Part 10

=3. Ulmus Thomási= Sargent. Hickory Elm. Rock Elm. Plate 59. Large trees; bark deeply fissured and grayish like the bark of the white elm; twigs light brown, generally densely hairy and remaining more or less pubescent until the end of the season or later, the twigs of some specimens are glabrous or only slightly hairy at first and soon become glabrous and somewhat glaucous, after the first year some of the branchlets begin to develop 1-4 corky ridges from a few millimeters to 5 or 6 mm. in thickness, the ridges are wide and rounded at the top, dark gray, brown and discontinuous, rarely a corky ridge will appear on a branchlet the first year; leaves oval or obovate, average blades 8-15 cm. long, at maturity glabrous and smooth or rough to very rough above, permanently pubescent beneath especially on the veins; fruit ripens late in May or early in June when the leaves are from 1/2 to 2/3 grown; samara oval, usually 1.5-2 cm. long, oblique at the base, with a beak 2-5 mm. long at the apex, both faces pubescent, wing about as wide as the seed; wood hard heavy, strong, flexible, uses the same as white elm.

=Distribution.=--Southern Quebec and Ontario south to northern New Jersey and west to Minnesota and Missouri. The distribution in Indiana has not been studied. The frequency of its occurrence is not known, and all of the known stations are given. The published records are as follows: Dearborn (Collins); Franklin (Meyncke); Hamilton (Wilson); Jefferson (Barnes) and (Deam); Noble (VanGorder); Parke (Hobbs); St. Joseph (Nieuwland); Steuben (Bradner); Wayne (Petry and Markle); Wells (Deam). Additional records are Hendricks, Noble, Ripley, Vermillion and Wayne by Deam. The published record for Posey County by Deam and Schneck should be referred to _Ulmus alata_. It prefers a well drained soil and is most frequently found near the base of the slope or on the top of flood plain banks of streams, in ravines, or in a habitat like a beech-sugar maple woods. It is reported to have been frequent in Franklin, Noble and Wells Counties.

Its appearance and habit of growth is so much like the white elm that it is not commonly distinguished from it, which accounts for the lack of definite knowledge of its range in our area.

=4. Ulmus alàta= Michaux. Winged Elm. Plate 60. Small to medium sized trees; bark rather closely fissured, grayish or reddish-brown, in appearance like white elm; twigs hairy at first, generally remaining more or less pubescent throughout the season, rarely becoming entirely glabrous before the end of the season, a light brown gradually becoming a gray-brown; branchlets usually begin to develop two thin narrow corky ridges, becoming by the end of the second year 4-7 mm. thick, the year's growth of corky layer a light brown, the older layers a darker brown, the two main corky ridges are on opposite sides of the twigs, and between these there are generally additional corky excrescences, especially on the older branches; leaves oblong-lanceolate or oval, some somewhat falcate, average blades 4-8 cm. long, pubescent on both sides on unfolding, becoming at maturity glabrous or nearly so above, some are rough above at maturity, remaining pubescent until maturity beneath; petioles short, generally 2-3 mm. long, rarely 5 mm. or longer; fruit ripening before or with the unfolding of the leaves; samara 6-10 mm. long, pubescent on both faces.

=Distribution.=--Virginia west through southern Indiana to southern Missouri, south to the Gulf and west to Texas. In Indiana it is confined to the southwestern part of the State. Gorby's report for Miami should be ignored. It has been reported as far north as Vigo and Monroe Counties by Blatchley, and as far east as Clark County by Baird and Taylor. The author has collected it in Crawford, Dubois, Martin, Orange, Perry, Posey, Spencer and Warrick Counties.

