EXISTING TREES AND SHRUBS OF EPPING FOREST. 385
Corylus avellana, L. Hazel.
In the hedge I referred to as containing the Clematis; also
in the thicket south-east of "The Woodman" and in Bush Wood,
Wanstead. There are many hazels in the nurseries.
Carpinus betulus, L. Hornbeam.
Everywhere, including those damp places shunned by the
beech.
Betula alba, L. Birch.
On the same soils as the beech in our forest. As, however,
its seedlings prosper without cover, while the young beech needs
undergrowth for its protection, the birch is fast spreading over
open spaces which are equally well suited for the other tree. It
will be interesting to notice whether it will serve as nurse to the
larger trees and to compare it in this respect with the hawthorn,
which sometimes spreads with equal rapidity on the heavy soils
(witness—the remarkable thicket to the north of Warren Hill,
Loughton).
Of the three forms of Betula alba, sub-sp. verrucosa is the most
graceful, having light pendulous branches and long pointed
deeply serrate leaves. It is much less common than sub-sp.
glutinosa, which has a stiffer habit and denser foliage and a less
shapely outline. Sub-sp. pubescens when old is of similar appear-
ance to glutinosa, of which it is sometimes classed as a variety, but
when young it is easily distinguished by the dense velvety down
on the twigs and leaves, which gives the whole plant a darker
shade. When old, the same character shows to a less extent on
the young shoots.
All three forms are to be found in Lord's Bushes; I have not
looked for pubescens elsewhere, but I have no reason to doubt its
existence in other parts. Probably the largest birch tree in the
forest is one in Lord's Bushes belonging to this variety and
measuring six feet in circumference at three feet from the ground.
There is a collection of fine birches near Cook's Folly, shewing
very well the beautiful ring markings in the bark. Close to the
western side of Ranger's Road is one young birch; I believe it to
be the only one at present in this part of the Ching Valley.
Alnus glutinosa, L. Alder.
On the banks of the Ching below Whitehall Road. Being
well down the stream, it is not likely to spread much in the forest