By Thomas Bruges Flower, [Esq. 



195 



The Betula alba has been sub-divided into several species, under 

 the names of glutinosa, pubescens, pendula, &c, according to the 

 variations in the forms of the leaves and fruit. 



Alnus, (Tourn.) Alder. 

 Linn. CI. xxi. Ord. iv. 



Named from the Celtic al, near; and lan % the river-bank. 



1. A glutinosa, (Graert) clammy or common Alder. Engl. Bot. t. 

 1508. Reich Icones xii. 641. 



Locality. Banks of the Avon, wet meadows, and moist grounds 

 by water, especially where the soil inclines to peat. Tree Fl. March. 

 Area, 1. £. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts. A middle-sized tree, not 

 very ornamental, though of agreeable verdure and dense shade. 

 Leaves roundish-cuneiform, obtuse lobed at the margin and serrate, 

 somewhat glutinous, downy in the axils of the nerves beneath. 

 Sterile catkins long, large, and cylindrical, pendent, their footstalks 

 branched. Fertile catkins small, ovate, with deep red scales, which 

 are not unlike those of a miniature fir-cone. 



Fagus, (Linn.) Beech. 

 Linn. CI. xxi. Ord. vii. 



Name. From phago, to eat; in allusion to the mast or nuts 

 being used for food in early ages. Beech; from Bece, or Boc, 

 Saxon. Johnson. 



1. F. sylvatica, (Linn.) wood or common Beech. Fngl. Bot. t. 

 1846. Reich Icones, xii. 639. 



Locality. Woods, especially on calcareous soils. Tree Fl. March, 

 April. Area, 1. %. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts, but perhaps not 

 truly indigenous in the county, 1 being frequently planted. A large 

 and noble tree, of combined majesty and elegance ; branches widely 

 spreading, umbrageous; bark pale and smooth; wood white and 

 brittle. Leaves shortly stalked, ovate, slightly and unequally serrated, 

 with a silky marginal fringe, and downy veins. Catkins or flower- 

 heads softly silky-hairy, the males on slender drooping peduncles of 



1 " None in Wilts except at Grovcley. (In the wood belonging to Mr. 

 Samwell's farm at Market Lavington are three very large beeches." — Bishop 

 Tanner.) 



P 2 



