger leaves, which are 3 to 6 inches
long, Yz to 1 inch wide, coarsely toothed along margin.
The branches are so brittle that they crack off easily in a
slight breeze, whence the appropriate name Crack Willow.
After a storm the ground beneath this tree is often completely
covered with twigs and branches.
36
Common Trees
QUAKING ASPEN
Populus tremuloides, Michaux
T HE Quaking Aspen is also called Trembling Aspen and
Small-toothed Aspen. The air must be remarkably
still if the foliage is not quaking or trembling.
The leaves are simple, alternate, \ x / 2 to 2^ inches long,
nearly round, finely toothed on margin, with leaf-stalks flat¬
tened laterally.
The flowers ap¬
pear early in the
spring. Pol len-
bearing and seed-
producing occur
on different trees.
Both are arranged
in slender droop¬
ing tassels.
The fruit is a
2-valved capsule
containing small
seeds with tufts of
fine hairs.
The bark is
white or grayish
to yellow ish-
green; on old
trunks becomes
rough and black.
The twigs are
smooth, shiny,
reddish-b r o w n.
The buds are nar¬
row, conical, sharp-pointed, smooth, shiny, appear varnished,
covered with 6 to 7 reddish-brown scales.
QUAKING ASPEN
One-fourth natural size, except enlarged flowers and
twigs.
The wood is soft, weak, not durable, white to light
brown, used for paper pulp, boxes, crates, and wooden dishes.
The Quaking Aspen is the most widely distributed tree
in North America. It is a transcontinental tree extending
from Newfoundland to Alaska and south to New Jersey,
Kentucky, Mexico and California. It is frequent in the
lake region of northern Indiana, becoming rarer farther south
and absent in the unglaciated area.
A closely related tree is the Large-toothed Aspen (Popu¬
lus grandidentata). It is found with the Quaking Aspen
and on some of the hills of southern Indiana. Its leaves
are larger and more coarsely toothed, and its buds are stout,
broad-pointed and covered with a flour-like coating.
of Indiana
37
COTTONWOOD
Populus deltoides, Marshall
T HE Cottonwood, also called Carolina Poplar, is one of
the largest trees of Indiana.
The leaves are simple, alternate, broadly triangular, square
at base, 3 to 5 inches long, with long and laterally flattened
leaf-stalks.
The flowers ap¬
pear before the leaves.
Pollen-bearing and
seed-producing occur
on different trees.
Both are arranged in
drooping tassels.
The fruit is a 3 to
4-valved capsule ar¬
ranged in drooping
tassels and containing
numerous small seeds
with tufts of fine
hairs.
The bark on
young trunks is
smooth and greenish-
yellow, on old trunks
becomes ashy-gray to
dark brown and deep
furrowed. The lat¬
eral branches take an
upright position.
The twigs are stout,
y e 1 lowish, marked
with grayish dots,
have prominent
ridges below leaf-scars. The buds are large, resinous, glossy,
chestnut-brown. The terminal bud is often 5-angled. The
wood is soft, not durable, white to brown. Used for paper
pulp, boxes and crates.
The Cottonwood is found from Quebec south to Florida
and west to the Rocky Mountains. This tree is found
throughout Indiana in low places.
The introduced Lombardy Poplar, a native of southern
Europe, was formerly planted as a street tree, but is now
prohibited because its roots penetrate sewers. It can be recog¬
nized by its narrow and high crown with almost vertical
lateral branches. The Swamp Cottonwood with large
leaves, with hairy lower surfaces and round leaf-stalks is com¬
mon in southwestern Indiana.
COTTONWOOD
One-fourth natural size except enlarged flowers
and twig.
38
Common Trees
BLACK WALNUT
Juglans nigra, Linnaeus
T HE Black Walnut is more fortunate than many trees in
that it has only a few common names. Throughout
its entire range of 650,000 square miles it is called Walnut,
Black Walnut or Walnut-tree.
BLACK WALNUT
Leaf and fruit, one-fifth natural size. Twig, three-fourths natural size.
The leaves are alternate, compound, with 13 to 23 leaf¬
lets. Leaflets are 3 to 4 inches long, sharp-pointed, toothed
along margin, stalkless.
The flowers are of two kinds. Both occur on same tree.
The pollen-bearing occur in unbranched drooping tassels.
The nut-producing occur in few-flowered clusters on the new
growth.
The fruit is a round furrowed nut, 1 to 2 inches in diam¬
eter with a green non-splitting fleshy husk which turns
black when mature.
The bark is thick, rough, furrowed, dark brown to gray¬
ish-black. The twigs are stout, grayish-broWn, bitter to
taste, contain gray to light brown chambered pith. The
buds are covered with downy scales. Terminal bud is as long
as wide. Lateral buds are smaller.
The wood is rich dark brown, hard, strong, splits easily,
very durable. Used in furniture, interior finishings, sewing
machines and gun stocks.
The Black Walnut is found from southern New England
to Minnesota and south to Florida. This is a common to
frequent tree throughout Indiana. It has been extensively
planted by man and squirrels. Few farms are without it.
It is recommended for planting in woodlots. Its wood has
always commanded high prices, and its nuts are among the
best.
of Indiana
39
BUTTERNUT
Juglans cinerea, Linnaeus
'HE Butternut, also called White Walnut, is a close kin
of the Black Walnut.
The leaves are alternate, compound, with 13 to 23 leaf¬
lets.
The flowers are of two kinds. The pollen-bearing occur
in unbranched droop¬
ing clusters. The
nut-producing occur
in few-flowered clus¬
ters on new growth.
The fruit is an
elongated nut with a
hairy, sticky, non¬
splitting husk. The
nut is 4-r i b b e d,
pointed at one end,
sharply furrowed
over entire surface,
and contains sweet,
oily and edible nut.
The bark is gray
to ashy-white, sepa¬
rates into wide flat
ridges. The twigs
are stout, greenish-
gray, often downy,
contain dark-brown
chambered pith. The
buds are covered with
dense pale down.
Terminal bud is butternut
tO 24 t)f an inch One-fourth natural size, except 3 and 4 which are
t _ c i a. _ J enlarsed and 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12, natural size.
long, flattened,
blunt-pointed, longer than wide. Lateral flower buds are
pineapple-like, often placed one above another.
The wood is soft, not strong, light-brown,
niture, interior finishing, and chests.
Used in fur-
The Butternut is found from New Brunswick to Minne¬
sota, south to Delaware and Arkansas and along mountains
to Georgia. This is an infrequent tree throughout Indiana.
It usually occurs alone, and grows best on moist soil in the
northwestern part of the State. It rarely exceeds 50 feet in
height and 2 feet in diameter.
40
Common Trees
SHELLBARK HICKORY
Carya ovata, ( Miller ) K. Koch
T HE Shellbark Hickory, also called Shagbark Hickory,
is the best known of all the hickories. It produces the
best nuts and has the most distinctive features of all the
native hickories.
The leaves are alternate, 8 to 14 inches long, compound,
with 5, rarely 7, leaf¬
lets. The three up¬
per leaflets are the
largest, the pair near¬
est the base is usually
only about one-half
the size of the ter¬
minal ones.
The flowers are
similar to those of
the other hickories.
The fruit is round,
1 to 1 Yi inches long,
with husk that splits
into 4 sections from
apex to base. The
nuts are smooth,
white, 4-angled,
pointed at the ends.
The kernel is large
and sweet.
The bark is
smooth and light
gray on young stems.
On old trunks it be-
comes distinctly
shaggy. The twigs
are reddish-brown to
gray, covered with numerous light dots, usually hairy. The
buds are egg-shaped, blunt-pointed, about three-fifths of an
inch long, covered with about 10 bud-scales.
The wood is very heavy, hard, strong, tough, elastic,
close-grained. Used chiefly for handles and vehicles.
SHELLBARK HICKORY
One-fourth natural size, except 7 szhieh is natural
size, and 8 slightly enlarged.
The Shellbark Hickory is found from Quebec to Minne¬
sota, south to Florida and Texas. It occurs in all parts
of Indiana, mostly in rich moist soil. It is a valuable tree
in the woodlots. In the second growth forests it usually
reaches a height of 90 feet and a diameter of 15 to 30
inches.
of Indiana
41
BIG SHELLBARK HICKORY
Cary a laciniosa, (Mx. f.) !Loudon
T HE Big Shellbark Hickory, also called Bull Nut, is a
very important forest tree in Indiana on account of the
valuable wood and the delicious nuts its produces.
The leaves are alternate, compound with 5 to 9 leaflets.
The prevailing number of leaflets is 7. They are usually
hairy beneath un¬
til maturity. The
leaf-stalks often
persist through the
winter. The fruit
is a dull white nut,
1 to 1 Yi inches
long, usually
rounded at base
and pointed at
apex, covered with
thick husks that
split in 4 valves,
and contains large
sweet kernel.
The bark on
young trees is
tight, begins to
scale when 4 to 8
inches in diameter;
on old trees shags
off in long narrow
strips. The twigs
are stout, usually
light orange
brown, at first
hairy but become
smooth. The buds
and wood are sim¬
ilar to those of the
Shellbark Hickory.
The Big Shellbark is found from southwestern Ontario to
Nebraska and Iowa and south to Alabama and Louisiana.
It occurs throughout Indiana except in the northwestern
counties. It is abundant in the southwestern part of the
State, particularly in the lower Wabash bottoms. Moist
rich woods and river bottoms are its favorite home. The
Shellbark Hickory is its common associate.
BIG SHELLBARK HICKORY
42
Common Trees
WHITE HICKORY
Carya alba, ( Linnaeus ) K. Koch
T HE White Hickory, also called Mocker Nut Hickory and
Bull Nut, produces a large nut with a small bitter kernel
and yields valuable wood, a large proportion of which is
white.
The leaves are alternate, compound with 7 to 9 leaflets,
fragrant when
crushed, usually
hairy on lower
surface and along
leaf-stalks. The
upper pair of leaf¬
lets are the largest.
The fruit is an
ovoid nut, 1 Yi to
2 Yi inches across,
with thick husk
and usually round-
based nut with
thick shell and
small bitter kernel.
The bark is
gray, furrowed,
not shaggy. The
twigs are stout,
reddish-brown, us¬
ually very downy.
The buds are
large, blunt-point¬
ed, densely hairy,
2/5 to 4/5 of an
inch long. The
wood is similar to
that of the Shell-
bark Hickory but mlTE hickory
usually has wider
and white sapwood, whence its name White Hickory.
The White Hickory is found from Massachusetts and On¬
tario to Nebraska and south to Florida and Texas. It occurs
throughout Indiana, except the extreme northwestern part.
It is infrequent on the glaciated area becoming frequent
southward. In most places it grows on hilly ground, but in
the lower Wabash valley it is found with the Shellbark and
Big Shellbark Hickory in low bottomlands.
of Indiana
43
PIGNUT HICKORY
Carya glabra, ( Miller ) Spach
T HE Pignut Hickory, commonly called Black Hickory
and locally Bitter Hickory, is among the well-known
trees of Indiana, especially in the southern part, where it is
most plentiful.
The leaves are alternate, compound, 8 to 12 inches long
with 5 to 7 leaflets. Leaf¬
lets are long, narrow,
s h a r p-pointed, smooth,
glossy. They are slightly
larger than those of the
Bitternut Hickory.
The flowers are similar
to those of the other hick¬
ories.
The fruit is pear-shaped
to spherical, with neck-like
projection at base. The
husk is thin, often does
not split or may split to
middle. The kernel is us¬
ually small and bitter, and
not edible.
PIGNUT HICKORY
One-fourth natural size.
The bark is close-fitting,
dark grey, marked with
shallow furrows, does not
shag off. The twigs are smooth, tough, reddish-brown,
marked with pale dots. The buds are oval, blunt-pointed,
reddish-brown.
The wood is similar to that of other hickories, but some¬
what superior to Bitternut. Formerly it was used extensively
for hoop poles and more recently in the manufacture of rustic
furniture.
The Pignut Hickory is found from Maine to Minnesota,
south to Florida and Texas. In Indiana it is found from the
Mississinewa river southward, becoming a common tree in
most of the unglaciated areas. It is generally found on the
hills, but locally it occurs in the flats. The largest trees
reach a diameter of 30 inches.
44
Common Trees
BITTERNUT HICKORY
Carya cocdiformis, ( Wangenheim ) K. Koch
T HE Bitternut Hickory, also called Pignut Hickory and
locally within its range, Swamp Hickory and Water
Hickory, is usually found in moist to wet locations. One
often finds it along streams and in rich woods.
The leaves are alternate, compound, 6 to 10 inches long
with 5 to 9 leaflets.
Leaflets are long, nar¬
row, s h a r p-pointed,
without stalks except
the terminal one.
The flowers are of
two kinds. They occur
on the same tree. The
pollen-bearing occur in
drooping tassels, 3 to 4
inches long. The nut-
producing occur in few-
flowered clusters on new
growth.
The fruit is a thin-
shelled nut with bitter bitternut hickory
t t One-fourth natural size.
kernel covered with a
thin-shelled husk, which splits to middle into 4 valves.
Winged projections mark meeting line of husk sections from
apex to middle.
The bark is light gray, rather thin, roughened by shal¬
low furrows, does not scale nor shag off. The twigs are
slender, smooth, grayish to orange-brown or reddish. The
buds are long, flattened, blunt-pointed, covered by 4 yel¬
lowish scales.
The wood is heavy, hard, strong, somewhat brittle. It
is inferior to that of other hickories, but used for practically
the same purposes.
The Bitternut Hickory is found from Quebec to Minne¬
sota, south to Florida and Texas. It is generally distributed
throughout Indiana, but is nowhere abundant. In many
localities it is dying out rapidly. It is not recommended for
the farmer’s woodlot on account of its ordinary wood and
inferior nuts. This tree may attain a height of 100 feet
and 3 feet in diameter.
of Indiana
45
OTHER INDIANA HICKORIES
T HE Pecan—Carya illinoensis, (Wangenheim) K. Koch
—has the distinction of producing the best nuts of any
native American tree. This tree is not so common as
it was formerly in Indiana. It was found chiefly in the
southwestern part of the State, extending as far north as
Covington and eastward to Clark and Jackson counties. It
is hardy in all parts of the State, but in northern Indiana the
fruit does not mature on account of the short seasons. A
few orchards have been planted in Indiana but so far none
have proven profitable. The Pecan is a tall, slender tree with
tight-fitting bark that rarely becomes scaly. It has com¬
pound leaves with 9 to 17 leaflets, usually about 13. The
leaflets generally curve backwards. The fruit is an elongated
small nut with sweet kernel and circular in cross-section.
The buds are covered with 4 to 6 valvate scales. This tree
produces the poorest wood of all the hickories, having only
about half the strength and stiffness of the Shellbark Hickory.
