The silver maple is easily recognized by its silvery bottomed leaves. Thousands of tiny seeds, enclosed in a white cottony substance, are released into the air by female cottonwoods each spring. This tree is very shade-tolerant. It is able to grow under the dense shade of forest stands. A climax forest, as the name implies, is the last stage of succession.
Succession is the natural process of replacement of one plant community by another.
Black locust was once planted extensively for railroad ties and fence posts, but on many sites the locust borer severely damaged and even destroyed whole plantations. It is most commonly used today for erosion and mining spoil bank stabilization. A very common oak found on a wide range of sites. As with other oaks, it is highly valued by Indiana's forest industry. This tree is similar to white oak in appearance and use, although it is not a very common tree.