14 BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 
Quercus imbricaria Michx (Shingle oak), and Quercus 
acuminata, (Michx) Sarg. (Chestnut or yellow oak), 
doubtless also a number of hybrids. 
The second most characteristic tree is Hicoria 
ovata (Mill) Britton (Shell-bark Hickory), other com- 
mon species are Hicoria alba (L.) Britton (White-heart 
hickory) and Hicoria glabra (Mill) Britton (Pignut 
hickory). 
The following species constitute the remaining 
minority of individuals: 
Cornus florida (L.) (Flowering dogwood), Celtis oc- 
cidentalis (L,) (Hackberry), Prunus pennsylvanica 
L,. f. (Wild red cherry), Prunus serotina (Ehrh) (Wild 
Black Cherry), Cercis canadensis L. (Redbud), Sassa- 
fras sassafras (1) Karst. (Sassafras), Crataegus (vari- 
ous species), Acer saccharum Marsh (Sugar or Rock 
Maple), Juglans cinerea (L) Britton (Butternut), and 
Juglans nigra L. (Black Walnut). 
The infrequent Acer and Juglans are prophecies of 
the future mesophytic forest, which, in a state of na- 
ture, was gradually developing. 
In the drainage valleys and on the median plane, 
the above species of oaks and hickories are less abun- 
dant, and a number of other species, which are charac- 
teristic of the strictly mesophytic forest are fairly com- 
mon; as, Ulmus Americana L. (American elm); Acer 
saccharinum, L. (Soft Maple); Fagus Americana 
(Sweet Beech); Tilia Americana, L. (Basswood); Quer- 
cus macrocarpa Mx. (Burr-oak); Ulmus fulva, Thomas 
(Slippery Elm); Quercus plantanoides (Lam) Sudw. 
(Swamp White oak); Quercus palustris Du Roi (Pin 
oak;) Hicoria minima (Marsh) Britt. (Bitternut); 
Fraxinus Americana L. (White Ash); Fraxinus 
quadrangulata Michx. (Blue Ash); and Fraxinus lan- 
ceolata, Borck. (Green Ash). 
On a slight elevation just east of the Johnson Cel- 
ery Farm, there occurs a clump of trees consisting of 
