780 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



Kosciusko (Coulter); Jefferson (J. M. Coulter); Gibson and 

 Posey (Schneck); Clark (Baird and Taylor); Franklin (Meyncke); 

 Monroe and Vigo (Blatchley) ; Decatur and Shelby (Ballard). 



PLATAN ACEiE. Sycamore or Plane Tree Family. 



PLATANUS L. 

 P. OCCIDENTALIS L. 



This well-known tree is very generally distributed along water- 

 ways. In favorable locations it ranges in height from 100 to 120 

 feet and in diameter from seven and one-half to thirteen feet, 

 sometimes exceeding these dimensions. The larger trees are, 

 however, for the most part, hollow, for at least the length of 

 the first cut. The tree also is becoming common in wet soils 

 along roads and in fields. In these more open places it is a grace- 

 fully-shaped tree and very ornamental, both in summer with its 

 large leaves and in winter when thickly hung with its fruiting 

 heads. 



The wood is heavy and hard, but not strong, and exceedingly 

 difficult to split and work. It is largely used for tobacco boxes, 

 yokes and butcher blocks, and to a certain extent in the manufac- 

 ture of cheap furniture. 



Its chief value is perhaps to be found, because of its rapid 

 growth, in the recovering of denuded wet soils. 



Flowering season in May. 



It is practically found in every part of the State, so that specific 

 stations need not be given. 



ROSACEA. Rose Family. 



OPULASTER Medic. 



O. opulifolius (L ) Kuntze. Ninebark. 



(Physocarpus opulifolius Maxim.) 



Chiefly in the southern counties, growing on rocky banks along 

 streams. Reported as rare as far north as Cass County. A rather 

 handsome shrub from five to eight feet high, the bark peeling off 

 in thin strips. 



Flowers in June. 



Gibson and Posey (Schneck); Dearborn (Collins); Wayne 

 (Phinney); Franklin (Meyncke); Monroe, Marion and Wabash 

 (Blatchley); Cass (Hessler); Jefferson (J. M. Coulter); Hamilton 

 (Wilson). 