The tree has two rather distinct habitats. In the hill counties it is found on the sides of cliffs, steep slopes or on the top of the ridges with such species as the black, chestnut and scarlet oaks and chestnut. In this habitat it is usually a small scrubby tree with an excessive number of side branches. Such specimens usually have the corky ridges well developed on all of the branches and the tree presents a weird appearance. The second habitat is in the hard clay flats of the southwestern counties. In Warrick County along Big Pigeon Creek west of Boonville I measured a specimen 21 dm. in circumference and I estimated the clear bole at 8 m. It was associated with sweet gum, black gum, white elm, red birch, red oak, etc. It is found throughout this county both in the "flats" and on the sandy ridges. In Posey County it is a frequent tree in the low woods about 10 miles southwest of Mt. Vernon. In these woods it acquires a diameter of 3-6 dm. and is associated with post oak, Spanish oak, sweet gum, shingle oak, etc. It is to be noted that specimens that grow in these conditions and those that acquire a large size do not develop such conspicuous corky branches. A large tree over 6 dm. in diameter was noted in the eastern part of Gibson County growing in low sandy soil which was destitute of corky branches so far as could be seen from the ground. All of the branches examined were free from corky ridges, and only a few corky excrescences were present. The specimen could easily be identified by the leaves. Another large tree 12 dm. in circumference in a black oak woods 4 miles south of Marengo in Crawford County was also free from corky ridges.

This is an interesting tree and requires further study to establish its range in Indiana and to learn its habits. In Jasper, Indiana, it is a frequent shade tree. No doubt the trees were obtained from a nearby woods along the Patoka River where this species is known to occur.

=2. CÉLTIS.= The Hackberries.

Trees with pith of branchlets chambered; flowers in Indiana species appear before the leaves, the leaves generally with 3 primary veins at the base; staminate flowers usually in clusters, the pistillate solitary or few together in the axils of the leaves, and near the end of the twigs; fruit a globose drupe, sometimes elongated, pulp thin and sweet, frequently remaining on the tree until late winter, relished by birds; stone bony, wrinkled.

Some of the American species of hackberry are very variable. The habitat of the species varies from deep swamps to arid rocky slopes. In fact, a single species as now understood may have a variable habitat. The following variations may be noted on the same tree or on different trees of the same species. The twigs may be glabrous, or pubescent; the leaves may vary in size, shape and texture, leaf margin, and in the roughness or smoothness of the surfaces; the petioles may be smooth or hairy; the pedicels may be glabrous or pubescent, shorter or longer than the petioles; the fruit also varies in shape. Leaves have been seen on the same tree which were smooth above, while others were quite rough above, the difference being due to the exposure to light.

The original descriptions of the species are too short to sufficiently characterize the species, which adds to the confusion. However, C. S. Sargent[45] has recently revised the species and varieties of our area.

Prof. Sargent has examined and named all of my material for me. Mr. B. F. Bush, who has extensively studied the hackberries in the field, also has examined my specimens.

The writer has paid special attention to the hackberries of the State for the past few years and is still in doubt as to the status of the species that occur in the State. Since I am not following the determinations made by Sargent and Bush, and am following the nomenclature of the first edition, I regard the present treatment as tentative only.

Margins of all the leaves sharply serrate all around except at base; nutlets 6-8 mm. long 1 C. occidentalis.

Margins of leaves of fruiting branches generally entire, or some with a few teeth on one side or with a few teeth on both sides; margins of the leaves of vegetative branches and shoots similar to those of fruiting branches or with the margins serrate nearly all around; nutlets 5-6 mm. long.

Leaves of a rather broad ovate type; mature fruit a dark cherry-red; usually shrubs, sometimes very small trees, of a dry habitat 2 C. pumila.

Leaves of an ovate-lanceolate type; mature fruit a light cherry-red; medium-sized trees of a wet habitat 3 C. mississippiensis.

=1. Celtis occidentàlis= Linnæus. Hackberry. Plate 61. Medium to large-sized trees; bark of old trees irregularly furrowed, sometimes some of the surface warty and rough; twigs smooth or pubescent, the fruiting ones generally smooth; leaves of an ovate type on petioles 0.5-2 cm. long, the blades of fruiting twigs 5-15 cm. long, those of vegetative twigs sometimes larger, oblique or slightly cordate at base, gradually tapering to a point at apex, or long acuminate at the apex, often becoming thick at maturity, especially those exposed to full sunlight, generally smooth above at maturity, especially those of fruiting twigs, or sometimes rough, especially those of vegetative branchlets or those growing in the shade, the under surface more or less pubescent along the veins at maturity; fruit matures in late autumn, very dark red, sometimes appearing almost black, globose or somewhat oblong, generally about 9-10 mm. in diameter, borne on pedicels which are longer or up to twice as long as the petioles; the pedicels which are always ascending are straight or somewhat curved upwards; nutlets globose, a little longer than wide.