Closely related to the Pignut Hickory is the Small-fruited
Hickory—Carya ovalis (Wangenheim) Sargent. The pre¬
vailing number of leaflets to a leaf is 7. The fruit is usu¬
ally granular, and rarely tapers to a short stem. The shell
of the nut is thin and the kernel rather sweet. It fruits
oftener than any other hickory. In Indiana it is found
chiefly north of the Wabash river. The Pignut Hickory is
most abundant in the southern part of the State. It usu¬
ally occurs on dry soils. A number of distinct varieties of
this tree are recognized.
******
"Now the trees are sentient beings; they have
thoughts and fancies; they stir with emotion; they
converse together; they whisper or dream in the
twilight; they struggle and wrestle with the
storm
John Burroughs.
46
Common Trees
RIVER BIRCH
Betula nigra, Linnaeus
T HE River Birch is also called Red Birch and Water
Birch. It is the most abundant birch of Indiana.
The leaves are simple, alternate, egg-shaped, 2 to 3 inches
long and wedge-shaped at base.
The flowers ap¬
pear about April,
are of two kinds.
The pollen-bear¬
ing are arranged in
drooping tassels, 2
to 3 inches long.
The seed-produc¬
ing occur in small
spikes about one-
third of an inch
long.
The fruit is an
erect cylindrical
spike, 1 to P /2
inches long. The
seeds ripen in ear¬
ly summer with 3-
lobed scales.
The bark is red¬
dish-brown to cin¬
namon red, peels
off in large thick
layers. On old
trees the bark be¬
comes thick, deep¬
ly furrowed and
dark brown. The
twigs are reddish-brown and more or less hairy.
The wood is strong, heavy, close-grained, reddish-brown
with white sapwood. It is used in the manufacture of wood-
enware, turnery, pulp and chemicals.
The River Birch extends farther south than any other of
our native birches. Its range is from Massachusetts to Min¬
nesota and south to Florida and Texas. This tree is absent
in eastern Indiana, most abundant in the southern part, and
extends as far north in the western part as Lake county and
as far east as Bartholomew, Scott and Clark counties. It is
a tree of overflow lands. In the lower Wabash it reaches a
diameter of 30 inches. It is usually short-boled and of little
commercial importance.
RIVER BIRCH
One-third natural size.
of Indiana
47
OTHER INDIANA BIRCHES
T HE Yellow Birch—Betula lutea, Michaux, f.—also
called Silver Birch and Swamp Birch is a rare tree in
Indiana.
It is now probably found in a dozen places in the lake
region, chiefly in old tamarack bogs. Its southern limit is in
Allen county. In this state it rarely exceeds 40 feet in height
and 15 inches in diameter. Elsewhere it becomes 100 feet
high and 4 feet in diameter. This tree can be recognized by
its ragged yellow bark which peels off in thin papery scales.
The Gray Birch—Betula populifolia, Marshall—also
called White Birch, is a small tree, of which a local outpost
has been reported as occurring in a few places in Indiana
bordering Lake Michigan. Probably it is now extinct as a
native tree but has been planted for ornamental uses. This
tree can be recognized by its close-fitting white bark which
does not peel off like that of the Paper Birch. The bark is
marked with triangular black blotches. Its twigs are rather
rough and its leaves are long-pointed.
The Paper Birch—Betula papyrifera, Marshall—also
called Canoe Birch is a northern tree found in a few
places in Indiana in low places on the dunes near Lake Mich¬
igan. In this State it remains a small tree and can be dis¬
tinguished by its thin, creamy-white bark which peels off in
thin paper-like films. Every boy and girl has learned that
this tree was used by the Indians and early settlers in the
making of canoes, whence the name Canoe Birch. It is
planted locally in Indiana for ornamental purposes. It is
also likely that the European White Birch—Betula alba, Lin¬
naeus, is planted as an ornamental tree in Indiana. It also
has white bark. The principal varieties of it are the Cut-
leaf, the Weeping and the Purple-leaved Birch.
48
Common Trees
HOP HORNBEAM
Ostrya virginiana, ( Miller ) K. Koch
T HE Hop Hornbeam, also called Ironwood, has appro¬
priate common names, for its fruit is hop-like and
the wood is “hard as iron.” It is the only tree native to
eastern North America that produces hop-like fruit. An
examination of the fruit shows that it is made up of a num¬
ber of loose papery
bags in each of which
is found a little
brown nutlet. The
seed bags are arranged
in clusters usually
from 1 to 2 inches
long and attached to
the twig by a hairy
stem.
The leaves are sim¬
ple, alternate, 3 to 5
inches long, ovate,
long-pointed, finely
toothed along the
margin.
The flowers are of
two kinds. Pollen¬
bearing and seed-pro¬
ducing occur on the
same tree. The for¬
mer occur in droop¬
ing tassels about 2
inches long, and the
latter are produced in
erect clusters. Dur¬
ing winter the partly
developed pollen-bearing flower catkins occur in clusters of
3 to 4 at the ends of the twigs.
The twigs are very delicate and interlacing. The thin
grayish brown bark peeling off in narrow, flat scales, is also
helpful in recognizing this tree. The small reddish-brown
buds with four-ranked bud scales are distinctive.
The Hop Hornbeam is widely distributed over the eastern
United States. It is found from Cape Breton Island to Flor¬
ida and west to Minnesota and Texas. It occurs through¬
out Indiana on dry ground. Beech and Sugar Maple are its
chief associates. It is of no commercial importance. It is
rarely over 30 feet high and 12 inches in diameter.
HOP HORNBEAM
One-fourth natural size.
Twig section and seed with enclosing
membrane enlarged.
of Indiana
49
AMERICAN HORNBEAM
Carpinus cacoliniana, Walter
T HE American Hornbeam, also called Blue Beech and
Water Beech, is a small bushy tree usually found in
moist woods. In appearance it will pass for a little brother
of the Beech.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 2 to 4 inches long, ovate,
long-pointed, finely toothed along margin.
The flowers are of two
kinds, both appearing on
same tree. The pollen¬
bearing occur in tassels
about 1 Yi inches long; the
seed-producing in few-
flowered clusters about Y
of an inch long.
The fruit is a small,
prominently ribbed nut
about one-third of an inch
long, enclosed in a leaf¬
like 3-lobed bract, which
is usually toothed on one
margin of middle lobe.
The seed is attached to a
leaf-like bract.
The bark is thin,
smooth, bluish-green, and
marked with distinctive,
furrows running up and
down along the trunk.
The twigs are slender, red¬
dish to orange, and cov¬
ered with scattered pale
breathing pores. Small
buds are about % of an
inch long, covered with 8
to 12 reddish-brown bud-
scales.
AMERICAN HORNBEAM
One-fourth natural sire.
Twig section and seed with winged bract,
enlarged.
The wood is heavy,
hard, and strong. It is sometimes used for levers, tool han¬
dles, wedges and mallets.
The American Hornbeam is found from Nova Scotia to
Florida and west to Minnesota and Texas. This tree oc¬
curs throughout Indiana from old Tamarack bogs to dry
oak ridges. It has no commercial value.
50
Common Trees
SMOOTH ALDER
Alnus rugosa, (Du Roi ) Sprenget
T HE Smooth Alder, also called Black Alder, is found
in swamps, bogs, along the streams and other wet
places of the State. It usually remains a shrub, but occa¬
sionally it becomes 20 feet high.
The leaves are simple, alternate, obovate, rounded at apex,
wedge-shaped a t
base, finely toothed
along margin.
The flowers ap¬
pear before the
leaves and are of
two kinds. The
pollen-bearing oc¬
cur in drooping
tassels 2 to 5 in¬
ches long. The
seed-producing are
greenish to pur¬
plish with scarlet
styles. They are
about 14 of an
inch long and oc¬
cur in 2’s or 3’s at
the end of the
twigs.
The fruit is a
woody cone about
54 of an inch smooth alder
long. Twig section with bud, and leaf-scar enlarged.
6 ' One-fourth natural size.
The bark is
thin, smooth, often grooved, grayish-green, dotted with nu¬
merous brown lenticels and marked with white blotches.
The twigs are greenish to grayish brown, dotted with
brownish lenticels. The buds are alternate, 54 of an inch
long, evidently stalked, blunt-pointed, covered with 2 scales.
The wood is yellowish brown and marked with broad rays.
The Smooth Alder is found from Maine to Florida and
Texas and west to Minnesota. It occurs locally in In¬
diana. The closely related Speckled Alder-Alnus incana is
rather frequent in the dune area about Lake Michigan and
along Pigeon river. Its bark is marked with pale dots, and
its leaves are doubly toothed along the margin and glaucous
beneath.
of Indiana
51
CHESTNUT
Castanea dentata, ( Marshall ) Bork.
P RIOR to its attack by the Chestnut blight, the Chestnut
was one of the most important American forest trees.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 6 to 8 inches long, sharp
pointed and coarsely toothed.
The flowers appear in
June or July. They
are arranged in slender,
yellowish-white, pencil¬
like plumes. Pollen¬
bearing make up most
of these plumes. The
seed-producing occur in
small numbers near the
base of the plumes.
The fruit is a prickly
bur with 1 to 5 nuts
maturing in September
or October.
The bark on bran¬
ches and small trunks is
smooth, brownish and
close-fitting; on old
trunks becomes grayish-
brown and deeply fur¬
rowed. The twigs are
smooth, greenish to
brown, dotted with nu¬
merous small white
breathing pores. The
buds are alternate, 54 of
an inch long, blunt-
pointed covered with 2
to 3 chestnut brown
scales.
The wood is light, soft, not strong, coarse-grained, dur¬
able. It is used for posts, poles, ties, general construction
and interior finish.
The Chestnut is found from Maine to Michigan, and
south to the Carolinas, Georgia and Arkansas. It is con¬
fined to the sandy soil and sandstone outcrops of south-
central Indiana. In Jackson county it goes north into the
glaciated area.
CHESTNUT
One-fourth natural size.
Twig sections and single flowers, enlarged.
52
Common Trees
BEECH
Fagus grandifolia, Ehrhart
N O hardwood tree is more beautiful or more easily recog¬
nized than the American Beech.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 3 to 4 inches long, pointed
at tip, wedge-shaped at base, coarsely toothed along margin.
When mature they are stiff, leathery, with straight, sunken
veins.
BEECH
One-half natural size.
The flowers are of two kinds, appear about April. The
pollen-bearing occur in stalked round heads; the nut-pro¬
ducing in a few-flowered clusters.
The fruit is a stalked, prickly, four-valved bur, usually
produced in pairs, containing triangular, pale brown, shin¬
ing nutlets with sweet kernel.
The bark is smooth, light gray, often marked with initial
carvings. The twigs are slender, dark gray, marked with a
circle of bud-scale scars. The buds are alternate, slender,
conical, sharp-pointed, % of an inch long, 5 times as long
as wide, covered with 10 to 20 reddish-brown scales.
The wood is very hard, strong, tough, not durable in
contact with soil. It is an excellent fuelwood, and is used
extensively in the manufacture of charcoal, chemicals, novel¬
ties.
The Beech is found from Nova Scotia to Wisconsin and
south to Florida and Texas. Numerically it is probably the
most common tree in Indiana. It occurs throughout the
State. The nuts of the Beech were used by the pioneers to
fatten their hogs.
of Indiana
53
THE OAKS
O F the 300 Oaks known in the world. 55 are native to
North America, and most of these occur in the eastern
United States. The oaks make up the largest group of forest
trees native to Indiana. In all there are 17 different kinds
of oaks native to this State. They grow under a wide range
of conditions and show wide variations in form and other
distinguishing characteristics. The best way to get ac¬
quainted with Indiana oaks is to divide them into two major
groups, the one group to comprise the White Oaks and the
other the Black Oaks. It is easy to place the oaks of In¬
diana in these two groups by remembering the following
characteristics of each.
THE WHITE OAKS: The leaves of the members of
this group have rounded lobes (not bristle-tipped),
and the kernels of the acorns are usually sweet. All
the oaks of this group mature their acorns in a single
season: for this reason they are sometimes called Annual
Oaks. The eight Indiana members of this group are
White Oak, Swamp White Oak, Bur Oak, Post Oak,
Chestnut Oak, Yellow Oak, Cow Oak and Overcup
Oak.
THE BLACK OAKS: The leaves of the members of this
group have bristle-tipped (not round-lobed) leaves,
and the kernel of their acorns is usually bitter. All the
oaks of this group require two seasons to mature their
acorns: for this reason the representatives of this group
are sometimes called Biennial Oaks, which means two-
year oaks in contrast with the one-year white oaks. The
immature acorns are very helpful in recognizing the
members of the Black Oak group, especially during the
winter months when the trees are without leaves. The
nine Indiana members of this group are Black Oak, Red
Oak, Scarlet Oak, Pin Oak, Spanish Oak, Black Jack
Oak, Shingle Oak, Schenck’s Oak and Hill’s Oak.
The sign of all oaks is the acorn. It is an unfailing dis¬
tinguishing characteristic. Man has good reasons for his high
regard for the oaks. History shows that the human race
has been helped from the earliest ages by them, and the people
of today enjoy a long list of good things they provide.
Their most important gift is wood. They also supply us
with cork, dyeing materials, tanning products, food for wild
and domestic animals, and many other valuable products.
54
Common Trees
WHITE OAK
Quercus alba, Linnaeus
T HE White Oak is the most important hardwood forest
tree native to North America. It has held this front
rank place since the earliest days of colonization. The orig¬
inal forests of the rich agricultural areas of Indiana were
largely made up of this great tree.
The leaves are sim¬
ple, alternate, 5 to 9 in¬
ches long, 2 to 4 inches
wide. They are divided
into 3 to 9, usually 7,
blunt-pointed, finger¬
like lobes. Mature
leaves are deep green
above and light green
beneath.
The flowers appear
about May and are of
two kinds. The pol¬
len-bearing occur on the
old growth in drooping
tassels 2 or 3 inches
long. The acorn-pro¬
ducing occur in small
clusters on the new
growth.
The fruit is a sessile
or short-stalked acorn
maturing in one season.
The light brown nuts
are about 34 of an inch long, seated in a warty cup, en¬
closing about 34 of nut. The nuts are relished by wild
animals.
The bark is grayish-white and peels off in numerous
loose scales. The early settlers made it into a tea used in
the treatment of tonsilitis. The twigs are smooth, light-
gray, dotted with light lenticels.
The buds are alternate, egg-shaped, blunt-pointed, red¬
dish-brown, clustered at end of twigs.
The wood is heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, light-
brown, durable. Its uses are interior finish, flooring, fur¬
niture, general construction, implements and fuel.
The White Oak is found from Maine to Minnesota and
south to Florida and Texas. It is common throughout
Indiana, and next to beech the commonest tree of the State.
This tree reaches its best development on rich moist soil,
where it attains a height of 75 to 100 feet and 2 to 4 feet
in diameter.
