14 BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 



Qiiercus 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 (ly.) (Flowering dogwood), Celtis oc- 

 cidentalis (L) (Hackberry), Prunus pennsylvanica 

 Li. f. (Wild red cherry), Prunus serotina (Ehrh) (Wild 

 Black Cherry), Cercis canadensis L. (Redbud), Sassa- 

 fras sassafras (L) Karst. (Sassafras), Crataegus (vari- 

 ous species), Acer saccharum Marsh (Sugar or Rock 

 Maple), Juglans cinerea (h) Britton (Butternut), and 

 Juglans nigra Iv. (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 



