154 Elevexth Axxual Report 



the base, sharply serrate. 6-10 cm. i2i2-^ inches) long, mature 

 leaves glabrous above, with pubescent veins and tufts of hairs in 

 the axils of the veins below; flowering period April or ^lay: stamin- 

 ate aments about 4 cm. (119 inches) long at time of flowering: nuts 

 light brown, about 8 mm. 1 1 3 inchi long, ovoid, flattened, obscurely 

 longitudinally ribbed, enclosed in a papery, ovate bag about 2 cm. 

 (^4 inch) long, formed by the union of the mature bracts: the aggre- 

 gate fruit resembles the hop. hence its common name. 



Distribution. Valley of St. Lawrence River south to the Gulf 

 States and West to Texas and ^linnesota. It occurs more or less 

 freciuently in dry soil in all parts of Indiana, and is usually associ- 

 ated with beech, white ash and sugar maple. It is less frequent in 

 the southwest part of the state, and in a greater part of Posey 

 County it is wanting. It is usually a tall, slender tree, ranging 

 from 1-2 dm. i4-8 inches) in diameter and 6-12 m. (20-40 feet) in 

 height. It is shade enduring and is commonly found in thick 

 woods. 



The published records of the distribution are as follows: Clark 

 (Baird and Taylor; : Delaware ( Phinney) : Delaware. Jay, Randolph 

 and Wayne (Phinney): Gibson (Schneck): Hamilton (Wilson); Jeff- 

 erson (Coulter) and (Young): Kosciusko (Clarkj and (Coulter); 

 Lake (Higley and Radden) ; Clarion (Wilson) : Xoble ( Van Gorder) ; 

 Parke (Hobbs); Po.sey (Schneck): Putnam (^lacDougal): Steuben 

 Bradner): Tippecanoe (Coulter): Vigo (Blatchleyi: Wayne 'Retry 

 and ^larkle). 



Additional records are: Montgomery (Rose): Putnam (Cookj 

 and (Grimes): Fulton, Hamilton. Hancock, Laporte. Madison. 

 Clarion, Porter, Steuben, Warren and Wells (Deam. 



Economic uses. Wood very hard, tough, close-grained, strong, 

 light brown, used for fuel, handles for tools, and mallets. The 

 size and quality of the timber make this tree of little economic 

 importance, except for fuel. It was the favorite wood of the 

 pioneers for making wooden wedges or gluts. 



3. BETULA. The Birches. 



Betula is derived from the Celtic, baiu. the name for the Birch.) 



Bark smooth, often separating freely in thin plates, thick and 

 furrowed, or scaly on the trunks of old trees: staminate flowers 

 appear early in spring at the ends of the branches of the year: 

 pistillate spikes ripen in autumn, nuts small, winged, bearing at 



