BIOLOaiCAL PAPERS. 145 



NOTES ON TREES, SHRUBS AND VINES IN THE 

 CHEROKEE NATION. 



By CHAELE3 N. Gould, of the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla. 

 Read before the Academy, at lola, December 30, 1901. 



nn HE area described in this article comprises the southeastern part 

 -*- of the Cherokee nation. In general, it is that part of the nation 

 that lies between the Illinois river on the west, the Arkansas on the 

 south, and the state of Arkansas on the east. Tahlequah, the capital 

 of the nation, is in the northwestern part of the region, and Fort Smith, 

 Ark., is near the southeastern corner. In other words, the region 

 includes the Tahlequah quadrangle and the northern part of the Sal- 

 lisaw quadrangle of the United States Geological Survey. The to- 

 pography is in general quite broken. The western spurs of the Boston 

 mountains extend into the northern part of the area. Some of the 

 peaks are 800 or more feet above the level of the streams. The small 

 creeks tributary to the Arkansas and Illinois have carved deep chan- 

 nels through these mountains. Precipitous bluffs and narrow canons 

 are common, while in general the valleys are narrow and tortuous. 

 In the northern part of the region the rock on the lowlands is chiefly 

 chert, while on the highest hills limestones and sandstones appear. 

 To the south the chert runs out and sandstones and shales make up 

 the greater part of the rock. 



With the unimportant exception of a few patches of prairie near 

 the Arkansas river, the entire area is heavily timbered. Over a large 

 part of the country a person may ride all day and scarcely be' out of the 

 woods. In many parts of the region all the cleared land that one will 

 encounter in the course of a day will consist of a few patches of a few 

 acres each surrounding some Indian cabin. 



A dweller on the plains will not soon forget the view, as seen from 

 a tree-top on the summit of one of the high hills. Away and away, 

 as far as vision can reach, extends a rolling sea of green. Hills and 

 hollows, ridges and valleys, gentle slopes and sharp declivities, all are 

 mantled with a wealth of foliage. Here and there, along a valley or 

 on a level hilltop, may be seen a dot of yellow or brown, indicating 

 the presence of a clearing among the timber. But clearings are rare, 

 and in general the forest extends unbroken for scores of miles. 



The oaks and hickories are by far the most abundant trees in the 

 region. On the slopes and hilltops black-jacks and post-oaks are more 



Note.— After page 144 had been printed two errors were discovered in it. In tenth line 

 from bottom, read Anh for "Acid," and in second line from bottom read H. B, Slade for 

 "H. B. Sledd."— L. e. s. 



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