Trees of New York State 397 



State falls largely in tlie Transition Zone of Merriam, the distribu- 

 tion of life zones is locally and largely affected by topography, 

 the potent factors of which are altitude and proximity to large 

 bodies of water. 



BRAY'S LIFE ZONES IN NEW YORK STATE 



While Merriam 's life zones serve in a rough way to delimit 

 vegetational types in the main, it has been deemed wise by Bray * 

 to describe more specifically zonal distribution of vegetation in the 

 state and to carry Merriam 's idea somewhat farther. Inasmuch 

 as his treatment is both logical and convenient I have followed it 

 with certain additions and subtractions of indicator species which 

 seemed warranted from personal observation within the State. 

 The life zones of New York State, as delimited bj^ Bray, with 

 arborescent indicator species, are as follows : f 



State Life Zones With Indicator Tree Species 



A. Zone of Willow Oak, Sweet Gum, Persimmon, Etc.: 



Indicator Species: 



Short-leaf Pine . Pinus echinata Mill 



Willow Oak Quercus phellos L. 



Post Oak Quercus stellata Wang. 



Black-jack Oak Quercus marilandica Muench. 



Laurel Magnolia ^lagnolia virginiana L. 



Sweet Gum Liquidamber Styraciflua L. 



Hop Tree Ptelea trif oliata L. 



In addition to these and others perhaps equally important, the 

 species of Zone B and many of Zone C. 



Distribution of A in New York 

 Staten Island, southern Long Island, especially coastward, and 

 a narrow belt bordering the Sound from Manhattan and the 

 Bronx to and continuing along the Connecticut coast. Growing 

 period (estimated from last frost of spring to first of fall) 190 to 

 200 days 



B. Zone of Dom'jiance of Oaks, Hickories, Chestnut, Tulip-tree, 



Indicator Species: 



Ked Cedar Juniperus virginiana L. 



Black Walnut Juglans nigra L. 



Cotton- wood Populus deltoides Marsh. 



* Loc. cit. 



T See map, page 400. 



