230 



variable from ovate to lanceolate, sometimes somewhat falcate, generally 

 2-3 cm. long, usually more or less pubescent beneath; flowers appear in 

 May or June, inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, rich in honey, their ap- 

 pearance being announced bj' the hum of the swarm of insects visiting 

 them; fruit a flat, linear twisted pod, 2-4 dm. long, glabrous andlus- 

 trous or jnibescent on the sides; seeds several, oval, about 6 mm. wide, 

 and 10 mm. long, glabrous and chestnut brown; wood heavy, hard, 

 strong, coarse-grained and takes a good polish. 



t' Distribution. — Pennsylvania, southern IMichigan to Iowa, and 

 south to the Gulf States and west to Texas. Found infrequently 

 throughout Indiana along streams, except that it is absent about Lake 

 Michigan and that in the southwestern counties it becomes a fj-equent 

 tree in the Wabash bottoms. In its native habitat it is rarely found 

 except near a stream, pond, lake, etc. However, in the southeastern 

 counties it has spread all over man}' of the hillsides which were once 

 cleared and have been abandoned for agricultural purposes and left 

 to natural forest regeneration. It was interesting to learn how this tree 

 was able to propagate itself on the steep bare slopes. It was found that 

 the seeds were scattered by cattle that greedily eat the fruit. It is a 

 medium sized tree, except in the Wabash bottoms of the southwestern 

 part of the State where it grows to be one of the largest trees of the 

 forest, and is more luxuriant than in any other part of its range. 



Remarlvs. — In making a study of the fruit of this species, it was 

 found that the sides of all the pods of all the specimens at hand 

 except one are glabrous, even those of young fruit. The mai'gins of the 

 pods are pubescent. However, a specimen collected on August 27th in 

 Vermillion County has the entire pod covered with long hairs. In 

 consulting the literature on the subject it is found that some authors 

 describe the fruit as gl;il)rous while others describe it as hairy. It would 

 be intei-esting to study the significance of this character to learn if each 

 form has a geographic range. 



The wood is used principally for interior finish, furniture, posts 

 and ci'osstics. The tree has a grace that recommends it for ornmental 

 planting despite its thorns. However, a thornless variety is now of- 

 fered l)y nurserymen. It adapts itself to all Idnds of soils, although it 

 prefei-s a moist rich soil; grows I'apidly and is comparatively free from 

 insect damage. 



2. Gleditsia aqualica Marshall. Water Honey Locust. Plate 

 107. A medium sized t)-ee with rather smooth bark, which becomes 

 rough and flaky on large trees; twigs greenish, turning to a light brown 

 bj' the end of the year; branchlets a greenish-gray brown; spines all 

 usually more or less flattened, those of the branchlets and branches, 



