148 COXNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



Betula alba L., var. cordifolia (Regel) Fernald (having heart- 

 shaped leaves). 



Paper, Canoe or White Birch. 



Rare. Rocky hillsides: Union, at Bald Hill (Bissell, 



Graves), Goshen (Bissell). May; fruit Sept. 



Betula pumila L. (dw^arf). 

 Low or Swamp Birch. 



Swamps and wet ground. Local and apparently confined 

 to the northwestern part of the state: Cornwall (E. E. Brew- 

 ster), Salisbur}'- (Bissell). May; fruit Sept. 



ALNUS Hill. Alder. 



Alnus incana (L.) Aloench (hoary). 

 Alder. Speckled or Hoary Alder. 



Swamps and borders of streams. Local or occasional ex- 

 cept in the southeastern part of the state where it is rare. 

 April ; fruit Sept. 



The wood of this and the following species is a source of 

 gunpowder charcoal, and is said to be valuable also because 

 of its durability in water. The bark has medicinal properties. 



Alnus rugosa (Du Roi) Spreng. (wrinkled). 

 Alnus serrulata Willd. 

 Alder. Smooth or Tag Alder. 



Frequent or common. Swamps and borders of ponds and 

 streams. March — April ; fruit Sept. — Oct. 



Intermediate forms occur that are apparently hybrids be- 

 tween this and the preceding species. 



FAGACEAE. BEECH FAMILY. 



FAGUS L. Beech. 

 Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (large-leaved). 

 Fagus ferruginea Ait. 

 Fagus americana Sweet. 

 Beech. American Beech. 



Occasional or frequent. Woods and banks in either dry 

 or moist ground. May ; fruit Sept. — Oct. 



Rarely matures perfect fruit here. The timber, hard and 

 close-grained but rather brittle, is used sparingly for tool 



