% ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



between the two types of forest. In general the oaks are 

 confined to the tops of the ridges and the gentler slopes, 

 while in the ravines and at the bottom of the slopes the 

 beeches and maples are found, hence both types are included 

 under "upland forests" (See Map). 



BOTTOM OR HOLLOW FORESTS 



These are developed along the major lines of drainage of 

 the upland region in the wider creek valleys often called 

 "hollows" e. g. "Dongola Hollow" and "Happy Hollow." 

 As these stream terraces and flood plains afford the largest 

 tillable areas in the hill country, they have been almost com- 

 pletely cleared and hence only small fragments of this type 

 remain. It was typically composed of such species as black 

 walnut, Juglans nigra, the elms, Ulmtts americana and U. 

 fulva, the sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, the gums, Nyssa 

 sylvatica, Liquidambar styraciflua, and the white ash, 

 Fraxinus americana. 



STREAM SIDE FOREST 

 This begins with the black willow, Salix nigra, developing 

 at the water's edge and passes gradually into the bottom 

 forest. The species that may be regarded as characteristic 

 are the willow, the cottonwood, and the river or silver maple 

 Acer saccharinum. In the narrow valleys occupied by the 

 creeks very little stream-side forest is seen on account of the 

 steep gradient, but it fringes the Mississippi and the smaller 

 streams crossing its flood plain, and is found on many of the 

 islands. 



CYPRESS SWAMP FORESTS 



The development of this forest is limited to depressions 

 in the lowlands constituting the flood plain of the Miss- 

 issippi River. As indicated by its name, it is characterized 

 by the presence of the bald cypress, Taxodium distichum. 

 Associated with the cypress is the tupleo, Nyssa aquatica, 

 and with the filling or draining of the swamp the soft maple, 

 Acer rubrum, the ash, Fraxinus americana., the pin oak, 

 Quercus palsutris, and other species from the bottom forest 

 appear. 



GENERAL FOREST CONDITIONS 

 Practically none of the forest is in primitive condition, 

 except small isolated areas on very steep slopes. On the 