WHITE OAK
One-fourth natural size.
Single flowers and twig sections, enlarged.
of Indiana
55
SWAMP WHITE OAK
Quercus bicolor, Willdenoiv
T HE Swamp White Oak is usually found in swamps,
about ponds, and along the banks of streams. In youth
it is rather attractive, but with advancing years it becomes
ragged and unkempt in appearance.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 5 to 6 inches long,
broad, wav y-toothed
on margin, dark green
above, light green and
hairy on lower surface.
They are broadest be¬
tween the middle and
the apex.
The flowers and
wood are similar to
those of the White Oak.
The fruit is a long-
stalked acorn that ma¬
tures in one season. The
acorns are about an
inch long and usually
occur in pairs.
The bark on old
trunks is thick, grayish-
brown and breaks in
long deep furrows. On
the small branches it
sheds off in flakes like
that of the Sycamore.
The twigs are stout,
yellowish to reddish-
brown. The buds are about % of an inch long, blunt-
pointed, smooth, reddish-brown.
The Swamp White Oak is found from Maine to Michigan
and south to Georgia and Arkansas. It is common in wet
woods of northern Indiana, also on the flats of the southeast¬
ern part and the river bottoms of the southwestern part, but
rare or absent on the hills in the south-central part. Trees
2 to 4 feet in diameter and 80 feet high are not unusual.
The largest specimen of Swamp White Oak ever recorded was
the Wadsworth Oak in New York, which was 27 feet in
circumference. It was near this tree that Robert Morris and
the Seneca Indians made an important treaty in 1797.
SWAMP WHITE OAK
One-third natural size.
56
Common Trees
BUR OAK
Quercus macrocarpa, Michaux
T HE Bur Oak, also called Mossy Cup Oak is one of the
largest of American Oaks. It often reaches a height of
100 feet and 4 to 7 feet in diameter.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 6 to 12 inches long, 3 to
6 inches wide, shiny and deep green above, pale and finely
hairy beneath.
Near the middle
are deep clefts.
The flowers and
wood are similar
to those of White
Oak.
The fruit is a
large acorn matur¬
ing in one season.
The nuts are % of
an inch long with
a white and sweet
kernel. The cup is
bordered by dis¬
tinct fringe along
margin.
The twigs are
stout, yellowish-
brown and usually
marked with corky
winged p r o j e c-
tions. The buds
are alternate, Y& of
an inch long,
blunt- pointed,
redd ish-brown,
clustered at end of
twigs. The bark becomes deeply furrowed and has a ten¬
dency to peel off in flaky scales.
It is found from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia west
to Manitoba, and south to Georgia, Kansas and Texas. It
is found in all parts of Indiana except the “knob area.”
About 5 miles northwest of Warsaw, Indiana, is a Bur Oak
7 feet in diameter and 50 feet to the first branch. It is
probably one of the largest oaks in the United States.
The Bur Oak is a valuable timber tree and is being used
for ornamental planting. It is easy to transplant, grows
rapidly, has few insect enemies.
BUR OAK
One-third natural eize
of Indiana
57
POST OAK
Quercus stellata, Wangenheim
T HE Post Oak was given its name in pioneer days when
it was used extensively for posts, a use for which it is
well adapted on account of its durability.
The leaves are simple, alternate, coarse, stiff leathery in
texture, 4 to 6 inches long. They are dark green and shiny
on the upper surface,
have a heavy coating of
rusty brown hairs on
lower surface. Under a
magnifying glass the
hairs are star-shaped
whence the specific name
“stellata.” The two
basal lobes are small
and the three terminal
lobes are large and gen¬
erally squarish in out¬
line. Near the middle
of the leaf is a deep cut
that almost separates
the leaf in two parts.
The flowers are like
those of the other oaks.
See White Oak.
The fruit is a small
acorn maturing in one
season. The nut is
about Yi of an inch long, dark brown, often striped. The
cup is shallow, covered with pale woolly scales, enclosing
about 1 /3 of nut.
POST OAK
One-third natural size
The bark is darker, rougher and less scaly than White
Oak. The twigs are stout, hairy and rusty. The buds are
alternate, of an inch long, blunt-pointed, reddish-brown,
clustered at end of twigs.
The wood is similar to White Oak and used for the same
purposes.
The Post Oak, also called Iron Oak, is found from Mas¬
sachusetts to Kansas and south to Florida and Texas. In
Indiana it is confined to the southwestern part of the State,
where it usually occurs on poor soil. It is a medium-sized
tree, rarely exceeding 60 feet in height and 3 feet in diam¬
eter.
58
Common Trees
CHESTNUT OAK
Quercus Prinus, Linnaeus
T HE Chestnut Oak, also called Rock Oak, and Tanbark
Oak, is an important forest tree. Its importance will
grow for it produces valuable wood, and yields bark rich
in tannin.
The leaves are simple, alternate, stiff, 5 to 9 inches long, 2
to 4 inches wide, coarsely
toothed along margin.
The flowers are similar
and the wood ranks close
to White Oak.
The fruit is a large
acorn maturing in one
season. The nut is 1 to
1 Yz inches long, oval,
smooth, glossy, chestnut
brown. The cup is thin,
deep, hairy inside, covers
one-third of nut.
The bark on young
stems and branches is
smooth, thin, yellowish-
brown. On old trunks it
is thick, brown to black,
deeply furrowed. The
bark ridges are high, sharp
and angular. At the bot¬
tom of the furrows the
bark is cinnamon red. It
is rich in tannin.
CHESTNUT OAK
One-third natural size.
Twig section and bud scales enlarged.
The twigs are slender,
angular, orange brown.
The buds are light-brown, Y\ to Yz of an inch long, sharp
pointed, and clustered at tip of twigs.
The Chestnut Oak is found from Maine to Ontario, south
to Alabama and Tennessee. It reaches its best development
in the Alleghenies of Pennsylvania and southward. In In¬
diana it is confined almost entirely to the crest of ridges in
the unglaciated part of the State. Its eastern limit in the
State is in Clifty Falls State Park, and a few trees on the
knobs of Spencer county marks its western limit.
of Indiana
59
CHINQUAPIN OAK
Quercus Muhlenbergii, Engelmann
T HE Chinquapin Oak, also called Sweet Oak, Yellow
Oak and Chestnut Oak, was a favorite tree among the
pioneers of Indiana who sought it for fence posts because of
its durability.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 4 to 8 inches long, taper-
pointed at apex,
smooth and dark
green above, gray¬
ish hairy beneath,
with coarsely
toothed margins,
divided by more
or less incurved
teeth.
The flowers are
similar to those of
the White Oak.
The fruit is an
acorn, generally
stalkless and ma¬
turing in one sea¬
son. The nut is
ovoid, Yi to 1
inch long, enclosed
for about its
length by thin cup
covered with
brown woolly
scales.
The bark is
g r a y i sh-brown.
The twigs are slen¬
der, reddish-brown
at first hairy but chinquapin oak
b e come smooth.
The buds are chestnut brown, sharp-pointed, about 1 /6 of
an inch long. The wood is similar to that of the White
Oak.
The Chinquapin Oak is found from Vermont to Minne¬
sota and south to Florida and Texas. In Indiana it occurs
in limited numbers in all parts of the State, being rare in
the northwestern part, and more common south of the Wa¬
bash river. It was one of the favorite trees of wild pigeons
before they became extinct. Its fruit is the most edible of
all our oaks.
60
Common Trees
RED OAK
Quercus rubra, Linnaeus
T HE Red Oak is one of the biggest, stateliest, and hand¬
somest trees of eastern North America. As early as
1740 it was introduced into Europe.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 5 to 9 inches long, 4 to 6
inches wide, 7 to 9-lobed. Lobes are bristle-tipped and sepa¬
rated by clefts that reach
halfway to midrib.
The flowers appear with
the leaves. The pollen¬
bearing are arranged in
drooping tassels; the
acorn-producing occur in
few-flowered clusters on
new growth.
The fruit is an acorn
maturing in two seasons.
The cup is wide, shallow,
covered with over-lapping
reddish-brown scales, en¬
closing only base of nut.
The nuts average one inch
long, y 2 to of an inch
wide, are flat at base and
short-tipped at apex.
The bark on young
stems is smooth, grayish or brown. On older trunks it be¬
comes rough with furrows separating wide, smooth gray¬
ish to brownish ridges. The lateral branches are straight
and ascend at about an angle of 45 degrees. The twigs are
smooth and rich brown. The buds are of an inch long,
sharp-pointed, smooth, glossy, reddish-brown, without
hairs.
The wood is heavy, hard, strong, light reddish-brown,
with light sapwood. It is used for furniture, interior finish¬
ing, ties, and general construction.
The Red Oak has a wide distribution. It is found from
Nova Scotia to Minnesota and Kansas south to Florida and
Texas. It is found throughout Indiana, but occurs only
locally in the knob area, and becomes rare in the southern
counties. Moist, porous, sandy to gravelly clay soils are its
favorite homes. It is one of the most important timber trees
of North America, reaching a height of more than 100 feet
and an age of 300 or more years.
RED OAK
Twig, one-half natural size.
Leaf, one-third natural size.
of Indiana
61
BLACK OAK
Quercus velutina, Lambert
HE Black Oak, also called Yellow Oak, is one of the
most common trees of Indiana. It sometimes reaches a
height of 100 feet and 4 feet in diameter. By its bark one
can always recognize this tree. Its outer bark is black and
its inner bark is distinctly yellow.
The leaves are
simple, alternate, 4 to
10 inches long, 3 to
6 inches wide, usual-
1 y 7-lobed with
bristle tips. The
lower leaf surfaces are
pale green to rusty
brown.
The flowers are
similar to those of
other oaks.
The fruit is an
acorn maturing in
two seasons. Cups
are cup-shaped, light
brown, often slightly
fringed along margin,
enclose Yz of nut.
Nuts are to 1 inch
long, light reddish-
brown.
The bark on older
trunks is black, thick,
very rough. Twigs
are stout, angular,
reddish-brown, often hairy. Buds are large, sometimes l /z
of an inch long, angular, covered with a coating of yellow¬
ish or dirty-white hairs.
The wood is similar to that of Red Oak.
The Black Oak is found from Maine to Ontario, south
to Florida and Texas. It occurs throughout Indiana but is
confined to the poorer soils. It is rare in the rich agricul¬
tural part of the State, becoming very common on the sandy
and gravelly soils of northern Indiana and the hills of
the southern part of the State.
BLACK OAK
One-fourth natural size.
Twig section, enlarged.
62
Common Trees
SCARLET OAK
Quercus coccinea, Muench
T HE Scarlet Oak is one of the showiest oaks in the east¬
ern part of its range, but in Indiana it does not de¬
velop its beautiful foliage of brilliant scarlet to gorgeous red.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 3 to 6 inches long, 3 to
5 inches wide, 5 to 9-lobed. Lobes are bristle-tipped and
separated by deep clefts.
The flowers resemble those
of other oaks.
The fruit is an acorn ma¬
turing in two seasons. The
cup is thin, narrowed at base,
often glossy on surface,
covers ^2 of nut. The nut is
three-fifths of an inch long,
reddish-brown.
The bark on small stems
and branches is smooth, thin,
light to grayish-brown, be¬
comes rough and irregular on
older trunks, sometimes al¬
most black near base. Flat-
topped ridges occur between
shallow furrows. Inner bark
is of a pale-coloring. Dead
limbs often persist along
lower trunk. The twigs are
smooth, rather slender, reddish to grayish-brown. The buds
are about of an inch long, covered with a pale wool
from apex to middle.
The wood is rather strong, heavy, hard, coarse in tex¬
ture. It does not have a wide commercial use, but is valu¬
able for fuel, ties and general construction.
SCARLET OAK
Leaf and acorns, one-third natural size.
The Scarlet Oak is found from Maine to Minnesota south
to North Carolina and west to Nebraska. In Indiana it is
extremely local outside of the hill country, where it usually
occurs on the crest of ridges. In the northern part of its
range this tree is rather small, but toward its southern limits
it becomes 80 feet high and 3 feet in diameter. It is of little
commercial importance in Indiana, where many mature trees
show rot and other defects.
of Indiana
63
PIN OAK
Quercus palustris, Muench
T HE Pin Oak, also called Water Oak and Swamp Oak,
is one of the most attractive oaks native to North
America, Its trunk usually remains unbranched and the
lateral branches take a horizontal position along the middle
of the trunk. At the bottom they are drooping and those
at the tip are ascending.
The leaves are simple, al¬
ternate, 4 to 6 inches long,
2 to 4 inches wide, 5 to 9-
lobed. Lobes are bristle-tip¬
ped and separated by deep
clefts. They resemble those
of the Scarlet Oak, but are
coarser and less lustrous.
The flowers are similar to
those of other oaks.
The fruit is a tiny acorn,
maturing in two seasons. The
cup is thin, shallow, saucer- Leaf and acorns, one-third natural size,
shaped, about 34 of an inch TwiK> one - half natural size -
across. The nut is light
brown, often striped, about of an inch long.
PIN OAK
The bark is rather smooth, grayish or dark-brown. The
twigs are smooth, shiny, grayish-brown. The branches are
thickly set with stiff pin-like twigs, whence its name Pin
Oak. The buds are small, smooth, light-brown.
The wood is rather heavy, hard, and strong. It warps
and checks freely. It is used for fuel, ties and general con¬
struction work.
The Pin Oak is found from Massachusetts to Michigan
south to Tennessee and Oklahoma. It is found throughout
Indiana, usually occurring in swampy woods. It is a medium¬
sized tree reaching a height of 75 feet and a diameter of 3
feet. It is used for shade, park, and street planting. For
forestry purposes it should be replaced by the Red Oak.
64
Common Trees
SHINGLE OAK
Quercus imbricaria, Michaux
HE Shingle Oak, also called Laurel Oak, Peach Oak,
Jack Oak and Water Oak, is among the unique oaks
of North America. At first glance it appears to be an over¬
size laurel because of its laurel-like leaves, but a close exam¬
ination reveals acorns, placing it definitely among the oaks.
The leaves are simple, al¬
ternate, 4 to 6 inches long,
1 to 2 inches wide, wedge-
shaped at base, sharp-pointed
at apex, smooth along mar¬
gin.
The flowers are similar to
those of Red Oak.
The fruit is a small acorn
maturing in two seasons.
The nut is egg-shaped, about
Yz of an inch long, dark
brown. The cup is saucer¬
shaped, reddish-brown, en¬
closing almost ^2 of nut.
The bark is light to gray¬
ish-brown becomes rough with shallow furrows. On young
trunks it is smooth and shiny. The twigs are smooth,
shiny, and dark brown. The buds are about of an inch
long, chestnut-brown.
The wood is rather heavy, hard and strong. It is similar
to Red Oak, but inferior.
