=Distribution.=--Newfoundland to the Saskatchewan, south to New York,
northeastern Ohio, northern Indiana and Nebraska. In Indiana it is
confined to the northern tier of counties. I have specimens from
Elkhart, Lagrange, Lake and Porter Counties. It was reported from
Carroll County by Thompson, but in the absence of a verifying specimen I
am inclined to think this citation should be referred to _Alnus_
_rugosa_. This species grows in low ground on the borders of streams,
borders of swamps and in almost extinct sloughs near Lake Michigan. It
is also found along Pigeon River in the eastern part of Lagrange County.
In the vicinity of Mineral Springs in Porter County it is locally a
common shrub or tree. It has the habit of stooling out, and commonly the
several specimens will be deflected from a vertical from 20-45 degrees.
The largest specimens are from 1-1.4 dm. in diameter and about 10 m.
high.
=Remarks.=--This species could be used to good advantage in ornamental
planting in low ground. It grows rapidly, is easily transplanted and its
foliage is dense and attractive.
=2.= =Alnus rugòsa= (Du Roi) Sprengel. Smooth Alder. Plate 37. Shrubs
with fluted or angled trunks, resembling _Carpinus_; bark thin, smooth
or nearly so, reddish-brown, weathering gray; twigs hairy at first,
becoming gray or reddish-brown by the end of the season and more or less
glabrous and covered with small dark specks; leaves obovate, barely
acute or rounded at apex, wedge-shape at base, average blades 6-10 cm.
long, hairy on both surfaces while young, becoming smooth or nearly so
above, remaining more or less hairy beneath, especially on the veins,
under surface of leaves sufficiently glutinous to adhere to paper if
pressure be applied, margins set with short callous teeth, about .5-1
mm. long; fertile catkins cone-shape, 10-20 mm. long and about 7 mm. in
diameter, borne at the ends of branches in clusters of 2-5.
=Distribution.=--Maine to Minnesota, south to Florida and Texas. In
Indiana it is quite local. It has been reported in many of the counties
of northern Indiana north of the Wabash River. It has been found in
several of the southern counties and as far north as Salt Creek in
Monroe County. No reports for the central part of the State. It is
absent also in all of the eastern counties of the State, and the western
part of Ohio. It is found growing in clumps in wet woods, swamps, cold
bogs and along streams. It is usually a tall slender shrub; however, a
specimen has been seen that measured 7 cm. in diameter and 5 m. in
height.
=Remarks.=--Of no value except for ornamental planting in wet ground.
=FAGÀCEAE.= The Beech Family.
Trees with simple, alternate, petioled leaves; flowers of two kinds;
fruit a one-seeded nut. This is the most important family of trees
occurring in the State.
[Illustration: Plate 37.