240 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANT COMMUNITIES 



by a rather open forest dominated by post oak (Q. stellata) and 

 blackjack (Q. marilandica). These have usually been considered as 

 part of the oak-hickory forest but some ecologists prefer to consider 

 them as postclimax rather than true climax. This is because the 

 climate is really a prairie climate and these oaks are believed to be 

 relicts of a former moister climate. 



Fig. 106.— a deciduous forest of yellow poplar and chestnut. North Caro- 

 lina. (Photograph by F. G. Plummer. Courtesy of H. L. Shantz and the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture.) 



South and southeast of the oak-chestnut-yellow poplar forest 

 there is a band of forest extending from Arkansas to Delaware which 

 is usually spoken of as the oak-pine forest. Formerly this was be- 

 lieved to be a distinct climax type but at present many ecologists 



