=Distribution.=--Maine, southern Ontario, southern Michigan,
southeastern Wisconsin[66] to Missouri and south to the Gulf. Found
throughout Indiana and no doubt was a native of practically every
county. It is an infrequent to a very rare tree in the northern half of
the State, becoming a common tree in certain parts of the southern
counties. In the northern part of the State it is usually found on dry
ground associated with the oaks, although it is also found with sugar
maple and beech.
=Remarks.=--Wood heavy, soft, very difficult to split. Woodsmen always
speak of two kinds of black gum. There is one form which splits easily
which is designated as "yellow gum." This distinction has not been
substantiated. The uses of gum are many. The quality of not splitting
makes many uses for it. The greater amount of gum is used as rough
stuff. In the manufactures it is used for mine rollers, heading, boxes,
hatter's blocks, water pipes, firearms, wooden ware, musical
instruments, etc.
The distinctive habit of growth of the black gum together with the
gorgeous coloring of the autumnal foliage recommend this species for
ornamental planting. It has an upright habit of growth, although the
trunk is more or less crooked. The crown when grown in the open is
usually pyramidal, composed of horizontal crooked branches.
=2. CÒRNUS.= Dogwood.
=Cornus flórida= Linnæus. Dogwood. Flowering Dogwood. Plate 121. Usually
a small tree[67] 1-2 dm. in diameter; bark deeply fissured, the ridges
divided into short oblong, pieces; branchlets slender, in winter
condition turning up at the tips; twigs green and smooth or nearly so
from the first; leaves oval or slightly obovate, blades generally 5-12
cm. long on petioles about 1 cm. long, generally abruptly taper-pointed
at apex, gradually narrowed and generally oblique at the base, margins
thickened and entire, or very slightly crenulate, appressed pubescent
both above and beneath, light green above and a grayish-green beneath;
flowering heads surrounded by an involucre of 4 large white or pinkish
bracts; the mature bracts are obovate, 2-4 cm. long, notched at the
apex, appear before the leaves in April or May; flowers are in a head,
numerous, small and greenish, opening usually about the middle of May as
the leaves appear or even when the leaves are one-third grown; fruit
ripens in September or October, an ovoid red drupe about 1 cm. long,
usually about 3-5 flowers of a head mature fruit; stone elliptic and
pointed at each end.
[Illustration: Plate 121.