100 



Comptonia asplenifolia, Ait. (Sweet Fern.) A low shrub 

 common in all parts. 



BETULACE^. 



(BIRCH Family.) 



Betula lenta, L. (Sweet or Black Birch.) A tree growing to 

 considerable size, and found in many parts of the county abundantly. 

 Tracey speaks of it as being rare in Lynn. 



Betula lutea, 3Iichx. f. (Yellow Birch.) Also a common tree 

 and occasionally reaching greater size than the last. Mr. Sears 

 measured several fine specimens of this species in the Essex woods, 

 which were more than 8 feet in circumference, and over 60 feet high. 



Betula alba, var. populifolia, Spach. (American White Birch.) 

 This tree rarely attains great size. One on Winter St., Salem, being 

 5 feet in circumference 3 feet from the ground, is the largest noticed. 

 The White Birch frequently springs up in great numbers after a hill- 

 side has been cleared of other trees, and also along roadsides, where 

 the young trees are exceedingly graceful. 



Betula papyracea, Ait. (Paper or Canoe Birch.) There are 

 a few fine specimens of this species on the northwest shore of Wen- 

 ham Pond, a few in Salem pastures, and others scattered through the 

 southern and eastern portions of the county, but only through Box- 

 ford and the Valley of the Merrimac are they frequently met with. 

 Mr. Sears measured a fine tree in Danvers, which was, 



Circumference 8 feet inches at the ground. 

 •' 5 " 6 " " 6 feet above. 



Height about 55 feet. 



Betula nigra, L. (Red or River Birch.) The only localities 

 for this Birch seem to be in the northwestern part of the county. 

 Emerson speaks of it as growing " along the Spicket River and in the 

 neighboring swamps of Methuen." It also abounds at the junction of 

 the Shawsheen and Merrimac rivers, where the trees overhang the 

 water. Many are 12 to 18 inches in diameter. 



Betula pumila, L. (Low Birch.) Reported at North Andover 

 (Proc. Essex Inst., Vol. II, p. 402) ; also at Rockport. No specimens 

 have been preserved, and the fact of its being an Essex County 

 plant is doubted. 



Alnus incana, TT7?ZcZ. (Speckled Alder.) Common in lowland, 

 forming in some cases almost a tree. A group of them stood on a 

 swampy piece of laud in North Beverly a few years since, many speci- 

 mens of which were 25 feet high, with a diameter of 5 inches at the 

 butt. 



Alnus serrulata. Ait. (Common Alder.) Abundant as a shrub 

 in all low grounds. 



