PLANT LIFE IN OKLAHOMA. 



CHAPTER II. 



PLANT LIFE IN OKLAHOMA.* 



INTRODUCTION. 



Oiklahoma is an especially interesting region ibotanically, being a 

 transition area between typical Mississippi Valley conditions ia its eastern 

 part, and very different conditions in the ifoot-MU region of the Rocky 

 Mountains. The relation to the flora of the Guif Plain and the more 

 northern floras within its area is of much importance, since many species 

 of both regions reach the limits of their ranges withia the 'boundaries of 

 the State. \ 



Compared Tvith the eastern states, Oklahoma is l^rge, the area being 

 70,470 square miles, or more than the comibined areas of the six New 

 England states and New Jersey. Oklahoma extends from about 94° 30' 

 west longitude westward to 103° west longitude and from 33° 38' north 

 latitude to 37°. Its form is roughly rectangular with a narrow westward 

 extension from the northwest corner, known as the Panhandle of the 

 State. 



PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY. 



The lowest elevation in the State is in the southeastern corner, where 

 the distance above sea level is about 400 feet. The surface rises gradually 

 to the north and northwest, reaching an elevation of more than 4,000 feet 

 in the west end of the Panhandle. Along the eastern edge of Leflore 

 County, near the southeastern corner of the State, the high elevation 

 of the hilly region, lying between the Ozark Mountains and the Ouchita 

 Mountain uplift, extends from Arkansas into the State, the highest point 

 being on Eich Mountain near Page, with an elevation of about 2,000 feet 

 aibove sea level. Gradually lower elevations extend westward for about 50 

 miles. The northern third of the eastern part of the State lies in the 

 western end of the Ozark range, and in some places along the State line 

 the elevation reaches 1,000 to 1,500 feet. 



About 30 miles north of Red River, and almost midway along 

 the south side of the State, the Arbuckle Mountains are found, and 

 extend for about 30 miles in a general east and west direction. lu the 

 southwestern corner of the State, approximately 30 miles from both the 

 west line and Red River, the Wichita Mountains rise abruptly. These 

 mountains consist of a series of hills and mountains of granite, porphyry, 



"Stevens, G. W. and Shannon, C. W. — See "Introduction" page 5. 



