226 



separating in small scaly plates; twigs slender and smooth, sometimes 

 pubescent while young; leaves oval, oblong-oval, ovate or narrowl.y 

 ovate, generally 5-12 cm. long and 2-4 cm. wide, generally nxrrowed at 

 the base, sometimes rounded, short or long acuminate at the apex, 

 margin finely serrate with incm-ved sharp callous teeth, smooth above 

 and below, sometimes slightly pubescent beneath while young; flowers 

 appear in May when the leaves are almost grown, on the ends of 

 the year's growth, in racemes generally 5-10 cm. long; fruit ripens in 

 .July and August, globose, about 6-10 mm. in diameter, dark red to 

 almost black. 



Distribution. — Nova Scotia to iSouth Dakota, south to Florida and 

 west to Texas. Found in all parts of Indiana. It prefers a moist loose 

 soil and is usually found with beech, sugar maple, tulip, white ash and 

 white oak. In the original forest it was a rare to a frecjuent tree, and 

 only rarely and locally ditl it ever become common. It grew to be several 

 feet in diameter and was as tall as the highest trees of the forest. The 

 trunk of the tree, however, was inclined to be crooked. It has now 

 become a frecjuent tree along fences. 



Remarks. — The wood of wild cherry from pioneer times has been a 

 favorite wood, and for this reason the tree soon disappeared and today 

 large trees are ver^' rare. The wood is strong, close-grained, reddish- 

 brown, and very much resemljles mahogany. In value it stands second 

 in Indiana woods. It is used principall.y for furniture, office and store 

 fixtui'cs. 



The wild cherry grows readily from seed; is not difficult to transj^ilani ; 

 adapts itself to almost all kinds of soils and grows rapidly. In S]iring 

 it is one of the very first trees to ]3ut out its leaves. It is not shade 

 enduring, which no doubt, in a great measure, accounts for its rarity 

 in the piimeval forests. When grown in the open the tree usually 

 produces an abundance of fruit which is much relished by birds. This 

 species has many good features, and might be used to advantage in 

 forest planting. 



CAESALPINACEAE. The Senna Family. 



Leaves simple; flowers pink; seed pod papery 1 (^ereis. 



Leaves compound; flowers not pink; seed pod woody or 

 k'athery. 

 Trees with thorns; stamens S-5, longer than the corolla; jwds 



flat and leathery; seeds about 1 om. C^ inch) long. ... 2 Gleditsia. 

 Trees without lliorn.s; stamens 10, shorter than the corolla; 



pods swollen, woody; seeds about 2 em. (1 inch) long... . 3 Gymnoeladus. 



