394 Tlie New Yo7'k State College of Forestry 



II. The Austral Region 



4. The Transition Zone — The eastern humid area, called 

 the Alleghanian area. Includes the northeastern states and 

 part of the Canadian provinces and the Alleghanies from 

 Pennsylvania to Georgia. Zone of over-lap oak, chestnut, 

 hickory, etc., with more northerly birch, beech, hemlock, 

 sugar maple, etc. 



5. The Upper Austral Zone — In eastern United States, 

 the Carolinean area. From the lower Hudson and coastal 

 region of New Jersey to the mouth of Chesapeake bay and 

 westward and southward at moderate elevations. Zone of 

 tulip-tree, hackberry, sweet gum, red bud, persimmon, etc. 



6. The Lower Austral Zone — In eastern United States, 

 the Austro-riparian area. The coastal plain from the mouth 

 of Chesapeake bay to Florida and the other Gulf States 

 westward. Zone of long-leaf and loblolly pines, bald 

 cypress, lixe oak, magnolia and tupelo. 



III. The Tropical Region 



7. The tropical zone of southern Florida characterized 

 by royal palm, mahogany, mangrove, etc. 



DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE ZONES IN NEW YORK STATE 



Bray * has ably discussed the distribution of life zones in New 

 York State. I quote, viz. : ' ' Applying New York to the tempera- 

 ture scale and having in mind latitude only our State would fall 

 in the region rather between the zones where southerly or austral 

 conditions give their impress and those where northerly or boreal 

 conditions do it — in the Transition zone of Merriam. On a 

 theoretical latitude and sea level basis, this State would scarcely 

 enter the boreal forest zone of spruce, balsam and paper birch. 

 But the actual climatic situation in New York is radically different 

 from the theoretical one based on latitude and approximate sea 

 level. This is in part due as mentioned previously to the influence 

 of the ocean on the one hand and to the great lakes on the other, 

 but more especially to elevation. In order to get the effect of 

 elevation vividly in mind let us imagine the construction of relief 

 features of New York on an approximately sea level foundation.! 



• Bray, W. L. The Development of the Vegetation of New York State. N. Y. 

 State College of Forestry. Tech. Pub. 3 : 50-51, 1915. 



t Of cour.se, this imaginary construction bears no intimation of actual geological 

 processes which have shaped the present configuration of the State. 



