510 BETULACEAE. 
5. Betula lénta L. Cherry, Black or Sweet Birch. (Fig. 1215.) 
Bejula lenta V,. Sp. Pl. 983. 1753. 
A large forest tree, sometimes 80° high, with dark 
brown close smooth bark, becoming furrowed, not 
separating in layers; foliage aromatic; twigs smooth, 
warty, young leaves silky. Mature leaves ovate or 
ovate-oblong, acute or acuminate, the base cordate 
or rounded, sharply serrulate, bright green, and 
shining above, dull green and pubescent on the 
veins beneath, 214’-4’ long, 1/-2’ wide; petioles 
3/’-6’’ long; staminate aments clustered, 2%4/-4’ 
long; pistillate aments sessile, dense, oblong, about 
1’ long and 14’ in diameter in fruit, nearly erect; 
bracts glabrous or minutely puberulent, appressed, 
about 2’ long, nearly equally 3-lobed, the lateral 
lobes somewhat divergent; nut oblong, broader 
than its wings. 
Newfoundland to western Ontario, Florida and Ten- 
nessee. Wood hard, strong, dark brown; weight per 
cubit foot 47 lbs. The aromatic oil of the branches and 
: ! . ; foliage (same as oil of wintergreen) is distilled in 
quantities and is an important article of commerce. Tree much resembles the cherry. April-May, 
6. Betula lutea Michx. f. Yellow Birch. Gray Birch. (Fig. 1216.) 
Betula lutea Michx. f. Arb. Am. 2:152. fl. 5. 1812. 
A large forest tree, similar to the preceding species, 
reaching a maximum height of about 100° and a trunk 
diameter of 4°, the bark yellowish or gray, separating 
in thin layers or close, the twigs gray-brown. Leaves 
ovate or oblong-ovate, mostly acuminate at the apex, 
rounded, obtuse or rarely subcordate at the base, 
sharply serrulate all around, dark green and dull 
above, pubescent on the veins beneath, 114’—4/ long, 
petioles 4/’-9’” long; staminate aments usually 2-4 
together; pistillate aments sessile, oblong or oblong- 
cylindric, 14’ or less long, 7’’-9’’ thick in fruit, 
rather loose; bracts nearly equally 3-lobed to the 
middle, ciliolate, the lateral lobes ascending; nut 
broadly oblong, wider than its wings. 
Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to North Carolina 
and Tennessee, mainly in the Alleghanies. Wood hard, 
strong, light brown; weight per cubic foot 41 lbs. April- 
May. 
“fi 7. Betula glandulosa Michx. Glandular 
fj or Scrub Birch. (Fig. 1217.) 
Betula glandulosa Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 180. 1803. 
A shrub, 1°-4° high, the twigs brown, glandular- 
warty, not pubescent. Leaves orbicular, oval or ob- 
ovate, glabrous, rounded at the apex; rounded, nar- 
rowed or cuneate at the base, crenate-dentate, bright 
green above, pale green and glandular-dotted beneath, 
short-petioled, {’-1’ long; petioles 1/’-3’’ long; 
staminate aments commonly solitary, about !4’ long; 
pistillate aments cylindric, erect, peduncled, 5’’-12” 
long and about 2’’ in diameter in fruit; fruiting bracts 
glabrous, the lateral lobes divergent, rather shorter 
than the middle one; nut oblong, usually narrower 
than its wings. 
Newfoundland to Alaska, the higher mountains of 
Maine and northern New York, Michigan, Minnesotaand 
in the Rocky Mountains to Colorad®. Also in Asia. 
June-July. 