=Distribution.=--Valley of the St. Lawrence River, southern Ontario, to North Dakota, and south to the Gulf States and west to Texas. More or less frequent along streams throughout the State, except in the hilly counties of the southern part of the State. It is always found in moist soil, except in the hilly counties where it may be found on wooded slopes or on high rocky bluffs bordering streams. In all of our area the species is practically confined to drainage basins, and is generally close to streams.

=Remarks.=--The wood is yellowish-white and before seasoning very much resembles ash for which it was generally sold. It has good bending qualities and is now much sought after for hoops. It was formerly often known as hoop ash. The supply is now becoming scarce, but when bought sells for the same price as good white elm.

Some writers include under the name _Celtis occidentalis_ only those forms which are small trees and have ovate, short-pointed leaves. This type of tree has not been found in Indiana. The form with long acuminate pointed leave which is the common form in our area, is regarded as a variety of _Celtis occidentalis_. Trees having the upper surface of the leaves very rough are called _Celtis crassifolia_ Lamarck, or are merely regarded as a variety of _Celtis occidentalis_. This form is found throughout our area.

The hackberry is sometimes used as a shade tree. It can scarcely be recommended because its leaves and twigs are often affected by galls which detract from its appearance.

=2. Celtis pùmila= (Muhlenberg) Pursh. Dwarf Hackberry. Plate 62. Bark thin, smooth and gray on shrub-like forms, warty or deeply fissured on the larger forms; ridges flat and broken, dark gray-brown; twigs at first hairy, becoming smooth or nearly so by autumn; leaves of an ovate type, broadly-ovate, oblong-ovate to narrow ovate, on petioles 0.5-1.5 cm. long, blades of fruiting branchlets 3-10 cm. long, those of sterile twigs sometimes larger, oblique, rounded or somewhat cordate at the base, taper-pointed, sometimes acuminate at the apex, margins entire or with a few teeth usually about or above the middle, becoming thick and smooth above at maturity, sometimes rough, especially on vigorous shoots, generally somewhat pubescent along the veins beneath; fruit matures late in the autumn, usually an orange or light cherry color late in summer, becoming a very dark cherry color late in the autumn, globose to ellipsoidal, on pedicels about as long as the petioles; sometimes the pedicels are shorter but usually about one-half longer; pedicels generally ascending, rarely recurved, when recurved the pedicels are short.

=Distribution.=--Pennsylvania to northern Illinois, south to Florida and west to Arkansas. Local in Indiana. It has been collected by the writer in Lake County near the mouth of the Grand Calumet River where it was collected by E. J. Hill who has given us the most detailed account of this species.[46] Also collected on a high, gravelly hill on the east side of Hog-back Lake, Steuben County; on a rocky wooded slope in Hamar's Hollow southeast of Mitchell in Lawrence County; on a "knob" in Floyd County; on a rocky wooded slope near Big Spring in Washington County; frequent on a rocky wooded slope near the Ohio River east of Elizabeth in Harrison County; on the bank of Blue River near Milltown in Crawford County; and in Perry County along the bluffs of the Ohio River about six miles east of Cannelton, and also on the crest of a ridge about six miles southwest of Derby. It has also been reported by Nieuwland for Clark in Marshall County.

=Remarks.=--This species is usually a small shrub, and usually bears fruit when only 1.5-2 meters (5 or 6 feet) tall. Only a few trees have been seen that were 40 cm. (4 inches) in diameter. The small size at which this species fruits, easily distinguishes it from other species in our area. Its habitat also serves to distinguish it. Along Lake Michigan it grows on the dry sand dunes, and in southern Indiana it grows on dry rocky slopes.

Sargent who has examined all of my specimens credits Indiana with the typical species, and separates from it a form which he calls _Celtis pumila_ variety _Deamii_[47]. This variety is based upon my No. 18,727, and the type specimen has been photographed to illustrate this species. The writer is not able to separate the two forms in our area, and believes that all belong either to _Celtis pumila_ or to the new variety.