The Shingle Oak is found from Pennsylvania to Michigan,
south to Georgia and Arkansas. It occurs throughout
Indiana, becoming frequent to common in the southwest¬
ern part. This tree is usually found on low ground, but
sometimes occurs near the base of slopes, and in the “knob
area” it is found on the crest of ridges.
The Shingle Oak may reach a height of 80 feet and a
diameter of 3 feet. The attractive form and beautiful foli¬
age of this tree recommend it for ornamental planting.
SHINGLE OAK
of Indiana
65
OTHER INDIANA OAKS
T HE Cow Oak—Quercus Michauxii, Nuttall—also
called Basket Oak, is one of the most beautiful oaks of
Indiana. It is more or less frequent in the flats of south¬
eastern Indiana and in the bottoms of the southwestern
part. It is a tree of the lowlands. When grown in the open
it forms an ovate head and its autumnal coloration is a gor¬
geous hue of red and brown. It should become one of the
principal trees of the farmers’ woodlot. It resembles the
Chestnut Oak but the lower surfaces of its leaves are vel¬
vety to the touch and its gray bark is scaly like that of the
White Oak.
******
The Over-cup Oak—Quercus lyrata, Walter—is one of
the rarest oaks of Indiana. It is found only in inundated
areas about river sloughs and swamps in the southwestern
part of the State. Among its associates are the Pecan and
Pumpkin Ash. It resembles the Bur Oak but lacks the
fringed acorn cups, and the apex of leaf lobes are gen¬
erally sharp-pointed.
******
The Black Jack Oak—Quercus marilandica, Muenchhausen
—is a small tree found only on the very poorest soils of
Indiana. It occurs chiefly in the hill country and on a
few ridges in the southwestern part of the State. It can be
distinguished by its large leaves which usually spread abruptly
near the tips, are widest between the tip and the middle,
and hairy on the lower surface. They resemble those of
the Black Oak. The leaves of the latter are more deeply
lobed and its mature twigs are smoother.
******
A form of the Red Oak with leaves cut more than half
way to the midrib is sometimes referred to as Schenck’s Oak
—Quercus Schenckii, Britton. It is more or less frequent
throughout the Wabash valley of Indiana.
66
Common Trees
AMERICAN ELM
Ulmus americana, Linnaeus
O F all trees native to North America, the American Elm,
also called White Elm and Water Elm, is probably
the best known and most admired. For beauty, grace, and
stateliness this tree has no superior.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 4 to 6 inches long, un¬
equally based. The
veins run straight
from the midrib to
the doubly toothed
margins.
The flowers appear
early in spring before
the leaves. They are
greenish and occur in
small drooping clus¬
ters.
The fruit is a
small seed, surround¬
ed completely by a
thin, flat, membrane¬
like wing. It ma¬
tures after the flow¬
ers, and is about ^
of an inch across.
The bark is grayish-brown, rather thick, roughened by
shallow furrows, sometimes flaky or corky. The twigs are
smooth or sometimes hairy, reddish-brown, marked with
obscure pale breathing pores. The leaf-scars are marked
with three distinct bundle-scars. The buds are egg-shaped,
usually smooth, covered with 6 to 10 overlapping reddish-
brown scales with darker margins.
The wood is heavy, hard, tough, rather durable, dark
brown to red with lighter sapwood. It is used for barrels,
agricultural implements, posts, ties and novelties.
The American Elm has a total range of more than 2,500,
000 square miles. It extends from Newfoundland west to
the Rocky Mountains, a distance of 3,000 miles, and south
to Florida and Texas, a distance of 1,200 miles. It is fre¬
quent to common on low ground in all parts of Indiana. It
often reaches a height of 80 to 100 feet and a diameter of
2 to 4 feet.
Its wide range, good wood, rapid growth, and adaptation
to a wide range of soils, suggest good care and protection in
places suited to its growth. For ornamental and roadside
planting this tree is especially desirable.
AMERICAN ELM
One-fourth natural size.
of Indiana
67
SLIPPERY ELM
Ulmus fulva, Michaux
T HE Slippery Elm, also called Red Elm, has been a well-
known tree ever since the pioneer hunters and early
travellers learned that its bark has excellent properties for
quenching thirst and staying hunger. The bark is still held
in esteem for the treatment of throat trouble, fevers and in¬
inflammation.
The leaves are sim¬
ple, alternate, 5 to 7
inches long, rough,
unequally based,
doubly toothed on
margin.
The greenish flow¬
ers appear early in
spring before the
leaves. They occur
in few-flowered clus¬
ters along twigs.
The fruit is a
small seed surround¬
ed completely by a
thin, flat, membrane¬
like wing. It is
about Y? of an inch
across and matures
shortly after the
flowers.
The bark is dark
brown tinged with
red, becomes rough
and furrowed. Inner bark is slippery, fragrant, mucila¬
ginous. The twigs are grayish and rather rough when
mature. The buds are dark chestnut-brown, covered with
about 12 hairy rusty-brown scales.
The wood is heavy, hard, tough, dark brown to red, with
light sapwood. It is used for barrels, agricultural imple¬
ments, posts, ties, and novelties.
The Slippery Elm is found from the Valley of the St.
Lawrence, south to Florida and west to North Dakota and
Texas. It is found in all parts of Indiana, preferring moist
soil. Like the American Elm, it is becoming more abundant
in many places in the State.
SLIPPERY ELM
One-fourth natural size.
Twig section, leaf-scar and flowers, enlarged.
68
Common Trees
ROCK ELM
Ulmus racemosa, Thomas
T HE Rock Elm, also called Hickory Elm, sometimes
reaches a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 5 feet.
The leaves are alternate, simple, 3 to 6 inches long,
coarsely toothed along the margin, unequally based, thick
and firm in
texture. The
flowers ap¬
pear in
March and
April before
the leaves in
slender stalks,
drooping, ra-
c e m e-1 i k e
clusters. The
fruit matures
in May. It is
a small one-
seeded sam-
a r a, sur¬
rounded with
a thin mem-
braneous
wing about
one-half o f
an inch long &*$$$
and hairy all
over. The rock elm
bark on the
main trunk is
thick, ridged with wide furrows separating flat scaly ridges.
The twigs are at first light brown and hairy, become shiny
reddish-brown finally grayish-brown with corky winged
projections. The buds are alternate, egg-shaped, brownish,
about one-fourth of an inch long, with minutely hairy bud-
scales. The wood is heavy, very strongs tough, light reddish-
brown with light sapwood. It is used for purposes requir¬
ing toughness, solidity and flexibility.
The Rock Elm is found from Quebec, westward to On¬
tario, Michigan and Wisconsin and northeast Nebraska and
southward through the New England states to New York
and central Indiana. This tree occurs in practically all
parts of Indiana. It prefers a rich well-drained soil. In
the glaciated region it becomes large. It is a valuable timber
tree and locally is planted for ornamental purposes. In
southwestern Indiana the beautiful Winged Elm—Ulmus
alata, Michaux—is found locally.
of Indiana
69
HACKBERRY
Celtis occidentalis, Linnaeus
T HE Hackberry, also called Sugarberry, belongs to the
Elm family.
The leaves are simple, alternate, ovate, 2 to 4 inches long,
finely toothed along margin, sharp-pointed, rounded and
often lopsided at base, rough on upper surface, with promi¬
nent primary veins.
The flowers are small,
greenish and borne on
slender stalks. The fruit
is a round, dark purple
berry about J4 of an inch
in diameter. It matures
about September, hangs
far into winter, and is
eaten freely by birds and
other animals.
The grayish brown
bark ranges from smooth
when small to very rough.
Hard wart-like bark pro¬
jections are common on
medium-sized trees. The
twigs are slender, tend to
zigzag, and are often
grouped in dense clusters
known as “w itches-
brooms.” They contain a
pith that is made up of Twig section, flowers and leaf-scar, enlarged.
thin white plates separated
by wide air spaces. This
is known as “chambered pith."
HACKBERRY
One-fourth natural size.
The wood is yellowish, rather heavy, and coarse-grained.
It is used chiefly for crates, boxes, handles and agricultural
implements.
The Hackberry is generally distributed in the United
States east of the Rocky Mountains. It occurs throughout
Indiana, generally along streams. It is rarely over 90 feet
high. Another Sugarberry (Celtis mississippiensis) is found
in the lowlands of southwestern Indiana. It has smoother
bark, cherry-red fruit, and leaves with smooth margins
towards the base.
70
Common Trees
RED MULBERRY
Morus rubra, Linnaeus
T HE Red Mulberry, also known as “Mulberry,” came in
the limelight in the early days of American history..
The early pioneers were inspired with the false hope that it
was a new source of food for the silkworm. The outcome
was altogether disappointing.
The leaves are simple,
alternate, 3 to 5 inches
long, roundish, short-tip¬
ped, deep green and with
deeply sunken veins on up¬
per surface. Some leaves
are lobed and resemble an
ordinary mitten. The
leaf-stalks give a milky
secretion upon being
squeezed.
The flowers are of two
kinds. Pollen-bearing and
seed-producing occur in
short drooping tassels.
The fruit is a soft,
fleshy, dark red to black
aggregation of many-
seeded berries. They are
sweet, juicy, and greatly
relished by man, birds, and various other animals.
The bark is rather thin, dark, grayish-brown, begins to
roughen about the third year, peels off in thin scales. The
twigs are smooth, clean, light greenish-brown, and bear
oval, hollowed-out leaf-scars dotted with numerous bundle-
scars. The bowl-shaped leaf-scars are helpful in recognizing
this tree in winter.
The wood is soft, light, not strong, orange yellow to
brown. It is durable in contact with soil, and used chiefly
for fence posts.
The Red Mulberry rarely exceeds 50 feet in height and 2
feet in diameter. It grows from Massachusetts west to Kan¬
sas and south to Texas and Florida. It is found through¬
out Indiana but is not common anywhere. It is usually
found as a solitary tree. Rich moist soil of valleys and foot¬
hills is its favorite home. The tree should be protected to
insure a food supply for birds.
RED MULBERRY
One-fourth natural size.
Twig section, natural size. Leaf-scar,
enlarged.
of Indiana
71
CUCUMBER TREE
Magnolia acuminata, Linnaeus
T HE hardiest Magnolia native to eastern North America
is the Cucumber Tree. In appearance it suggests a trop¬
ical tree for its leaves and flowers are large.
The leaves are simple, alternate, thin, egg-shaped, 4 to 12
inches long, pointed at apex, smooth ajong margin. They
fall in response to
first frost.
The flowers are
large, upright, soli¬
tary, bell-shaped
about 3 inches long,
greenish tinged with
yellow, difficult to
see among foliage.
The fruit is a red
cucumber-like mass,
2 to 3 inches long,
containing scarlet,
pea-size seeds sus¬
pended by long slen¬
der white threads at
maturity.
The bark is gray¬
ish to brown, breaks
up into long furrows.
The twigs are
smooth, shiny, bitter,
rather stout, brown,
marked with cres¬
cent-shaped leaf-scars.
CUCUMBER TREE
One-fourth natural size.
Seeds and twig section, enlarged.
The buds are conical, sharp-pointed, about of an inch
long, and pale silky.
The wood is soft, not strong, brittle, light yellowish to
reddish-brown. It is used for same purposes as Yellow
Poplar.
The Cucumber Tree is found from western New York
south to Illinois, Georgia and Arkansas. It occurs locally
throughout southern Indiana, especially southward of Frank¬
lin and Knox counties. Rich moist woods with abundant
sunlight is its favorite home. Good wood, rapid growth,
few foes are among its principal merits. It is a beautiful
tree for lawns and parks. It is too rare in Indiana to be
of economic importance.
72
Common Trees
TULIP TREE
Liriodendron Tulipfera, Linnaeus
T HE Tulip Tree, also called Yellow Poplar, and White-
wood, is one of the most distinctive of American trees,
and has been adopted as the State Flower of Indiana.
TULIP TREE
Leaf and flower, one-third natural size. Twig, two-thirds natural size.
The leaves are simple, alternate, usually 4-lobed, 4 to 6
inches across, appear to have tips cut off at right angle to
stem, and are long-stalked. At the base of each leafstalk are
two leaf-appendages. The flowers are tulip-like, 1 34 to 2
inches deep, greenish-yellow with 3 reflexed sepals and 6
petals. The fruit? is made up of long winged nutlets arranged
in light brown, cone-like clusters 2 J4 to 3 inches long.
The bark when young is smooth, bitter, ash-gray to
brown, mottled with light blotches. On old trunks it be¬
comes thick, brown, deeply furrowed. The twigs are
smooth, shiny, stout, reddish-brown, marked with pale ob¬
scure breathing pores. Complete rings of stipule-scars sur¬
round twigs. The buds are smooth, flattened, 34 to Yz of
an inch long, blunt-pointed, reddish-brown, covered with
one pair of bud-scales. Within buds are small miniature
leaves. The wood is soft, not strong, light, white-yellowish
to brownish, works easily. It is used for furniture, interior
finishings, woodenware, novelties, and veneer.
The Tulip Tree is found from Rhode Island to Michigan,
south to Florida and Arkansas. It occurs throughout In¬
diana, becoming rare in the northern part. Deep rich moist
soil is its favorite home. It frequently reaches a height of
100 feet and a diameter of 5 feet. It is well adapted for
use in Indiana woodlots.
of Indiana
73
PAPAW
Asimina triloba, Dunal
T HE Papaw is a dainty tree rarely exceeding 30 feet in
height. A mere glance at it in summer suggests that it
has escaped from the tropics, for its leaves are truly tropical
and its fruit resembles a stubby banana.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 4 to 12 inches long, thin
in texture, short-
pointed, long taper¬
ing at base, smooth
on margin.
The flowers are
large, 1 to 1 54 inches
wide, solitary, at first
green, later reddish,
occur below leaves,
are borne on short
stalks.
The fruit suggests
a stubby banana, 3 to
5 inches long, at first
green, yellowish to
dark brown when
ripe, contains many
dark brown shiny
flat seeds scattered
throughout flesh.
The bark is thin,
smooth, dark brown,
often dotted with
light blotches. The
twigs are rather slen¬
der, smooth, olive
brown, enlarged at
nodes. The buds are
brown, naked, hairy.
The terminal bud is
large and flattened.
Flower buds are round, 1 /6 of an inch in diameter, very
hairy, dark brown.
The Papaw is found from western New York and New
Jersey south to Florida and west to Michigan and Texas.
It occurs throughout Indiana but becomes rare in the hill
country. This tree is of no commercial value on account of
the! wood it produces, but deserves to be planted ornamentally
because of its tropical leaves, unique flowers, and peculiar
fruit. The fruit with white pulp is rather insipid, that with
yellow pulp is tasty.
PAPAW
One-fourth natural size.
Twig section and bud, enlarged.
