Macon County, Illinois - Chapter 8: Flora, 1880

HIS chapter, like that on the Fauna of the county, and for the reasons given there, is not intended to be specially scientific or exhaustive. Our only purpose is to give, in a succinct form, a catalogue of the principal native trees, shrubs, and grasses, found within the limits of Macon county. To add a detailed botanical description of each plant, or of all the species, genera, or even families, represented here, would fill a large part of this volume, to the exclusion of other more appropriate matter. By way of preface, it may be stated that vegetation is a sure index of the character of the soil in which it is growing. No class of persons realizes this fact so fully as does the practical, observant farmer. If he wishes to buy uncultivated land, the kinds of trees, shrubs, or grass growing in the locality decide for him the approximate depth and fertility of the soil, and the consequent value of the land for agricultural purposes. According to its flora Illinois has been divided by botanists into three parts ; the heavily timbered regions of the south, whose dense vegetation is remarkable for its variety ; the central portion, which, except in the vicinity of the water-courses, is mostly prairie, and noted for the great number and variety of its grasses, and other endogenous plants ; and the northern section, which is about equally divided between woodland and prairie. This county lies within the great prairie belt, a region famous for the fertility and depth of its soil, and the luxuriance of its flora. Plants, like animals, are greatly influenced in their growth and development by surrounding circumstances. As man and the domestic animals have driven many species of the native animals from this region ; so numerous kinds of indigenous plants have disappeared before the onward march of civilization. Hence, we find to day in the fields and meadows few of the grasses and other plants that flourished in their native beauty here fifty years ago. Thus, under the great laws of evolution and succession, all animated nature, from age to age, moves gradually, but grandly, forward toward the eternal destiny which the Almighty, in the beginning, ordained for all His creatures. For this region, the following is a complete that tend to make us a nobler, grander and better people. And this is well. The future of nations, like that of individuals, is lighted up by the experience of the past.

The memorable deeds of our ancestors while founding in this western wilderness the great Republic of the world, will he cherished and admired as long as the English language shall be used as a medium of communication. To collect carefully and compile faithfully the records of the most important facts in the civil history of this county, is the sole purpose of this chapter.

Prior to 1829 the territory included within the present boundaries of Macon county formed a part of the county of Shelby. Before the assembling of the Legislature in 1829 a committee of three, consisting of Benjamin R. Austin, Andrew Smith and John Ward, had been appointed to go to Vandalia, then the capital of the State, and secure the passage of an act dividing Shelby county and creating a new county out of the territory thus divided.

Of the forest trees the most valuable deserve special mention. Rock Sugar Maple is excellent ; the Black Cherry is used by cabinet makers and is a wood of good color and grain. The Shag-bark hickory is perhaps the most valuable of its kind. The White Oak is much used in making furniture and agricultural implements. The Blue Ash is capital for flooring. The Honey Locust is a very durable wood and shrinks less than any other in seasoning. The Walnut is nearly all gone. The Plane tree or Sycamore is used by cabinet makers. Of the Oak family the most and valuable kinds are the Burr oak, Panel Oak, and the Pin Oak.

In the following list of grasses, the common grain plants, not being indigenous to the county, are omitted Some of the grasses given are not native, but are among those best adapted for animals. Hence we include them :

Phleum Pratense, Timothy Agrostis Vulgaris, Red-top Muhlenbergia Diffusa, Nimble Will Calamagrostis Canadensis, Blue-joint, a native grass of the prairies, where it grew from ten to fifteen feet in height.