13. SiL;l-w 't 



I From Journal Columbus Horticultural Society. April, 18510.] ^ ^ z-,^ 



SOURCES OF THE OHIO FLORA. 



BY A. D. SELBY AND J. W. T. DUVEL^ 



In this discussion, it is the aim of the authors to present a 

 very brief survey of the Ohio Flora, viewed by the light of 

 the direction of orii^nn, after first considerint; its present ele- 

 ments. In this respect, the method of study pursued is 

 analogous to that of Coulter and Thompson in their "Origin of 

 the Indiana Flora." 



Broadly spoaking, the State of Ohio is divided into a south- 

 southeastern, hilly or mountain region, comprising about one- 

 third the total area, partially covered by drift at the southwest, 

 and a north-northwestern glaciated area, which is more level 

 though often rolling. The first named has an Appalachian 

 character of plants, both as to probable origin and as to 

 ecological composition. The topography is rugged in most 

 parts, and while there are various soils, accordingly as derived 

 from different underlying strata, it does not seem clear that a 

 division of the region can be easily made, at present ; a sub- 

 division may finally be found along the sub-carboniferous out- 

 crop, through Ross, Pike and Scioto counties. 



The glaciated or drift area of the state, from the general 

 aspect of which we find marked topographical deviations in 

 several parts, certainly admits of division, though first attempts 

 are necessarily more or less tentative. We have made an effort 

 to bring out regions showing a characteristic flora. At the 

 north, excluding the lake beaches, etc., the separation appears 

 to follow the out-crop of the Huron shale, and this holds true 

 southward to Fairfield County. The western portion of the 

 State appears to have a more uniform flora from north to 

 south, than is found in the eastern. 



THE PLANT REGIONS OF OHIO. 



The division of any state into regions which are character- 

 ized by certain peculiar or typical species of plants is by no 

 means an easy task. Such regions if properly and correctly 

 drawn must conform to the boundaries of the spheres of 

 operation of the causes leading to the final results we now dis- 

 cover in Ohio. Brevity is imposed upon all the discussioHis of 

 this paper ; what is stated, therefore, must be without any con- 

 siderable illustration. We have endeavored to study the Ohio 



* Read in part before the Oliio Stat« Acaileiuy of Science, December, 1S98, 



NKW YORK 