74
Common Trees
SASSAFRAS
Sassafras variifotium, ( Salisbury ) Kuntze
T HE Sassafras is a distinctive tree. It is recorded that
Sassafras bark and roots were among the first cargoes
shipped from the American colonies. The bark and roots
are still used locally in the manufacture of Sassafras Tea.
The leaves are simple, alternate, egg-shaped, 4 to 6 inches
long, usually smooth
along margin. Some¬
times 2 to 5-lobed
leaves are found on
same twig with the nor¬
mal leaves. The glove
form of leaves are dis¬
tinctive.
The flowers appear
with the leaves and are
of two kinds. They
are greenish-yellow, and
arranged in loose, short-
stalked clusters.
The fruit is a dark
blue, shiny berry borne
on a stout red stem. It
is excellent bird food.
The bark becomes
rough early. On old
trunks is reddish-
brown, deeply fur¬
rowed, separates in thin
scales. The twigs are
rather brittle, yellow-
ish-g r e e n, aromatic,
sometimes hairy. The
inner bark is very muci¬
laginous. The buds are about 3/5 of an inch long, slightly
hairy, greenish, covered with a few bud-scales.
The wood is soft, brittle, durable, aromatic, dull orange-
brown, with light sapwood. It is used for posts, furni¬
ture, interior finishing, crates, coffins.
The Sassafras is found from Massachusetts to Florida
and west to Michigan and Texas. It is occurs throughout
Indiana but is commonest in the southern part, where it
often forms thickets in abandoned fields. It can be recom¬
mended for ornamental planting. Authentic records show
that a Sassafras tree once grew near Butlerville, Indiana,
that was over 4 feet in diameter.
SASSAFRAS
One-fourth natural size.
Single flowers and bud, enlarged.
of Indiana
75
FIRE CHERRY
Prunus pennsylvanica, 1 Linnaeus
HE Fire Cherry, also called Wild Red Cherry, Bird
Cherry, and Pin Cherry is a small slender tree seldom
more than 30 feet high and 12 inches in diameter.
The leaves are alternate, sometimes paired but never oppo¬
site each other. They are simple, 3 to 5 inches long and
44 to 134 inches
wide, finely
toothed along
margin, bright
green and shiny on
upper surface and
paler below. The
flowers appear
about May. They
are white, about
one-h a 1 f inch
across and ar¬
ranged in 4 to 5-
flowered clusters.
The fruit is a
round, juicy, light
red berry, about
34 of an inch in
diameter. The skin
is thick and the
flesh sour. It rip¬
ens in July-Aug¬
ust. The bark on
young trunks is
reddish - brown,
rather smooth.
The outer bark
peels off readily in
thin layers and ex¬
poses the green very bitter inner bark. The twigs are slen¬
der, smooth, bright red, often covered with a thin gray coat¬
ing which rubs off easily. The twigs and bark are marked
with numerous pale to yellowish breathing pores. The
wood is light, soft, close grained, with light brown heart-
wood and thin yellowish sapwood.
The Fire Cherry is a widely distributed tree. It is found
from Newfoundland to British Columbia,i southward to
Georgia and Colorado. In Indiana it is frequent on the black
oak ridges about Lake Michigan, but reported only from
Lake, Porter, Laporte, St. Joseph and Lagrange counties.
It is a short-lived tree of little commercial importance, but
acts as a nurse tree to other valuable species. It furnishes
food for birds and other wild life.
FIRE CHERRY
76
Common Trees
WITCH-HAZEL
Hamamelis virginiana, Linnaeus
T HE Witch-hazel is a very interesting small tree or shrub.
It has the unusual habit of blossoming late in autumn
and a full year elapses between the appearance of its flowers
and the maturing of its unusual fruit.
The leaves are simple, alternate, oval, 4 to 6 inches long,
usually rounded at apex, oblique
at base, coarsely toothed along
margin, with prominent veins.
The flowers appear in Octo¬
ber or November. They are
bright yellow, and occur in few-
flowered clusters.
The fruit ripens in October
or November with the flowers.
It is a yellowish-brown woody
pod with two cells in which
black shiny seeds are produced.
The seeds are often propelled
five or more feet when seed pods
burst open.
The bark is light brown,
somewhat mottled with light
blotches. The twigs are light
brown, smooth, zigzag. The
buds are flattish, curved, brown,
hairy. The terminal bud is
sickle-shaped, about one-third
of an inch long. Flower buds
are small, round, occur on slen- witch hazel
der Stalks. One-fourth natural size.
Single flower and fruit pod. enlarged.
The wood is hard, light
brown, close-grained. It is not
used commercially.
The Witch-hazel is found from Nova Scotia to Minnesota,
south to Florida and Texas. It is common in northern
Indiana, decreasing southward, and becoming rare in the
southwestern part. Moist and rocky situations are its favo¬
rite home. It is very tolerant of shade, which accounts for
its being found commonly in the understory of the forest.
of Indiana
77
SWEET GUM
Liquidambar Styracifl.ua, Linnaeus
T HE Sweet Gum, also called Red Gum and Liquidambar,
is a handsome and symmetrical tree native to Indiana.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 3 to 5 inches; long,
broader than long, star-shaped, six-pointed. In autumn they
turn to a pale orange to deep red, ^nd when crushed give off
fragrant odor.
The flowers are green
and of two kinds. Pol¬
len-bearing are arranged
in tassels 2 to 3 inches
long. See d-producing
occur in long-stalked
heads.
The fruit is a long-
stalked round head
made up of many cap¬
sules each containing
many small seeds.
The bark on older
trunks is deeply fur¬
rowed grayish-brown,
and scaly. On younger
trunks it is smoother
and dark gray. The
twigs are stout, angular,
smooth, with corky
winged projections. The
buds are sharp-pointed,
lustrous brown, fra¬
grant when crushed.
The wood is rather hard, strong, reddish-brown, with
white sapwood. It is used for boxes, crates, furniture and
interior finishing. Large quantities are used in imitation of
Circassian Walnut.
The Sweet Gum grows naturally from Connecticut to
Florida and as far south as Guatemala. It is native to the
southern half of Indiana and will grow in the entire state
if planted. It is common in the flats and lowlands of south¬
western counties, and rare in the hill counties. It should be
favored in the low-lying woodlots. This tree is handsome,
has a symmetrical form, grows rapidly, produces unique
leaves, and has few enemies. It deserves to be planted widely
for ornamental and shade uses.
SWEET GUM
One-fourth natural size.
78
Common Trees
WILD BLACK CHERRY
Prunus serotina, Ehrhart
T HE Wild Black Cherry, also called Wild Cherry, and
Black Cherry, is the only native cherry that reaches
large tree size. It often attains a height of 75 feet and a
diameter of 3 feet.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 2 to 5 inches long, long-
pointed, finely toothed
along margin, rather thick,
shiny on upper surface
and paler below. v
The flowers are white,
about of an inch
across, arranged in spikes
3 to 4 inches long.
The fruit is a purplish-
black juicy berry, about
one-third of an inch in
diameter, grouped in
drooping clusters.
The bark on young
trunks is smooth, glossy,
reddish-brown marked
with conspicuous white,
horizontally e 1 o ngated
breathing pores, peels off
in thin film-like layers ex¬
posing green inner bark.
On old trunks it becomes
black, rough, breaks up into thick plates. The twigs are
smooth, reddish-brown marked with numerous small whit¬
ish breathing pores. Twigs and inner bark have bitter taste
and unpleasant odor. The buds are about y& of an inch
long, smooth, glossy, reddish-brown, covered with about 4
visible scales.
WILD BLACK CHERRY
One-fourth natural size.
The wood is moderately heavy, hard, and strong, fine¬
grained, with reddish-brown heartwood. It is durable and
used for furniture, interior finishings, tools, ties, implements
and high-class panels.
The Wild Black Cherry is found from Nova Scotia south
to Florida and west to Kansas and Texas. It occurs in
all parts of Indiana. Rich bottomlands and moist hillsides
are its favorite home, but it also grows on dry soil. Locally
it is a pest along fences and in clearings. We need its fine
wood, the birds eat its fruit, and the bees frequent its flowers.
of Indiana
79
WILD PLUM
Prunus americana, Marshall
T HE Wild Plum, also called Wild Red Plum, is an in¬
teresting small round-topped tree reaching a height of
25 feet and a diameter of 8 inches.
WILD PLUM
The leaves are simple, alternate, 1)4 to 4 inches long,
taper-pointed at apex, sharply toothed along margin, usually
smooth on upper and lower surfaces.
The flowers are white, about one inch across, occur in
clusters of 2 to 5 on slender stalks. They appear in April
or May.
The fruit is a roundish drupe, about 1 inch in diameter,
with tough skin and oval stone, becoming red at full matu¬
rity in August or September.
The bark is at first smooth and grayish-brown, becoming
rough and dark brown. The twigs are smooth, reddish-
brown and bear numerous sharp spines. The wood is hard,
heavy, close-grained, and reddish-brown.
The Wild Plum is found from New York to Florida and
west to Montana, Colorado and Texas. It occurs in all
parts of Indiana, but is rather local in its distribution. One
usually finds it along streams and in low places in the forest.
Locally it forms “plum thickets.” They are usually the
result of root shoots. When once established it is hard to
exterminate.
Closely related to the Wild Plum is the Canada Plum—
Prunus nigra, Aiton—found in northern Indiana. It flowers
earlier than the Wild Plum, has less sharp teeth on leaf-mar¬
gins, and bears two glands on the leaf-stalks.
80
Common Trees
THE HAWTHORNS—Crataegus
HE Hawthorns comprise a big group of small trees.
JL There are more than one thousand described species in
the~United States. In Indiana there are about 40 species. If
one observes their flowers and fruit it is easy to see that they
are closely related to the apples, plums and peaches. The
most distinctive feature of their make-up is their stiff thorns
on the zigzag branches. Thorn Tree, Thorn Apple and
Haw are among the widely used common names.
The two commonest and most distinctive Hawthorns of
Indiana are the Cockspur Thorn and the Red Haw. The
Cockspur Thorn (Crataegus crus-galli, Linnaeus) may be
recognized by its long, usually unbranched, chestnut brown
thorns, its inversely ovate leaves, and its small nearly spher¬
ical buds. The white flowers are grouped in round-topped
clusters, and the bright apple-like scarlet fruit persists far
into winter. This small tree, rarely over 20 feet high, is
found throughout Indiana. The Red Haw—Crataegus
mollis—has broadly ovate leaves with heart-shaped to wedge-
shaped base and serrate or twice serrate margins. They are
1 Yi to 5 inches long and 1 ^ to 4 inches wide. The flow¬
ers are white, appear about May, and are arranged in many-
flowered clusters. The fruit is scarlet, nearly round, to
1 inch thick, with yellow edible flesh, ripens in September.
The Red Haw is a frequent tree throughout Indiana, except
in the extreme northwestern part. It reaches a height of 15
to 35 feet and a diameter of 4 to 10 inches.
of Indiana
81
AMERICAN CRAB APPLE
Malus coronaria, Linnaeus
T HE American Crab Apple is an attractive small tree
reaching a height of 20 feet and a diameter of 8 inches.
The fragrance of its blossoms is one of its distinctive char¬
acteristics.
The leaves are simple, alternate, ovate, 3 to 4 inches long,
sharply toothed on
margins, usually
smooth. The ter¬
minal ones on ster¬
ile branches are
sometimes lobed.
The flowers are
fragrant, rosy-
white, 1 Yi to 2
inches across, ar-
ranged in few-
flowered clusters,
appear in May.
The fruit is a
small, yellowish-
green bitter apple,
ripening about Oc¬
tober.
The bark is red¬
dish-brown and
becomes furrowed.
The mature
twigs are smooth,
r e d d i sh-brown,
sometimes bear
stubby spurs or
sharp spines. The
brown.
AMERICAN CRAB APPLE
wood is hard, heavy, light, reddish-
The American Crab Apple is found from Ontario to
Michigan and south to Alabama and Louisiana. It occurs
in all parts of Indiana, chiefly in the glaciated area on mo¬
rainal ridges and slopes along streams.
The Western Crab Apple—Malus ionesis, (Wood) Brit¬
ton—also occurs throughout Indiana. Its lower leaf-sur¬
faces and leaf-stalks are densely covered with fine hairs. It
rarely exceeds 15 feet in height and usually has a pyramidal
crown. ■ •••
82
Common Trees
JUNE BERRY
Amelanchier canadensis ( Linnaeus )
Medicus
T HE June Berry, also called Shad Bush and Sarvice Berry,
is one of the most conspicuous small trees when in full
bloom early in spring.
The leaves are simple, alternate, egg-shaped, 3 to 4 inches
long, sharp-pointed, finely toothed along margin, when
young finely hairy.
The flowers appear
just when the leaves
start to come out. They
are white, stalked, ar¬
ranged in drooping dus¬
ters 3 to 5 inches long.
The fruit is a red¬
dish-purple sweet berry,
about one-third of an
inch in diameter, coated
with whitish bloom
when fully ripe, ma¬
tures in June or July.
The bark is usually
smooth, grayish, often
marked with black
streaks. The twigs are
slender, bright green to
p u r p 1 i s h-b r o w n,
smooth, marked with
scattered dots. The
buds are slender, conical, Y\ to x / 2 of an inch long, 3 to 4
times as long as wide, sharp-pointed, greenish-brown.
JUNE BERRY
One-fourth natural size.
Flower, fruit, and twig section, enlarged.
The wood is heavy, hard, light to dark brown, checks
and warps easily. It is rarely used for commercial pur¬
poses.
The Juneberry is found from Newfoundland west to Kan¬
sas and south to Florida and Louisiana. Closely related is
the Smooth Juneberry (Amelanchier laevis, Wiegand). Its
leaves are nearly or quite smooth throughout the year. These
two small trees occur locally throughout Indiana and rarely
exceed 23 feet in height and 12 inches in diameter. Their
fine floral beauty recommends their protection. They also
yield delicious berries for man, birds and other animals.
of Indiana
83
SYCAMORE
Platanus occidentalis, ] Linnaeus
T HE Sycamore, also called Buttonball, is the largest tree
of Indiana.
The leaves are simple, alternate, broadly ovate, 3 to 5-
lobed, 4 to 8 inches across, bright green above, pale green
and white woolly below. The leaf-stalks are about 2 inches
long, enlarged and hol¬
lowed at base.
The flowers are of
two kinds, occur in
dense ball-like heads,
attached to twigs by
long slender stalks.
The fruit consists of
tiny seeds, arranged in
ball-like heads about 1
inch in diameter, at¬
tached to twigs by long
slender stalks.
The bark on old
trunks is rather thick,
dark brown, peels off in
broad scales. On young
stems and the upper
part of larger trunks it
peels off in thin scales
exposing white, green¬
ish and yellowish inner
bark. The twigs are
rather stout, at first
green and fuzzy, later
grayish to brown and
smooth. The buds are
about of an inch
long, conical, dull-pointed, smooth, reddish-brown. Ter¬
minal bud is absent.
