146 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



BETULACEAE. BIRCH FAMILY. 



CORYLUS L. Hazelnut. Filbert. 



Corylus americana Walt. 



Hazelnut or Wild Hazelnut. Hazel. 



Frequent or common. Woods, thickets, pastures and road- 

 sides, mostly in dry ground. March — April ; fruit Sept. 



The nuts of this and the following species are well flavored 

 and edible and are gathered to some extent. 



Corylus rostrata Ait. (beaked). 

 Beaked Hazelnut. Filbert. 



Woods, thickets and hillside pastures in dry ground. Rare 

 on or near the coast, occasional elsewhere. April ; fruit Sept. 



OSTRYA Scop. Hop Hornbeam. Ironwood. 



Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch. 

 Ostrya virginica Willd. 



American Hop Hornbeam. Leverwood. Ironwood. Deer- 

 wood. 



Frequent. Rocky woods and thickets. May ; fruit July — 

 Aug. 



The wood is hard and exceedingly tough, used for handles 

 of tools, mallets and other small articles. The bark is medici- 

 nal. 



CARPINUS L. Hornbeam. Ironwood. 



Carpinus caroliniana Walt. 



American Hornbeam. Blue or Water Beech. 



Frequent or common. Woods, thickets and banks of 

 streams. May ; fruit July — Aug. 



The wood is close-grained and hard, of value for tool 

 handles, etc. 



BETULA L. Birch. 



The birches, while not as a rule good timber trees, are yet of 

 great use to man. The wood is generally light in color and weight, 

 but tough and well suited for the making of many small articles. 

 It is also good fuel and makes excellent charcoal. 