=3. Celtis mississippiénsis= Bosc. (_Celtis laevigata_ Willdenow). Sugarberry. Hackberry. Plate 63. Medium sized trees with the bark of the trunk of large trees irregularly covered with wart-like excrescences, rarely somewhat irregularly fissured, bark of the upper part of trunk and larger branches resembling that of the beech; leaves of an ovate-lanceolate type, as a whole narrower than the preceding species; on petioles 5-12 mm. long, blades of fruiting twigs 4-8 cm. long, usually rounded at the base, sometimes oblique, slightly cordate or somewhat narrowed at the base, usually gradually long-taper pointed at apex, margins generally entire, rarely a few teeth toward the apex, green on both surfaces, generally mature leaves are smooth above and below, more rarely somewhat rough above, and with some pubescence along the veins beneath; fruit in late summer an orange red color, gradually becoming darker until late autumn when it becomes red; pedicels shorter or longer than the petioles, usually slightly longer and ascending, fruit nearly globose, a trifle smaller than the preceding, and about two-thirds as large as the first.

=Distribution.=--Virginia, southern Indiana, Missouri, eastern Kansas, south to the Gulf States and west to Texas. In Indiana it is confined to the southwestern counties. It is now known to definitely occur in Sullivan, Gibson, Posey, Warrick and Spencer Counties. Two trees were noted also, in the Muscatatuck bottoms near Delany Creek in Washington County. A "single bush about eight feet high" was reported from Jefferson County by Young. This may have been the preceding species. It was also reported by Haymond from Franklin County.

=Remarks.=--With one exception all the specimens of this species have been found in very low ground. Usually it is associated with such low ground species as pecan, sweet gum, swell-butt ash, and the cane. One very peculiar specimen was found on the crest of a ridge about seven miles north of Salem in Washington County. It was a tree about fifteen feet tall, and had very narrow entire leaves.

=MORÀCEAE.= The Mulberry Family.

Trees or shrubs with a milky sap; leaves simple, alternate, petioled, 3-5 nerved at the base; fruit fleshy.

Branches without spines; leaves serrate; pistillate flowers in spikes 1 Morus.

Branches with spines; leaves entire; pistillate flowers in heads. 2 Maclura.

=1. MÒRUS.= The Mulberries.

Trees with leaves 3-nerved at the base; flowers of two kinds on different branches of the same tree or on different trees; the staminate in long catkins, calyx 4-parted, petals none, stamens 4, the pistillate catkins short; fruit an aggregate of drupes.

Leaves softly pubescent beneath 1 M. rubra.

Leaves glabrous beneath, or with a few hairs on the veins or in the axils 2 M. alba.

=1. Morus rùbra Linnæus.= Red Mulberry. Plate 64. Medium sized trees with short trunks and round heads; twigs at first green and puberulent, soon becoming glabrous and later usually turning gray; leaves ovate or somewhat orbicular, frequently 2-3 lobed, average mature blades 10-15 cm. long, more or less cordate at the base, abruptly taper-pointed, rough and glabrous above and finely pubescent beneath; fruit ripening in June or July, 1.5-3 cm. long, dark purple or nearly black, edible; wood light, soft, rather tough, coarse-grained, and durable in contact with the soil.

=Distribution.=--Southern Ontario west to eastern Dakotas, south to the Gulf States and west to Texas. Found throughout Indiana, although there are no records for the extreme northwestern counties. Throughout our area it must be regarded as infrequent. It is only here and there that you find a tree, and I have never seen it where there were even a small number of trees close together. In the northern part of the State it is usually found in a moist well drained soil, associated with trees such as beech and sugar maple, or in lower ground with slippery elm and linn. It has no particular affinity for streams. In the southern part of the State it is found in both rich and poor soils. However, it is most often met with near the base of slopes.

=Remarks.=--This tree seldom has a clear bole of more than 3-5 m. and is usually a tree about 20 cm. in diameter, rarely as large as 6 dm. in diameter, although there is a record[48] of a tree in Georgia that was "7 feet in diameter at 3 feet above the ground."

