1921] PALMER, THE FOREST FLORA OF THE OZARK REGION 221 



able to establish itself. In the alluvial valleys and in the protection of 

 the high bluflfs which bound them there was originally a magnificent 

 growth of hardwood trees, many of the mature specimens havmg tall, 

 symmetrical trunks of ample dimensions. Cotto.iwood, River Birch, 

 American Elm, Mulberry, Red Oak, Tin Oak, White Oak, Bur Oak, 

 Silver Maple, Sweet Gum, Shellbark and Pignut Hickories and Green and 

 White Ash made up a large part of the forest, but many other trees and 

 shrubs were more or less abundant. In the lower valleys, near the margin 

 of the region, a few species more strictly belonging to the coastal plain 

 are sometimes present; conspicuous among them are the Bald Cypress, 

 DowTiy Poplar, Overcup Oak, Basket Oak and Swamp Maple; none of 

 these, however, can properly be regarded as belonging to the Ozark flora 

 The high bluffs and escarpments shelter many kinds of trees and shrubs, 

 several of which are not found elsewhere in the region. Among them 



the Butternut, Cucumber-tree, Yellow-wood {Cladrastis luica K. Koch) 

 Missouri Currant, Prickly Gooseberry and Arrow-wood {Viburmim 

 molle Michx.), and on the western side the Soap-berry {Sapindus Drum- 

 mondii Hook. & Arn.) and Smoke-tree (Cotinus americanus Nutt.) occur. 

 Very characteristic of this zone also, both here and in the plateau division 

 o the north, are the Red Oak, Schneck's Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Slippery 

 Elm, Kentucky Coffee-tree, Sugar Maple, Blue Ash, Wahoo {Eronymus 

 atropiirpureus Jacq.) and Bladder-nut (Staphylea trifoliata L.). Along 

 the higher and more exposed portions of the bluffs the Winged Elm, 

 June-berry (Amelanchier canadensis Med.), the shrubby or low Hack- 

 berries (Celtis pumila Pursh and its variety georgiana Sarg.) and the 

 Red Cedar abound. The ancient, gnarled and much twisted specimens 

 of Juniper, upon which long and widespread custom had fastened the 

 misnomer of Cedar, render some of the high rocky bluffs with their castle- 

 like projections and pinnacles very picturesque. Large specimens still 

 left in situations too inaccessible even for the indefatigable seeker after 

 post or pencil timber are amongst the oldest living things in the region, 

 their title to this distinction being possibly challeaged only by the lofty 

 Taxodium of the lowlands. Some of them were probably flourishing at 



least when Columbus sailed 



Ascending to the higher levels we find over the steep rocky slopes and 

 flats a forest somewhat changed in composition and diminished in density 

 of stand and size of individuals, but still in many places containing fine 

 specimens of Pine, Oaks and other hard w^ood trees. 



The Yellow or Short-leaved Pine {Pinus cchinata Mill.) and the Red 

 Juniper are the only conifers of the Ozark region. The Pine is found 

 intcrmittantly throughout, except in the extreme northern part of the 

 plateau. This species is also widely distributed and grows in pure stands 

 on the sandy ridges and low hills of the coastal plain; but here it seeks 

 the high cherty ridges, where it has to contest the ground with various 

 species of Oaks, Hickories and other deciduous-leafed trees. In such situa- 

 tions or upon outcrops of the sandstones of the Cambro-Ordovician system, 



