FOREST TREES OF FLORIDA
INTRODUCTION
The first edition of this book was published in 1925 by the Florida
Forestry Association, in cooperation with the Forest Service, United States
Department of Agriculture. Subsequent editions were issued by the Florida
Forest Service in 1930, 1943, 1946, 1948, 1956, 1961,1965, 1967 which then
became the Florida Division of Forestry and issued the 1972, 1977, 1980,
1981, and the current 1985 edition. In order to retain the original flavor
and the historical significance, the book has been kept relatively unchanged
throughout. Therefore, some of the minor details in such matters as the
usages of the various woods, and species nomenclature may no longer be
applicable. These details have been left in the book to preserve the fact
that they once were appropriate.
FOREWORD
"Forest Trees of Florida" has been a standard
handbook for tree identification since its first
printing in 1925. The original book was prepared by
Wilbur R. Mattoon, an extension forester
with the U.S. Forest Service, and the text has
changed very little in the subsequent publications.
The first printing was done by the Florida Forestry Association,
which had been established two years earlier and was the first
organization in the state dedicated to the protection and
promotion of forestry. The Florida Forest Service was
established by the Florida Legislature in 1928 and it assumed
responsibility for the book commencing with the first reprint in 1930.
The second printing expanded a supplemental
list of important trees not described or pictured.
Over the years the list of pictured trees has changed
slightly, but mostly the book has remained as it was in
the original printing. In the current issue eight new trees
are pictured -- the largest addition to the book since its origin.
Florida has a great variety of native trees -- more
than any other state in the U.S. other than Hawaii.
Over northern Florida, particularly in the western
section, many of the trees that range widely and
are well known over the Eastern U.S. find their
southern limit. Here are many kinds of hickory,
elm, ash. maple, magnolia, basswood and locust,
while a large number of different kinds of pine,
gum and oak are at home widely over the state.
Many tropical and subtropical plants found in the
Caribbean have their northern limit in south Florida.
Most of the original drawings for "Forest Trees
of Florida" were prepared by Mrs. A.E. Hoyle of
the U.S. Forest Service. The Division of Forestry
is also grateful to the Houghton-Mifflin Company
for its permission to use drawings of six conifers
from Sargent's "Manual of the Trees of North
America", and to the University Presses of Florida
for permission to use the following drawings from
"The Native Trees of Florida" by West and Arnold: Pond Cypress,
Seagrape, Black Cherry, Eastern Redbud, Florida Mahogany,
Fringetree and Black Mangrove.
FRONT COVER TABLE OF CONTENTS