SYCAMORE
One-fourth natural size.
Flowers and twig sections, enlarged.
The wood is hard, strong, reddish-brown. It is used for
boxes, furniture, novelties, charcoal, chemicals.
The Sycamore is native from Maine to Minnesota and
south to Florida and Texas. Moist to wet fertile soil are
its favorite home. It is found throughout Indiana. Near
Worthington, Indiana, stood the largest hardwood trees in
the United States. It was a Sycamore with a circumfer¬
ence of 42 feet and 3 inches. It was blown down in 1925.
The Oriental Plane Tree, a close relative of our Sycamore,
has been planted in Indiana for ornamental purposes.
84
Common Trees
COMMON LOCUST
Robinia Pseudo-Acacia, Linnaeus
T HE Common Locust, also called Black Locust and Yel¬
low Locust, is a beautiful forest tree when in full
bloom. Everywhere in Indiana the locust borer is damag¬
ing it heavily. It is unquestionably the best-known Amer¬
ican pod-bearing tree.
The leaves are alternate,
compound, with 7 to 21
leaflets, 8 to 14 inches
long. Leaflets are usually
odd in number, short-
stalked, 1 to 2 inches
long.
The flowers appear in
May or June, are cream-
white, fragrant, resemble a
pea blossom, are arranged
in drooping clusters 4 to 5
inches long. The fruit is
a small, dark-brown, thin
pod, 2 to 4 inches long,
y 2 of an inch wide, con¬
tains 4 to 8 small brown
seeds. The bark on both
young and old trunks is
red dish-brown, becomes
thick, deeply furrowed.
The twigs are stout, brit¬
tle, greenish to reddish-
brown, bear two short
spines at each node. The
buds are small, imbedded
in bark, and 3 to 4 occur
above each other. The
wood is yellowish-brown, very heavy, hard and durable. It
is used for posts, insulator pins, ties, fuel and shipbuilding.
COMMON LOCUST
One-fourth natural size.
Twig sections, enlarged.
The Common Locust is found from the mountains of
Pennsylvania south to Georgia, west to Iowa and Kansas.
It is doubtful if this tree is native in any part of Indiana,
but it has been planted extensively and locally it has escaped
cultivation. The most vigorous growth is made on moist
fertile soil. Its valuable wood and rapid growth recom¬
mend it for planting where the Locust Borer need not be
feared. ■ ■
of Indiana
85
HONEY LOCUST
Gleditsia triacanthos, Linnaeus
T HE Honey Locust, also called Thorn Tree, is the most
beautiful pod-bearing tree found in Indiana.
The leaves are alternate, singly or doubly compound, 7 to
8 inches long. When singly compound they have 18 to 28
leaflets, and when doubly compound have 8 to 14 pinnae
each with 18 to 20 leaf¬
lets.
The flowers are
greenish, appear about
May or June, and are of
two kinds. The pol¬
len-bearing are arranged
in short tassels; the
pod-bearing occur in
few-flowered clusters.
The fruit is a thin,
flat, more or less twist¬
ed, reddish-brown pod,
10 to 18 inches long,
containing many small
flat seeds and often per¬
sist far into winter.
The bark on young
stems is smooth, brown¬
ish, dotted with many
oblong breathing pores.
On old trunks it be¬
comes grayish-brown to black and roughened with shallow
furrows and firm ridges. The branches and trunk usually
bear large, three-pronged sharp-pointed thorns. The twigs
are smooth, glossy, greenish-brown. The buds are very
small, usually 3 at a node, and placed above one another.
The wood is hard, heavy, strong, reddish-brown with
pale sapwood. It is used for posts, rails and general con¬
struction work.
The Honey Locust ranges from Ontario to Kansas and
south to Pennsylvania, Florida and Texas. It occurs
throughout Indiana except near Lake Michigan. The thorn¬
less variety is recommended for ornamental and street plant¬
ing. It is a handsome park tree. The Water-Locust—Gled¬
itsia aquatica—occurs in a few counties in southwestern In¬
diana. It has undivided spines except on trunks and short
pods with only one seed.
HONEY LOCUST
Twig, natural size. Leaves, pod and thorn,
One-fourth natural size.
86
Common Trees
REDBUD
Cercis canadensis, Linnaeus
T HE Redbud, also called Judas Tree, is one of the most
attractive small trees native to Indiana. No tree has
more striking distinguishing characteristics.
The leaves are simple,
inches long, pointed at ape
The flowers appear be¬
fore the leaves, resemble
sweet peas, are brilliant
red, occur in numerous
clusters of 4 to 8 along
twigs.
The fruit is a small
rose-c o 1 o r e d to light-
brown, short-stalked, thin,
flat pod, 2 1 /- to 3 inches
long, about J4 of an inch
wide, contains 4 to 8 light-
brown fiat seeds.
The bark is thin, red¬
dish-brown, peels off into
thin scales. The twigs are
slender, smooth, light-
brown, buds are small,
spherical, % of an inch
across, dark purplish-red,
usually occur one above
another and often are
grouped in small clusters at base of lateral branches.
The wood is heavy, hard, dark reddish-brown with light
sapwood. It is of no commercial importance.
The Redbud is found from Ontario to Minnesota, south
to Florida and Arkansas. It is frequent throughout Indiana,
except in the Lake Michigan section. Rich fertile lowlands
and moist hillsides are its favorite home.
It is difficult to tell at which season of the year the Red¬
bud is most beautiful. Its spring robe of brilliant red blos¬
soms is glorious, its summer dress is resplendent, its autumn
garb of yellow trimmed with purplish pods is truly beautiful,
and its winter appearance is most charming. It is planted
extensively for ornamental purposes.
alternate, heart-shaped, 3 to 5
entire on margin.
REDBUD
One-fourth natural size.
Twig sections, enlarged.
of Indiana
87
THE COFFEE TREE
Gymnocladus dioica, ( Linnaeus ) Koch
T HE Coffee Tree, also called Coffee Nut Tree attracts at¬
tention because of its unusual features. Its only close
relative is native to China.
The leaves are alter¬
nate, twice and some¬
time thrice compound,
1 to 3 feet long, 1 J4 to
2 feet wide. Leaflets
are egg-shaped, about 2
inches long, sharp-
pointed at apex, smooth
to wavy along margin.
The flowers appear
about June, are greenish
white and arranged in
clusters 3 to 8 inches
long. The fruit is a
broad, stubby, reddish-
brown pod, 4 to 10
inches long, 2 to 4
inches broad. Pods con¬
tain 6 to 9 marble-like
brown seeds. The bark
is dark gray to blackish-
brown. The twigs are
very stout, greenish-
brown, often covered
with a crusty coating
marked with large,
heart-shaped leaf-scars,
contain wide pinkish to
brown pith. The buds
are small, downy, al¬
most entirely imbedded
in twigs, surrounded by
hairy ring of bark, often
placed above one another.
THE COFFEE TREE
One-fourth natural size.
Twig section, natural size.
The wood is rather heavy, coarse-grained, light brown to
reddish-brown. It is used for posts, rails, and locally for
general construction work.
The Coffee Tree is found from central New York to
Tennessee, west to Minnesota and Oklahoma. It occurs
locally in most parts of Indiana, but usually occurs alone.
It is rarely found in groups, is of little economic import¬
ance, and has few merits as an ornamental tree.
88
Common Trees
AILANTHUS
Ailanthus glandulosa, Desfontaines
T HE Ailanthus, also called Tree of Heaven, Chinese Su¬
mac, and Paradise Tree, is an interesting tree immi¬
grant that came to this country from China about 150 years
ago, and was planted first near Philadelphia.
AILANTHUS
One-fourth natural size.
Twig, one-half natural size. Leaf-Bear, slightly enlarged.
The leaves are alternate, compound, with 11 to 31 leaf¬
lets, usually 1 to 2 feet, but occasionally 3 feet long. Leaf¬
lets are 3 to 5 inches long, egg-shaped, long-pointed at apex,
smooth along margin except for a few teeth near base. They
produce unpleasant smell when crushed. Glands are usu¬
ally present near base of leaflets.
The flowers are small, greenish, of two kinds and ar¬
ranged in loose clusters. Pollen-bearing and seed-producing
occur on different trees. The fruit is a thin winged seed
produced in large clusters. The bark on young trees is
smooth, thin, light gray. On older trunks it becomes dark
gray to black and shallowly furrowed. The twigs are very
stout, yellowish-green to brown, covered with a velvety
down, marked with ochre-colored breathing pores and large
heart-shaped leaf-scars with 8 to 14 groups of bundle-scars.
The buds are small, round, reddish-brown. The wood is
light, soft, weak, white to pale yellow. It is well adapted
to the manufacture of paper pulp. The Ailanthus has been
planted in all parts of Indiana. In many places ft has escaped
cultivation and now forms dense thickets, especially along
the bluffs of the Ohio River in Jefferson county.
of Indiana
89
SUGAR MAPLE
Acer saccharum, Marshall
T HE Sugar Maple, also called Hard Maple and Rock
Maple, is probably the best known American hardwood
tree.
The leaves are simple, opposite, 3 to 5 inches long, coarse¬
ly toothed, dark green above and pale below.
The flowers are yel¬
lowish-green, appear in
April and May with the
leaves. Both pollen¬
bearing and seed-pro¬
ducing occur in droop¬
ing, slender-stalked clus¬
ters on the new growth.
The fruit is a two¬
winged maple key. The
wings are about an inch
long and are almost par¬
allel to each other or
slightly divergent.
The bark is grayish-
to brownish black,
roughened with shallow
furrows. The twigs
are slender, smooth, red¬
dish to orange brown,
marked with pale dots.
The buds are brown,
conical, sharp-pointed,
covered with 8 to 10
exposed scales.
The wood is heavy,
hard, close - grained,
light brown to reddish.
It is an all-purpose
wood, being manufactured into not less than 500 articles
of commerce.
The Sugar Maple is found from Newfoundland to Man¬
itoba, south to Florida and Texas. It occurs in every State
east of the Mississippi, but is rare in the South. It occurs
throughout Indiana. Under favorable conditions it reaches
a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 4 feet. As a timber
tree the Sugar Maple has no superiors, as a memorial tree it
is among the best, and as an ornamental and street tree it is
in the front rank.
SUGAR MAPLE
One-fourth natural size.
Twig, one-half natural size. Single flowers,
enlarged.
90
Common Trees
BLACK MAPLE
Acer nigrum, F. A. Michaux
T HE Black Maple, also called Black Sugar is one of the
most interesting and attractive trees of southern Indiana.
The leaves are simple, opposite, 3 to 6 inches long, often
wider than long, with 3 main lobes and 2 smaller lower
lobes, yellow green
beneath and rich
green above. The
lower lobes of the
leaves have a ten¬
dency to droop.
The base of the
leaf-stalks of the
terminal leaves are
enlarged at the
base and smooth
or somewhat hairy
about the enlarged
base. By maturity
a scale-like append¬
age often develops
on each side of the
base of the leaf¬
stalks.
The flowers,
fruit, twigs, buds,
and wood are sim¬
ilar to those of the
Sugar Maple. The
bark is darker, and
narrower and shal-
lower furrowed
than that of the
Sugar Maple.
The Black Maple is found from Quebec west to South
Dakota and south to Georgia and Louisiana. It occurs in
all parts of Indiana and is invariably associated with the
Sugar Maple and to a lesser degree with Beech. It is a med¬
ium to large tree which produces good wood, lives long,
holds its foliage long, is relatively free from insect and fung¬
ous attack, and develops an attractive form. It is one of
the most desirable trees for shade, street and ornamental
planting.
BLACK MAPLE
of Indiana
91
RED MAPLE
Acer rubrum, Linnaeus
A T all seasons of the year the Red Maple is a beautiful
red. In autumn it is at its best. Then it stands out
among its associates as a flaming torch of scarlet and crimson.
The leaves are simple,
opposite, about 3 inches
long, 3 to 5 lobed, pale
green to whitish on lower
surface. The clefts be¬
tween lobes are shallow
and sharp-angled.
The flowers are red, ap¬
pear early in spring before
the leaves, and are arranged
in numerous small clusters.
The fruit is a typical
two-winged maple key.
The wings are less than an
inch long, and not wide
spreading from each other.
The bark on branches RED MAPLE
. . . One-fourth natural size.
and young trunks isj.
smooth and gray; on older
trunks is grayish brown and shags off in thin plates. The
twigs are smooth, red, marked with light dots. The buds
are round, red, covered with 6 to 8 exposed scales, clustered
in groups along twigs.
The wood is moderately hard, rather brittle, close-grained,
light brown with wide and white sapwood. It is used in
the manufacture of paper, berry baskets, box-boards and
many small household articles.
The Red Maple is one of the most widely distributed trees
of North America. It is found throughout Indiana. It
usually occurs on low ground, about lakes, in marshes, and
in low woods. In southeastern Indiana it grows with Sweet
Gum in the “flats.” In the hill country it grows on dry
ridges.
The Red Maple has rare beauty, produces good wood, and
grows to a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 4 feet. For
ornamental planting it is superior to the Silver Maple.
92
Common Trees
SILVER MAPLE
Acer saccharinum, Linnaeus
T HE Silver Maple, also called Soft Maple and River Ma¬
ple, is one of the best known American trees on account
of its wide natural range and its general use for shade and
ornamental planting.
The leaves are simple, opposite, 5-lobed, silvery white on
lower surface, divided by
deep clefts with rounded
bases. The base of the
clefts of the Red Maple
are sharp-angled.
The flowers are reddish
to crimson, occur in com¬
pact clusters along twigs
early in spring before the
leaves appear.
The fruit is a typical
two-winged maple key.
The wings are 2 to 3
inches long and wide-
spreading.
The bark on branches
and young stems is smooth
and gray; on old trunks
it becomes grayish brown
and separates in thin flakes.
The twigs are slender, glossy, reddish-brown, have disagree¬
able odor if broken, are marked with many light dots. The
buds are round, red, covered with 6 to 8 visible scales, clus¬
tered in groups along twigs.
The wood is moderately hard, rather brittle, close-grained,
light brown with wide white sapwood. It is used in the
manufacture of paper, berry baskets, box-boards and many
small household articles.
The Silver Maple is found from New Brunswick to Flo¬
rida and west to the Dakotas and Oklahoma. It is found
throughout Indiana. In the lower Wabash bottoms it some¬
times forms pure stands. Moist to wet soils, stream banks,
and borders of ponds and lakes are its favorite home. This
tree grows rapidly and may reach a height of 80 feet and
diameter of 3 feet. Formerly it was planted extensively for
ornamental purposes, but now it is rarely planted for it is
short-lived, has many enemies, and suffers much from the
wind, snow and ice.
SILVER MAPLE
One-fourth natural size.
of Indiana
93
BOX ELDER
Acer Negundo, Linnaeus
T HE Box Elder, also called Ash-leaved Maple, is the only
Indiana maple with compound leaves. All other
maples have simple leaves.
