Trees of Indiana: First Revised Edition (Publication No. 13, Department of Conservation, State of Indiana)Deam, Charles Clemon
Science
Trees of Indiana: First Revised Edition (Publication No. 13, Department of Conservation, State of Indiana)
Deam, Charles Clemon
Trees -- Indiana
=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.
[Illustration: Plate 66.
MAGNOLIA ACUMINATA Linnæus. Cucumber Tree. (× 1/2.)]
=Remarks.=--The cucumber tree has been too rare in Indiana to be of
economic importance. The greatest interest with us is its distribution.
The uses of the wood are similar to that of tulip with which it is
botanically related. It is said that the greater part of the lumber
which is produced in the south is sold as tulip. The seeds of this tree
are extremely bitter and no bird, squirrel or mouse will carry or touch
them. However, man after macerating them in whisky can use them for
medicine.
=2. LIRIODÈNDRON.= The Tulip Tree.
=Liriodendron Tulipífera= Linnæus. Tulip. Yellow Poplar. Plate 67. Large
trees with deeply furrowed grayish bark; twigs glabrous and glaucous at
first, becoming reddish-brown by the end of the season, then gray or
dark brown; leaves very variable, 4-6 lobed, average blades 5-12 cm.
long, truncate and notched at the apex, more or less rounded, truncate
or cordate at the base, glabrous above and below at maturity or with a
few hairs on the veins beneath; flowers appear in May or June, large
bell-shaped, about 4 cm. deep, greenish-yellow, sometimes tinged with
orange-red; fruit upright, cone-shaped, 5-7 cm. long; wood light, weak,
soft, stiff, straight and moderately coarse-grained, seasons and works
well. Sap wood white, heart wood a light yellow.
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