64 Rhodora [APRIL 
from which it seems that its best individual development is attained 
on this island. 
There seems to be considerable confusion regarding the status of 
this form. By the seventh edition of Gray’s Manual (335, 1908) and 
by Sargent (Man. 204, 1905) it is regarded as varietal. Britton 
(Trees, 251, 1908) gives it specific rank but states that it may be only 
a form of B. papyrifera having heart-shaped leaves and Blanchard 
also regards it as of specific standing. Prof. G. R. Burns (in lit., 1917) 
states that it intergrades with the type. The cordate-leaved tree, 
however, at least in the east, is confined to higher altitudes and has a 
more northerly range; and it is not known to occur in association with 
the type in the southern part of New York state, in Pennsylvania or 
in Ohio. Moreover, this seems to be the only form on the higher 
summits of New England, where it occurs as a small tree. The fact 
that the cordate form alone occurs in North Carolina, and that there 
its leaf-form is strongly marked and without indication of variation — 
foliage was examined from more than 100 trees — would at least 
seem to give it excellent varietal if not specific characterization. 
Specimens from this locality are being deposited in the following 
herbaria: Gray, Arnold Arboretum, New York Botanical Garden, 
National, Carnegie and Field. 
BETULA LENTA Uber n. var. Leaves ovate or short elliptic, 2.5-4 em. 
long by 2.3-3.5 cm. wide, rounded or very obtuse at the apex, mostly 
with a broad, deep basal sinus or sometimes oblique, irregularly ser- 
rate with three to six pairs primary veins; petiole 0.5-1 cm. long. 
Fruit same size and scales same shape as in the type, but nutlets 
narrowly winged. Bark as in type, and inner bark with characteristic 
birch oil fragrance and flavor.— Banks of Dickey Creek, Smyth 
County, Virginia, south of Rye Valley Station. January 14, 1914, 
W. W. A. Characteristic specimens are being deposited in following 
herbaria: Gray, Arnold Arboretum, N. Y. Botanical Garden, and 
National. 
U. S. Forest Service, Washington, D. C. 