The leaves are opposite, compound, with 3 to 5 leaflets.
Leaflets are 2 to 4
scars completely
encircle the twigs.
The flowers are
yellowish - green
suspended on slen¬
der stalks in small
open clusters. The
pollen-bearing and
the seed-producing
occur on different
trees.
The fruit is a
typical two-wing-
ed maple key,
which matures
about September,
occurs in drooping
clusters, often per¬
sists far into win¬
ter. The wings
are 1 to 2 inches
long, and usually incurved.
The bark on branches and young trunks is smooth and
grayish-brown; on older trunks becomes dark and breaks up
into shallow furrows. The twigs are stout, greenish to
purplish green, smooth, often covered with a whitish crusty
coating. The buds are rather large, egg-shaped, short-
stalked, white-woolly, grouped at nodes in clusters of 2 to 3.
The outer pair of bud-scales completely covers the inner pair.
The wood is light, soft, close-grained, creamy white, not
durable. It is used in the manufacture of pulp, wooden-
ware, barrels, and cheap furniture.
The natural range of Box Elder is equalled by few Amer¬
ican trees. It covers almost three million square miles from
New England to Alberta, south to Florida, Texas and Mex¬
ico. It is found throughout Indiana. In many places it is
abundant. It escapes so freely that it is impossible to tell
where it was native. One finds it chiefly along streams and
in low woods, but sometimes is found on dry soil. It cannot
be recommended for ornamental planting.
inches long, coarsely toothed. The leaf-
BOX ELDER
Leaf, one-third natural size. Twig and fruit,
two-thirds natural size.
94
Common Trees
NORWAY MAPLE
Acer platanoides, Linnaeus
T HE Norway Maple is one of the most popular street
trees in the United States. There are very few towns
and cities in which this tree is not found. It comes to us
from Europe where it is found from Norway to Switzerland.
The leaves resem¬
ble those of the Sugar
Maple but are deeper
green in color and
firmer i n texture.
One characteristic by
which it can always
be distinguished is
the presence of milky
sap in the leaf-stalks.
If pressed or twisted
the leaf-stalks always
yield a few drops of
milky sap. In early
spring the yellowish-
green flowers ar¬
ranged in clusters
along the twigs are
distinctive. In win¬
ter the large, red,
blunt-pointed glossy
buds are a sure means
of identification. In
late summer the large
fruit keys with wide-
spreading wings ripen
and may hang on the
tree for months.
The Norway Maple has many merits as a street tree. It is
hardy, rather free from insect attacks, retains its leaves longer
than the native maples, and endures well the smoke, dust
and drought of the city. The maple wilt disease has been
attacking this tree heavily in recent years.
Another European maple occurs locally in Indiana. It is
the Sycamore Maple (Acer Pseudo-platanus, Linnaeus). It
can be distinguished easily by its firm, 3 to 5-lobed leaves
with sharply toothed margins and its large, blunt-pointed
green buds. The fruit keys are smaller than those of the
Norway Maple. It does not thrive on all kinds of soil and
has not been planted extensively in Indiana.
NORWAY MAPLE
One-half natural size.
of Indiana
95
BUCKEYE
Aesculus glabra, Willdenow
I N Indiana this tree is usually called “Buckeye.” Else¬
where it is called American Horse Chestnut, Fetid Buck¬
eye, Stinking Buckeye and Ohio Buckeye.
The leaves are opposite, compound, with 5, rarely 7 leaf¬
lets. The leaflets are
egg-shaped, 3 to 6
inches long. If
crushed the leaves are
ill-smelling. This is
one of the first of our
trees to put out leaves
in spring. The flow¬
ers are small, yellow¬
ish or greenish, with
4 upright petals.
They are arranged in
upright clusters 5 to
6 inches high and 2
to 3 inches wide. The
stamens project be¬
yond the corolla.
This is one character¬
istic by which the
Ohio Buckeye can be
distinguished from
the Sweet Buckeye.
The fruit is a thick-
round or pear-shaped
prickly or warty cap¬
sule, about 1 inch in
diameter, containing
a large, smooth,
shiny brown nut. It resembles closely the fruit of the com¬
mon Horse Chestnut. The wood is soft, weak, whitish to
pale yellow. It is used for paper pulp, woodenware, artifi¬
cial limbs, and occasionally as lumber. The bark is grayish,
breaks into scaly plates. The twigs are stout, ashy-gray to
reddish brown, ill-smelling if bruised. The buds are oppo¬
site, two-thirds of an inch long, sharp-pointed, covered with
reddish-brown resinous scales. The Ohio Buckeye ranges
from western Pennsylvania south to Alabama, west through
Ohio to Illinois, Iowa and Oklahoma. It is found in all
parts of Indiana. It prefers rich moist soil, but in southern
Indiana it occurs on bluffs bordering streams. It is often
planted for ornamental purposes, but is now too rare in
Indiana to be of economic importance.
BUCKEYE
96
Common Trees
SWEET BUCKEYE
Aesculus octandra, Marshall
T HE Sweet Buckeye, also called Yellow Buckeye, and Big
Buckeye is the largest member of this interesting tree
group. It may reach a height of 110 feet and a diameter of
four feet. The leaves are opposite, compound, with 5 and
sometimes 7 leaflets. Its leaves, flowers, fruits, bark, twigs
and buds resem¬
ble those of the
Ohio Buckeye.
It can be distin¬
guished from
the latter by its
smoother and
lighter colored
bark. The cap¬
sule of its fruit
is smooth while
that of the Ohio
Buckeye is war¬
ty or spiny.
The anthers of
its flowers re¬
main within the
corolla, while
those of the
Ohio Buckeye
extend out be¬
yond the corol¬
la. The entire
lower leaf sur¬
faces are more
permane h t ly
pubescent in
this tree than in
the Ohio Buck¬
eye, and the
buds are non-
resinous. The
latter characteristic is very helpful in distinguishing this tree
from the Horse Chestnut which has very resinous buds.
The wood is light, soft, weak, whitish to pale yellowish.
It resembles yellow poplar, for which it is often sold. It is
used for paper pulp, woodenware, slack cooperage, artificial
limbs, and locally for lumber and interior finishing.
The Sweet Buckeye ranges from western Pennsylvania
through southern Ohio, Indiana and Illinois to Iowa and
Oklahoma and south to Georgia and Texas. In Indiana it
is confined to a few counties along the Ohio River, extend¬
ing westward to Spencer county. On account of its poison¬
ous fruit it has practically been exterminated in Indiana.
SWEET BUCKEYE
of Indiana
97
HORSE CHESTNUT
Aesculus Hippocastaneum, Linnaeus
T HE Horse Chestnut has been carried by man from its
original home in the mountains of Greece over a con¬
siderable part of the civilized world.
The leaves are opposite, compound, with 5 to 7 leaflets.
The leaflets are 5 to 7 inches long, about 2 inches wide, in¬
versely egg-shaped, arranged in fan-like form.
HORSE CHESTNUT
One-third natural size. Twig, one-half natural size.
The flowers appear in May or June, are large, white, with
throats dotted with yellow and purple, arranged in upright
clusters 8 to 12 inches high. The fruit is a leathery round
capsule, about 2 inches across, roughened with spines, and
contains 1 to 3 shining brown nuts.
The bark is dark brown, breaks up into thin plates which
peel off slowly. The twigs are stout, reddish-brown, smooth
obscurely dotted with breathing pores, marked with large
horseshoe-like leaf-scars each with 5 to 7 groups of bundle-
scars. The buds are large, sticky, varnished, reddish-brown.
The wood is soft, light, weak, whitish. It is a rapid¬
growing tree found in every state of the Union, and planted
locally as a street shade and ornamental tree in Indiana.
98
Common Trees
BASSWOOD
Tilia americana, Linnaeus
T HE Basswood is a tree of many names. Among them
are Linden, Linn, Lime-tree, White-wood, Beetree and
Whistle-wood.
The leaves are simple, alternate, egg-shaped to round, 4
to 7 inches long, firm in texture, toothed along margin, un¬
equally heart-shaped at
base, tufts of rusty hair of¬
ten occur in axils of veins.
The flowers appear in
June or July. They are
small, yellowish-white,
sweet, fragrant, 5 to 20
in a cluster, attached to a
wing-like bract by a slen¬
der stalk.
The fruit is a woody,
nut-like berry about the
size of a pea. It usually
occurs in small clusters at¬
tached to a wing-like bract
by slender stalks, often
persists far into winter.
The bark on young
stems is smooth and dark
gray, on older trunks it is
thick and clearly furrowed.
The twigs are smooth,
shiny, rather stout, bright
red. The buds are egg-
shaped, 2-ranked, stout,
blunt-pointed, usually
deep red, with 3 visible
bud-scales. Twig,
BASSWOOD
One-fourth natural size,
one-half natural size. Flower, leaf-sear
and twig section, enlarged.
The wood is light, soft,
light-brown to nearly white. It is used in the manufacture
of paper pulp, crates, furniture, kegs, pails, berry baskets.
The Basswood is found from New Brunswick to Man¬
itoba, southward to Georgia and Texas. It is common in
the woods of northern and central Indiana, and occasional
southward in the State. Rich, moist bottomlands and hill¬
sides are its favorite home. It reaches a height of 70 to 80
feet and sprouts freely.
In the counties of Indiana near the Ohio River is found
the White Basswood (Tilia heterophylla, Vent.). Its
leaves are densely white or grayish hairy on lower surfaces.
of Indiana
99
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
Corrnis florida, Linnaeus
T HE Flowering Dogwood is among the best-known trees
of eastern North America.
The leaves are simple, opposite, 3 to 5 inches long, 2 to 3
inches wide, smooth
or wavy along mar¬
gin, often clustered
at end of twigs. In
autumn they become
a beautiful red.
The flowers appear
about April in green¬
ish clusters surround¬
ed by large white
bracts.
The fruit is a scar¬
let berry about three-
fifths of an inch long
arranged in clusters
of 2 to 5.
The bark on
young stems i s
smooth, light brown
to reddish-gray; on
old stems becomes
reddish-brown and
divides into squarish
blocks.
The twigs are usu¬
ally smooth, red,
tinged with green,
often glossy. The
flower buds are gob¬
let-like, about two-
fifths of an inch in
diameter. The leaf
buds are smaller, flat¬
tened, slightly hairy.
The wood is hard,
heavy, strong, red¬
dish-brown to pink¬
ish, with light sapwood. It is used for tool handles, en¬
gravers’ blocks, shuttles, golf stick heads.
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
One-third natural size.
The flowering Dogwood is found from Massachusetts to
Michigan, Florida and Texas. It is occurs in all sections of
Indiana.
100
Common Trees
BLACK GUM
Nyssa sylvatica, Marshall
T HE Black Gum, also called Sour Gum, Tupelo, and
Pepperidge, is at its best in autumn when the entire
crown is often clothed with a complete garment of flaming
red. In winter when the foliage is off it has a strikingly
picturesque form. The stem often continues from the base
to the tip without di¬
viding. In young and
middle-aged trees the
top branches take an up¬
right position, the low¬
er ones droop, while
those along the middle
stand out horizontally.
The leaves are simple,
alternate, 2 to 5 inches
long, oval, blunt-point¬
ed, wedge-shaped at the
base, smooth along mar¬
gin.
The twigs are
smooth, grayish-brown,
a " d . t°“i , W ‘J b BLACK CTO
Cent-Shaped leaf - scars Leaves and fruit, one-third natural size,
each marked with three Twig, natural size. Bud and leaf-scar, enlarged
distinct bundle - scars.
The buds are reddish-brown and scattered alternately along
twigs.
On young trunks the bark is smooth to scaly. It breaks
into squarish reddish-brown to black blocks on older stems.
The fruit is a dark blue fleshy berry about two-thirds of
an inch long. Each berry contains a single hard-shelled
seed. Several berries usually occur in a slender-stalked clus¬
ter. Some birds eat the berries freely.
The wood is very tough and cross-grained. It is hard to
work, warps easily, and is not durable in contact with the
soil. Farmers have disliked the wood ever since they at¬
tempted to split it for rails. In the hard coal mines it is used
for rollers carrying ropes and cables.
The Black Gun is found from Maine to Florida, west to
Michigan and Texas. It occurs throughout Indiana, being
rare in the northern part. It generally grows on moist
ground. In the southwestern counties it grows on slopes and
sandy ridges. It reaches a height of 80 feet and a diameter
of 3 feet.
of Indiana
101
SOUR-WOOD
Oxydendrum arboreum ( Linnaeus ) De Candolle
HE Sour-wood, also called Sorrel Tree and Sour Gum
has appropriate common names for its foliage is very
sour. Its scientific name “Oxydendrum” means acid tree.
The leaves are simple, alternate, 5 to 7 inches long, 1 to
2 ]/\ inches wide, very smooth, long-pointed at apex, smooth
to finely toothed along margin.
The flow¬
ers are small,
white, and
urn - shaped;
arranged i n
racemes 6 to
8 inches long,
occur at end
of twigs, ap-
p e a r from
June to July.
The fruit is a
5-s i d e d, 5-
valved cap¬
sule. It often
persists far
into winter.
The bark is
grayish and
roughened by
deep furrows,
on old trunks
often tinged
with red.
The twigs
are yellowish
green to red¬
dish-brown,
marked with
numerous
raised breath¬
ing pores.
The buds are
small, partly imbedded in bark, covered with several opposite
reddish scales. The wood is heavy, hard, reddish-brown
with lighter sapwood. It is used for home-made sled run¬
ners, mine props, charcoal, tool handles and fuelwood.
The Sour-wood ranges from southwestern Pennsylvania,
southern Ohio and southern Indiana to Florida and western
Louisiana. In Indiana it is definitely known to occur only
on the Van Buren ridge about seven miles southeast of Can-
nelton. Here it is common over an acre or two. The largest
tree on the area was 40 feet high.
102
Common Trees
PERSIMMON
Diospyros virginiana, Linnaeus
T HE Persimmon is best known by its fruit, which is
the largest berry produced by any American forest tree.
There is no better way to get acquainted with this tree than
to try to eat its fruit before it is ripe. Its harsh puckery
taste draws the lips and chokes the throat.
The fruit is a reddish-yellow pulpy berry, one to one and
one-half inches in diameter. The bitterness disappears with
maturity of fruit. The leaves are simple, alternate, oval,
shiny, 4 to 6 inches long, sharp-pointed, smooth along mar¬
gin. The twigs are reddish-brown, with rather large pith.
They bear broadly egg-shaped buds, are marked with half¬
moon shaped leaf-scars with only one bundle-scar. The
bark is deeply furrowed, breaks into dark gray to black
squarish blocks separated by furrows that are cinnamon-red
along the bottom.
The yellowish to white flowers appear in May.
