NATIVE VEGETATION. 179 



joint partners in naming this division, and will be found to mingle 

 with those that follow. The maples which are here introduced to 

 our attention will also play a conspicuous .part in subsequent classifi- 

 cations. This group is not then characterized by the exclusive pres- 

 ence of any prominent plant, but by a distinctive association of plants 

 common to several classes. 



The Wliite Oak is the most prominent of its genus, and attains a 

 large size. The Red Oak and Burr Oak are usually present. Their 

 proportionate number is very much the same as in the denser oak 

 groves of the preceding group. But to these oaks there is added the 

 Hard or Sugar Maple {Acer saccharinum), and the Red Maple (Acer 

 rubrum). The latter seems to have its best development in this asso- 

 ciation. The\Elms (ZZ^mMs Amencana and U. fulva) &yq more or 

 less present, biit not prominent, as also the Linden or Basswood {Tilia, 

 Americana). Thfe Ironwood {Ostrya Virginica), aad the Beech 

 {Fagus ferruginea) are excluded from this groujj. The White Ash 

 [Fraxinus Americana) is rarely seen in this connection, but the 

 Black Ash {Fraxinus samhucifolyx) is common in contiguous low- 

 lands. The Hazel {Corylus Ameri,cana) is not prominent though 

 present, and the Gornus paniculata of the last group is largely replaced 

 by Cornus circinata. 



Class IY. Maple Group. The leading member of this group is 

 the Sugar Maple {Acer sacclmr'murrC); not that at every point it is 

 more numerous than any and all others, but that on the average it 

 surpasses the other species. This is, however, in a high sense, a 

 mixed group, and embraces some of the densest forests of the state. 

 The Oaks of the last group are present here also, but in less numbers 

 and in subordination to other species. The Linden {Til-ia Ameri- 

 cana) is very numerous. The White Elm ( JJlmus Americana) which 

 in the areas occupied by the foregoing classes was chiefly confined to 

 the low lands and river bottoms, here extends itself more upon the 

 highlands, and is intimately intermingled with a large assemblage of 

 species. The Ulmus fulva is also present. Both the White and 

 Black Ash are found, the latter in the lower lands. The Ironwood 

 {Ostrya Yirginica) is abundant and highly characteristic. The Black 

 Walnut {Juglans nigra), and the Butternut, {Juglans cinerea) are com- 

 mon. The Garya alba (Hickory) is chiefly replaced by Carya glabra 

 (Pignut), and similarly the Populus tremuloides gives place to the 

 Populus grandidentata. The White Thorn {Gratmgus coccinea) is 

 common, while the Crab Apple {Pyrus ooronaria) is correspond- 

 ingly rare. The Wild Plum {Prunus Americana) is less abundant 

 than in the Oak group, while its congener, the Black Cherry {Pru- 



