NOTES ON THE VEGETATION OF THE LOWER 
WABASH VALLEY. 
BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. 
II. — THE WOODS AND PRAIRIES OF THE UPLAND PORTIONS. 
Tue woods which extend back from the river bluffs toward the 
prairies are decidedly different in their character from those of 
the alluvial bottoms. The trees are of a lighter growth, though the 
' timber is by no means small, and the species are fewer in number, 
while three or four kinds usually prevail largely over the others. 
The predominating trees are several species of oaks (Quercus) and 
hickories (Carya), the species of which vary according to, the local- 
ity. The aspect of the undergrowth is yet more different, lacking 
entirely that rankness which the herbaceous plants attain in the 
bottom-lands, while it is more scant, and perhaps less varied. 
It often consists of merely a younger growth of the same species 
as the larger trees, this mixed with patches of hazel (Corylus 
- Americana) and, more or less generally, with thickets of wild 
plum (Prunus Americana) and crab apple (Pyrus coronaria) ; the 
‘most conspicuous and prevalent herbaceous plants being the May 
apple (Podophyllum peltatum), Columbo (Frasera Carolinensis), 
: and Indian turnip (Arisema triphyllum). These, of course, are 
iated with a vast elie of other en many of then 
ation o different geological formation upon 
a rests. In consequence of this, the ground is covered 
it the year with a deep deposit of dead leaves, which 
the gr wth of a rank herbage. In the 
rary, the ground is continually wet, Ld 
daoey, “n? their aye decomp 
e vines of these ary woods 
