162 BIRCH 



JJJf Twigs very slender and long, more 

 or less pendent, branching alternate. 

 Periderm peeling in long white papery 

 films round the stem and branches, 

 which are often silvery white. Leaves 

 loosely hung. 



Betula alba, L. Birch (Figs. 44, 72). The tree may 

 reach 70 80 feet but is rarely seen over 50 feet. The 

 irregular white-barked stem and graceful, more or less 



Fig. 72. Birch (Betula alba) : smooth bark (Irv 



