OF Ohio 



49 



RIVER BIRCH 



Betula nigra, Linnaeus 



THE River Birch is also called Red Birch and Water 

 Birch. It usually occurs on rivers, streams, ponds, 

 swamps and other watery places. The leaves are simple, 

 alternate, egg-shaped, 1 J^ to 3 inches long and wedge-shaped 

 at base. The flow- 

 ers appear about 

 April, are of two 

 kinds. The pollen- 

 bearing are ar- 

 ranged in droop- 

 ing tassels, 2 to 3 

 inches long. The 

 seed-producing oc- 

 cur in small spikes 

 about one-third of 

 an inch long. The 

 fruit is an erect 

 cylindrical spike 1 

 to 1 ^ inches long. 

 The seeds ripen in 

 early summer with 

 3 -lobe scales. The 

 bark is reddish- 

 brown to cinna- 

 mon-red, peels off 

 in large, thick lay- 

 ers. On old trees 

 the bark becomes 

 thick and deeply 

 furrowed. The 

 twigs are reddish- 

 brown and more 

 or less hairy. 



The wood is strong, heavy, close-grained, reddish-brown 

 and white sapwood. It is used in the manufacture of 

 woodenware, crates, turnery, pulp and chemicals. 



The River Birch extends farther south than any other of 

 our native birches Its range is from Massachusetts to 

 Minnesota and south to Florida and Texas. In Ohio it is 

 confined to the southeastern part of State, chiefly from Fair- 

 field county southward. Exceptional trees reach a height of 

 80 feet and a diameter of 4 feet. The River Birch may 

 be called a soldier tree, for it battles fiercely with the over- 

 flow waters of swollen streams. It is of inestimable value 

 as a protector of river and stream banks, and is well adapted 

 for ornamental planting. ^ 



RIVER BIRCH 

 One-third natural size. 



