660 THE VEGETATION OF THE LOWER WABASH VALLEY. 
num), hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata), stag-horn, smooth. and poison 
sumacs (Rhus typhina, R. glabra and R. venenata), redbud (Cercis 
Canadensis), wild plums and choke cherries (Prunus Americana, P. 
Pensylvanica and P. Virginiana), hawthorns, or “red haws” 
(Cratægus coccinea, C. tomentosa, C. crus-galli, and C. flava), 
crab apple (Pyrus coronaria), June berry (Amelanchier Canaden- 
sis,) witch hazel ( Hamamelis Virginica), dogwoods (Cornus florida 
and C. alternifolia), Viburnum (Viburnum lentago), black haw (V. 
prunifolium), green ash (Fravinus viridis), iron-wood, or hop horn- 
beam (Ostrya Virginica), hornbeam, or water beech (Carpinus 
Americanus), etc. 
The shrubby undergrowth or “underbush” is extremely varied 
and often so dense as to be nearly, if not quite, impenetrable. In 
the bottom lands it is composed in the main of spice bush (Lin- 
dera benzoin and L. melissefolia?) and buttonbush ( Cephalanthus 
occidentalis), which are the predominating species, the former gen- 
erally distributed, and the latter mainly confined to the banks and 
ends of lagoons; but both are mingled with other shrubs far too 
numerous in species to mention, or nearly replaced by dense 
brakes of the small cane (Arundinaria tecta), and rank herba- 
ceous plants, in almost endless variety. 
In the heavy forests of the bottom-lands, which in many places 
have entirely escaped the ravages of the axe, the magnitude of 
the timber is such as is unknown to the scant woods of the eastern 
states, the stiff monotonous pineries of the north or the scrubby 
growth of other portions. The river flows for the greater part 
between dense walls of forest. which stand up to the bias a 
and generally Screened in front with a dense fringe of willows, bk 
a belt of cottonwood and sycamores behind it. Viewing this fo ; 
wall from the opposite side of the river, there is seen a co” i 
mass of verdure, the trunks of the trees being often hidden by. 
fronting belt of willows, which are often overrun by lu say 
masses of wild grape or other vines, often falling down ie 
very water’s edge, so that even the bank itself is wholly conce 
If the forest is viewed from a high bluff, it presents ue pie 
ance of a compact, level sea of green, apparently almost en B 
but bounded by the line of wooded bluffs three to une! ae 
back from the river ; the tree-tops swaying with the pee ae 
and the general level broken by occasional giant yee " miles of ; 
their massive heads so as to overlook the surrounding "°° — 
