[Illustration: TEXAS]
The above map[1] gives the larger natural areas of the state. The
prairie regions afford the most profuse display of wild flowers. In the
wooded area of East Texas, the shortleaf pine is abundant in the
northern part, the loblolly in the southwestern part, and the longleaf
pine in the southeastern part of the area, while hardwoods are found in
the river bottoms. The chief trees in the post oak strip are post oak
and black jack oak. Among the mountain cedars, live oaks and Spanish
oaks, so common in the limestone hill region, may be found scattered
trees and shrubs of the chaparral. The chaparral region is often broken
by prairies but in some places is densely covered with shrubs and small
trees which are usually thorny. The mesquite is abundant in this region
and is more or less scattered throughout the prairie regions.
_TEXAS FLOWERS_
Author’s Note: The family characteristics are placed immediately below
the illustrations at the beginning of each family group and set in
smaller type to distinguish them from the individual group descriptions.