708 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



ALNUS Gaertn. 



I 



A. incana (L.) Willd. Speckled or Hoary Alder. 



A small tree from twenty to twenty-five feet high, or oftener a 

 branching shrub, found along borders of streams or swamps. Re- 

 ported only from the northern counties on the authority of the State 

 Catalogue. 



Flowers in April and May. 



Lake and Porter. 



A. rugosa (DuRoi) K. Koch. Smooth Alder. 



(A. serrulata Willd). 



Distributed in fair numbers through the State except in the east- 

 ern and southeastern counties. A small tree or shrub growing in 

 wet, marshy regions. A decoction of the bark is a popular remedy 

 against blood impurities. 



Flowers in March and April. 



Jefferson (J. M. Coulter) ; Gibson and Posey (Schneck) ; Tippe- 

 canoe and Kosciusko (Coulter) ; Noble (Van Gorder) ; Knox 

 (Rid g way). 



FAGACE.E. Beech Family. 



FAGUS L. 



F. Americana Sweet. Beech. 



(F. ferruginea Ait.) 



Commonly distributed throughout the State, though in greatest 

 abundance and size in the southern counties. A large tree from 

 75 to 110 feet high and with a maximum trunk diameter of five 

 feet. 



The wood is very hard, tough and strong, but is difficult to season 

 and liable to check in drying. It has a high value as a fuel and is 

 largely used in the manufacture of chairs, shoe-lasts, plane stocks, 

 handles, etc. It commonly grows in rich soils and is often the pre- 

 vailing tree over wide areas. 



Flowers in April and May. 



The range is so general that specific localities are omitted. 



CASTANEA Adans. 



C. dentata (Marsh.) Borkh. Chestnut. 



(C. sativa Americana Wats, and Coult.) 

 Found abundantly in some of the southern counties, especially in 

 the region of the Knobs where it sometimes forms large groves. 

 More sparingly found in other parts of the State, in most of the 

 latter cases as an escape. It is indicative when growing in numbers 

 of rich soil. A tree from 80 .to 100 feet in height and with a trunk 

 diameter of from six to thirteen feet. 



