206 
Ohio Biological Survey 
which shows any indication of connection with the depositional phases 
of river activity. 
With slight modifications, the succession just outlined is charac¬ 
teristic of most of the flood plains of the region. Along the Miami, 
however, is found a different and later stage in the flood plain succes¬ 
sion. Much of the flood plain area of that river lies at a level which is 
very rarely flooded; some of it above the level of the highest floods of 
historic times. The forest found here is not that typical of the lower 
Fig. 58. Destruction of a mature flood plain forest by a stream under-cutting its 
banks. 
flood plains. On this high-level flood plain, is a mixed mesophytic forest 
in which are found white elm (Ulmus americana), bitter nut (Carya 
cordiformis), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), wild black cherry (Prunus 
serotina), walnut (Juglans nigra), black ash (Fraxinus nigra), red ash 
(Fraxinus pennsylvanica), and oaks (Quercus macrocarpa, Q. imbricaria, 
Q. alba, and Q. rubra). The white elms are large and as before stated, 
are among the last of the typical flood plain trees to persist. Of the 
other trees, Quercus macrocarpa (bur oakj and Carya cordiformis are 