The wood has been a favorite for fence posts since pioneer times. It transplants easily. The fruit is a favorite with birds and for this reason it should be planted about orchards and in woodlots. It is sometimes called the red mulberry to distinguish it from the following species.[49]

=2. MACLÙRA.= The Osage Orange.

=Maclura pomífera= (Rafinesque) Schneider. Hedge. Osage Orange. (_Toxylon pomiferum Raf._) Plate 65. Trees with brown shreddy bark on old trees; mature twigs greenish gray, zigzag; spines about 10-15 mm. long; leaves ovate to oblong lanceolate, average blades 7-12 cm. long, wedge-shape, rounded or cordate at the base, long taper-pointed at the apex, margins entire, pubescent on both sides while young, becoming at maturity lustrous and glabrous above, remaining pubescent beneath; fruit globose, about 1 dm. in diameter; wood heavy, very hard and strong, the most durable in contact with the soil of any of our post timbers.

=Distribution.=--Missouri and Kansas south to Texas. Introduced into Indiana for hedge fences. There is some question as to the ability of this species to escape. I have heard that it frequently sends up root shoots at several feet from hedge fences, and that it frequently seeds itself along old hedge fences. For the past few years I have given the species especial attention and I have never seen it as an escape except in three instances.

=Remarks.=--This species was formerly much planted for farm fences, but since land has become so valuable, its use has been discontinued, and the old fences are being dug up. The tree grows a short trunk, and one was noted in Grant County that was at least 6 dm. in diameter that was estimated to be less than fifty years old. This species is subject to the San Jose scale and in some localities it has been killed by it. It has been but little used for forest planting, and the plantations are not yet old enough to measure their success.

=MAGNOLIÀCEAE.= The Magnolia Family.

Trees or shrubs with alternate and petioled leaves; flowers large, terminal and solitary with numerous stamens and pistils.

Buds silky white pubescent; leaves entire; fruit fleshy, dehiscent 1 Magnolia.

Buds glabrous; leaves lobed; fruit a cone of dry carpels, indehiscent 2 Liriodendron.

=1. MAGNÒLIA.= The Magnolias.

=Magnolia acuminàta= Linnæus. Cucumber Tree. Plate 66. Large trees with furrowed bark which is gray and much resembles the tulip tree except the ridges are shallower and closer; twigs downy at first, becoming glabrous or nearly so and a light to a cherry brown by the end of the season; leaves oval, average blades 15-22 cm. long, rounded to truncate at the base, abruptly short-pointed, pubescent on both sides at first, becoming glabrous above, and remaining pubescent beneath, rarely entirely glabrous; flowers about 6 cm. long, bell-shaped, pale yellowish-green; fruit cylindrical, 5-7 cm. long, 1-2 cm. diameter, the large scarlet seeds begin to push out of their receptacle in September; wood light, soft, not strong, close-grained and durable.

=Distribution.=--North shore of Lake Erie, western New York, eastern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois and along the Appalachian Mountains to southern Alabama and west to Arkansas. It doubtless occurred in all or nearly all of the counties in southern Indiana south of a line drawn from Franklin to Knox Counties. It no doubt was extremely local. For instance a pioneer 81 years old who had always lived in Washington County told me that there were two trees on his farm near Pekin, and these were the only two trees he knew of in the vicinity. These trees were popular because the neighbors came for the fruit to put into whisky for making bitters which were a specific for all ailments. I have seen only a shrub on the Forest Reserve in Clark County. On a beech and sugar maple ridge about 4 miles northwest of Medora in Jackson County on the Geo. W. Scott farm two trees were still standing in 1915. Mr. Scott, a pioneer, said the species was found on the ridge for about 2 miles and that there were about a half dozen trees to the acre, and the largest was about a meter in diameter. It is known in two other places in this county. A tree is still standing in Lawrence County on the Sam Mitchell farm 2-1/2 miles south of Bedford. Mr. Mitchell is a pioneer and says that a few trees were found in the vicinity on the ridges. It has been reported for Franklin, Floyd and Jefferson Counties. There is hearsay evidence that it occurred in other counties.