The wood is hard, heavy and strong. The heartwood
is brown to black; the sapwood is wide and white to yellow¬
ish. It is used for golfstick heads and shuttles.
The Persimmon is found from Rhode Island to Florida,
west to Kansas and Texas. It thrives best on the light
sandy soil of the warm South. It is frequent to common in
parts of southern Indiana. Locally it forms thickets in
abandoned fields.
of Indiana
103
WHITE ASH
Fraxinus americana, Linnaeus
T HE White Ash, also called Gray Ash, is the most beau¬
tiful and useful of our native Ashes. It stands among
the most important forest trees.
The leaves are opposite, about 10 inches long, compound,
with 5 to 9 leaflets. Leaflets are 3 to 5 inches long, evidently
stalked, smooth or obscurely
toothed on margin, smooth
and dark green above, silvery
white below.
The flowers are of two
kinds. The pollen-bearing
occur in dense reddish-purple
clusters, the seed-producing
in rather open pinacles.
The fruit is a winged seed,
1 to 2 inches long. The
wing is long, narrow, at¬
tached to the end of seed.
The seeds are grouped in
loose drooping clusters.
The grayish-brown, and
rather thick bark soon be- white ash
comes rough, dividing into One-fourth natural size.
diamond-shaped fissures. The
twigs are smooth, grayish-
brown, flattened at nodes, marked with scattered pale dots.
The buds are opposite, egg-shaped, dark brown, blunt-
pointed. Terminal buds are larger than the laterals.
The wood is very heavy, hard, tough, elastic, with light
sapwood and brownish heartwood. It is used widely, par¬
ticularly for athletic equipment, agricultural implements,
tools, furniture, and interior finishings.
The White Ash is found from Nova Scotia to Minnesota
to Florida and Texas. It is common in all parts of Indiana,
being most abundant in the glaciated region, that is, the
northern two-thirds of the State, where it is associated with
Beech, Sugar Maple, Linn, Slippery Elm and Red Oak. It
grows best in rich moist soils. It becomes a large tree, often
70 to 90 feet high and 3 feet in diameter, grows rapidly, is
easily propagated.
104
Common Trees
BLACK ASH
Fraxirms nigra, Marshall
T HE Black Ash is a tree of the swamps or other moist
places. The early settlers called it Hoop Ash and the
Indians called it Basket Ash.
The leaves are opposite, 10 to 14 inches long, compound,
with 7 to 11 leaflets. The leaflets are 3 to 5 inches long,
finely toothed along mar¬
gin, all are stalkless except
the terminal one.
The flowers are similar
to those of White Ash.
The fruit is a winged
seed similar to that of
White Ash, but is broad¬
er winged, notched at
apex, and the wing com¬
pletely surrounds the flat¬
tened seed.
The bark is thin, gray¬
ish, very shallowly fur¬
rowed, peels off in thin
scales, and if rubbed or
crushed becomes powdery.
The twigs are smooth,
stout, light-gray. The
buds are opposite, black,
sharp-pointed.
The wood is soft,
rather coarse-grained, with white sapwood and dark brown
heartwood. It is used for baskets, hoops, furniture, and
interior finishings.
The Black Ash is found from Newfoundland to Manitoba,
south to Virginia and Arkansas. It is found in all parts of
Indiana except in the southern counties. Bur Oak, Red
Maple and White Elm are among its chief associates. In
swampy woods it is sometimes the principal tree. It is one
of the first trees to invade extinct Tamarack swamps.
BLACK ASH
One-fourth natural size.
of Indiana
105
BLUE ASH
Fraxinus quadrangulata, Michaux
T HE Blue Ash is perhaps the easiest of all our nauve ash
trees to recognize. At all seasons of the year it can be
identified by its four-sided twigs with four ridges projecting
out from the bark. On very vigorous shoots corky wings
extend out from these ridges. In summer its inner bark
yields a blue color¬
ing if mixed with
water, whence its
name Blue Ash.
The leaves are
opposite, greenish-
yellow, compound
with 7 to 11 leaf¬
lets borne on very
short stalks or
sometimes stalk¬
less. The veins,
midribs and leaflet
stalks are perma¬
nently pubescent.
The rest of the
leaf is generally
smooth.
The fruit is
winged to the base.
The wing com¬
pletely surrounds
the seed. It re¬
sembles that of the
Black Ash.
The bark is
light gray, scaly
or flaky, not fissured. It is similar to that of Black Ash.
The wood is intermediate in quality between that of
White Ash and Black Ash and is generally sold as White
Ash.
The Blue Ash ranges from southern Ontario to Iowa and
south to northern Alabama and Arkansas. This tree is found
sparingly in all parts of Indiana, except the northwestern.
It is most abundant in the southeastern part. One usually
finds it on the bluffs of streams or well up on the slopes of
ridges. It is generally found on high ground. This tree is
becoming too scarce in Indiana to be of commercial impor¬
tance.
106
Common Trees
OTHER INDIANA ASH TREES
Closely related to the White Ash is the Biltmore Ash—
Fraxinus biltmoreana, Beadle. It can be distinguished from
the former by its twigs and axis of leaves which are velvety
pubescent, at least when young. This tree is found in all
parts of Indiana, except in the extreme northern counties.
It nearly always grows on dry soil. Its wood is sold as
White Ash.
* * ~jf *
Another tree rather closely related to the White Ash is the
Green Ash—Fraxinus Ianceolata, Borckhausen. It is also
called Swamp Ash and White Ash. It is a tall, straight tree,
but does not reach the dimensions of the true White Ash
with which it is closely associated. One always finds it in
swamp woods, and it is quite common in the lake region and
on the river bottoms of Indiana. Its twigs are smooth or
nearly so, and the body of the fruit is flattened, passes grad¬
ually into the wing, and is usually winged for more than
1 /3 its length. It has been planted extensively in the West
and Northwest.
Closely related to the Green Ash and often grouped with
it is the Red Ash—Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Marshall. It is
found sparingly in all parts of Indiana. The Red Ash is
usually distinguished by its velvety twigs, more evenly and
more numerously toothed leaf margins.
* * * *
In the river sloughs and cypress swamps of southwestern
Indiana is found the Swell-butt Ash—Fraxinus profunda,
Bush—also called Pumpkin Ash. It has robust, hairy twigs,
and its fruit is 2 to 3 inches long with wings extending along
the sides of the body.
of Indiana
107
CATALPA
Catalpa speciosa. Warder
T HIS Catalpa, also called C.atalfa, Hardy Catalpa, Indian
Bean and Cigar Tree, was formerly planted widely on
account of its reputed rapid growth, and its very durable
wood. The leaves are simple, opposite or 3 may occur in a
whorl, heart-shaped! at base, long taper-pointed, 6 to 10
inches long, 4 to 5
inches wide. The
odor of bruised
leaves is not fetid.
The flowers appear
in May or June,
are white with yel¬
lowish and pur¬
plish spots within,
arranged in large
erect clusters 8 to
10 inches high.
The lower lobe of
the corolla is
notched. The fruit
is a long bean-like
capsule containing
many flat-winged
seed. It often per¬
sists far into win¬
ter. The bark on
old trees is fissured
and ridgy, dark
grayish - brown.
The twigs are
stout, smooth,
yellowish - brown,
marked with large leaf-scars. The buds are very small, less
than of an inch long, often imbedded in bark.
The wood is durable, light brown, with satiny surface
and kerosene-like odor. It is especially well suited for fence
posts and rails. The Hardy Catalpa was originally native
from southwestern Indiana to southeastern Missouri and
northeastern Arkansas. Insect and frost damage have checked
the growth of many plantations. It should not be planted
in any part of Indiana for economic purposes, nor is it a
desirable street tree—an occasional specimen tree does well.
Another Catalpa—Catalpa bignonioides, Walter—a native
of the southern states, is less hardy, remains smaller and its
stem is usually less straight.
108
Common Trees
A TREE RECORD
E VERY boy and girl that studies trees will find it in¬
teresting to keep a record of every different kind that
can be found. In years to come this tree record will be a
precious possession, and serve as a pleasant reminder of days
among the trees. In any locality one should find 25 differ¬
ent trees and in many places 50 or even more can be found.
List the trees you have met on your hikes, about the camp,
or along the roadside on this sheet and opposite each tree
name enter the page of this booklet upon which it is de¬
scribed. The boy or the girl who can fill up all the follow¬
ing blank spaces will know more than twice the number
of trees required to pass the tree test in scouting. To know
25 trees means that you are acquainted with about one-third
of all the common trees of Indiana. This is an accomplish¬
ment of which you will have a right to feel proud. Today
is the best time to begin your tree record.
DESCRIBED
Name of Tree on page
1.
2...
3 . ....
4.
5. ........
6....
7 .
8 ........
9...
10..
11.....
12.....
13 ...
14 ......
15 .
16 .......
17 ...
18 .
19 ....
20 .........
21. ......
22.
23 .
24 ...
25 ...
Date...
Name
of Indiana
109
TREE TESTS
T HE best way to find out if you really know trees is to
organize a tree test among your friends. I know of no
more delightful out-of-doors pastime for a group of boys
or girls than to go out among the trees and actually find
out who can come out on top in a tree-naming contest. The
first thing to do is to select a leader, if you do not already
have one. He will select the trees for the test. After you
have examined the first test tree carefully, you will write
your answer in the blank space following the number one
in the blank tree tests that follow. Then, the leader will
select a second tree and you will write your answer in the
second blank space following the number two, and so on
until your first test of ten trees is completed. As soon as a
test is completed the test sheet of all who took part in the
contest is corrected, and then you will know just how well
you know the trees. For thirteen years the author of this
booklet conducted tree tests in the open, and he remembers
them as the most pleasant feature of all his teaching experi¬
ences.
TREE TEST—I.
Name of Tree
1 ....
2 ....
3 ...
4 .....
5 .....
6 .
7 ...
8 . .......
9. ....
10 ......
Name...
TREE TEST—II.
Name of Tree
1 ....
2 . ....
3 .
4 .....
5 ..
6 ...
7 .....
8 ...-.
9 ...
10 ...
Name..-.
110
Common Trees
INSPIRATION IN TREES
By Charles Lathrop Pack,
President, American Tree Association
T O the trees the poet and the orator have turned all through
the ages for some of their finest word settings. One that
has great appeal is that of the Rev. Francis E. Clark, founder
of the Christian Endeavor Societies of the world, who refers
to “the Creator as the Great Tree Maker."
T HEN, too, there is the sentiment the Father of Arbor
Day, J. Sterling Morton, left in the wonderful memorial
grove he planted in Nebraska when he arranged for a tablet,
among the trees he loved, which says: “If ye seek my monu¬
ment look around you.”
T REES, man’s best friend, the friend without whom exist¬
ence is impossible, picture life in all its variety. Look
at the wind-swept coast and there you will find struggling
for existence among the rocks, the trees. Thus does man,
buffetted by the winds of fortune, struggle. You will find
the trees clinging to river banks in their endeavor to hold
those barriers in place against the flood time. Again you will
find the trees mothering the springs and protecting them from
the ravages of the sun that they may feed first the rivulet,
then the stream that at last becomes the mighty river of com¬
merce.
W E can look back through the ages and find that when
the trees have gone, civilizations have disappeared.
Nature is the great teacher, and when man violates her laws
he must pay a terrible penalty. Nature works slowly, but
her decisions and ends are sure as the coming and going of
the sun. To Nature’s laws man must give heed if he con¬
tinues to inhabit the earth, for all life is bound up in her
mandates.
TT7E see this enthralling mystery of life everywhere; in the
W seed that becomes the apple blossom: the flower that
gives its nectar to the honey maker; in the roots of the tree
that, buried, nevertheless gives back ever renewing life as a
reward to those who plant. Kilmer pen-pictured this in
that immortal verse about the “tree that looks at God all day
and lifts its leafy arms to pray."
of Indiana
111
INDEX
Page
Ailanthus . 88
Alder, Smooth . 50
American Hornbeam . 49
American Larch .
. . 30
Arbor Vitae .
. . 31
Ash, Biltmore.
. . 106
Black .
. . 104
Blue .
.105
Green .
. . 106
Red .
. .106
White .
. . 103
Aspen, Quaking .
. . 36
Basswood .
. . 98
Beech .
. . 52
Birch, Paper.
. . 47
River .
. . 46
Yellow .
. . 47
Black Gum.
. . 100
Walnut.
. . 38
Box Elder .
. . 93
Buckeye .
. . 95
Sweet .
. . 96
Butternut .
. . 39
Catalpa .
. . 107
Cedar, Red .
. . 32
Cherry, Fire .
. . 75
Wild Black .
. . 78
Chestnut .
. . 51
Coffee Tree .
. . 87
Cottonwood .
. . 37
Crab Apple, American. .
. . 81
Western .
. . 81
Page
Hop Hornbeam . 48
Hornbeam, American .... 49
Hop . 48
Horse Chestnut . 97
June Berry . 82
Larch, American
(Tamarack) . 30
Locust, Common . 84
Honey . 85
Maple, Black . 90
Norway . 94
Red . 91
Silver . 92
Sugar . 89
Mulberry, Red . 70
Oak, Black .53, 61
Black Jack . 65
Bur . 5 6
Chestnut . 58
Chinquapin . 59
Over-cup . 65
Pin . 63
Post . 57
Red . 60
Scarlet . 62
Schenck's . 65
Shingle . 64
Swamp White . 55
White .53, 54
Pawpaw . 73
Pecan . 45
Persimmon .102
Pine, Jersey . 28
Cucumber Tree. 71
Dogwood, Flowering .... 99
Elm, American . 66
Rock . 68
Slippery . 67
Flowering Dogwood . 99
Gum, Black .100
Sweet . 77
Hackberry . 69
Hawthorns . 80
Hemlock . 29
Hickory, Big Shellbark ... . 41
Bitternut . 44
Pecan . 45
Pignut . 43
Shellbark . 40
Small-fruited . 45
White. 42
White . 27
Plum, Wild . 79
Quaking Aspen . 36
Redbud . 86
Sassafras . 74
Sour-Wood .101
Sweet Gum . 77
Sycamore . 83
Tulip Tree . 72
Walnut, Black . 38
Willow, Black . 33
Crack . 35
Pussy . 34
Weeping . 35
White . 35
Witch-Hazel . 76
Press of
■ . '
JAMES A. MURRAY
Baltimore, Md.
- LIST OF -
American Tree Association
PUBLICATIONS
Trees as Good Citizens
The School Book of Forestry
Forestry Almanac
Tree Habits, How to Know the Hardwoods
The Forestry Primer
The Forest Poetic
Town Forests
Tree Planting Book
Forestry Legislative Survey
Common Trees of New Jersey
Common Trees of New York
Common Trees of Massachusetts
Common Trees of Indiana
Common Trees of Ohio
Common Trees of Michigan
1214 16th STREET, N. W.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
