THE NORTH TEMPERATE ZONE 93 



acteristic. In lighter soils, beeches, sassafras and pepperidge 

 (Nyssa ) and occasionally chestnut, may also be noted. Less 

 abundant are hackberry (Celtis), honey-locust (Gleditschia), and 



of the smaller trees and large shrubs, are several species of thorns 

 (Crataegus), the flowering dogwood, crab-apple (Mains coronaria), 

 wild plums and cherries. The only conifer is a small cedar (Juni- 

 perus) occasionally seen on the banks of the Detroit river. 



West of the Great Lakes, in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minne- 

 sota, this type of forest occurs, but much diminished in extent, 

 and in the number of species. Its western limit has been placed 

 at the valley of the Red River of the North, and marks the west- 

 ward and northward limits of a good many tree-species. 



Woody climbers are not especially abundant in this forest, 

 but wild grapes of several species sometimes attain a great size, 

 and the Virginia creeper and poison ivy (Rhus toxicodendron), 

 may climb high up into the trees. Less conspicuous are the 

 bittersweet (Cclastrus scandens), moon-seed (Menispermum Cana- 

 dense), Clematis, and several species of Smilax. 



Many showy shrubs form the undergrowth of the more open 

 forest, or along its edges. Elder, Viburnum, Spiraea, raspberries 

 and blackberries, currants and gooseberries, roses and others 

 are represented by several species, and the woods, fields and 

 marshes show a wealth of beautiful herbaceous plants. 



In the early spring, before the leaves of the trees unfold, many 

 delicate and beautiful herbaceous plants cover the floor of the 

 forest with a carpet of dainty bloom. Spring-beauty (Claytonia), 

 blood-root (Sanguinaria), Dicentra, adder-tongue (Erythronium), 

 cress (Cardamine, Dentaria), Hepatica, Anemone, buttercups, 

 Trillium, crane's bill (Geranium), Phlox, violets, mandrake (Podo- 

 phyllum), are a few of these woodland flowers. 



Somewhat later, in the more open places, masses of blue lupins 

 (Lupinus perennis), pink phlox, orange milkweed, shooting stars 

 (Dodecatheon), tiger lilies, continue the floral display, and still 

 later the host of showy Com posit ae, sunflowers, Rudbeckia, Eupa- 

 torium, asters and golden-rods, etc., offer the most brilliant floral 

 display of the year. 



The lower lake region is characterized by extensive marshes 

 along the shallower shores of the lakes and the connecting rivers. 

 These are developed on a large scale along the Detroit River, and 



