372 BETULACEJE. [Betula. 



ORDER XCVI. BETULACEJE. 



Two genera, Betula and Alnus. Himalayan trees, with similar qualities to the 

 Birches and Alders of Europe. 



Wood soft, tough to cut. Pores small, uniformly distributed. No 

 distinct heart wood. 



1. BETULA, Tournefort. 



Three Indian species. The common European Birch is B. alba, Linn., and the 

 American Paper Birch, of which the light, portable canoes are made in Canada, is B. 

 papyracea, Willd. 



Wood tough, close-grained, moderately hard. Pores small, not numer- 

 ous. Medullary rays fiue. Medullary patches scanty. 



1. B. Bhojpattra, Wall. ; Brandis 457 ; Gamble 79. B. Jacque- 

 montii, Spach. Vern. urj, bnrzal, bJiiijjphurz, Pb. ; Shdk, pdd,phalakj 

 takpa, Ladak, Lahoul, Piti, Kanawar; Takpa, Bhutia; Bkfypattra, Hind.; 

 Phuspatj Nep. 



A moderate-sized deciduous tree. Bark smooth, shining, with white 

 oblong lenticels, the outer bark consisting of numerous distinct, thin, papery 

 layers, peeling off in broad horizontal rolls. Wood white with a pinkish 

 tinge, tough, even-grained, moderately hard. Pores small, not numer- 

 ous, uniform and uniformly distributed except that sometimes they are 

 arranged in interrupted lines along the edges of the annual rings. Medul- 

 lary rays fine and very fine, numerous, prominent on a radial section. 



Higher ranges of the Himalaya, forming the upper edge of arborescent vegetation 

 and ascending to 14,000 feet. 



Growth slow, the countings taken from our specimens were very uniform, 5 speci- 

 mens varying only from 13 to 18 rings, giving an average of 15 rings per inch of 

 radius. Aikin, in Wallich's List, gives 3'4 rings per inch. In weight, also, the ex- 

 periments of Dr. Warth on six specimens gave only a variation from 42 to 46 Ibs. 

 with an average of 44 Ibs. ; Wallich gave 35'51bs. per cubic foot. 



The wood is extensively used in the inner arid Himalaya for building ; it is elastic, 

 seasons well and does not warp. The bark is very valuable ; it is used as paper for 

 writing and packing, for umbrellas, hooka tubes, and for roofing houses. The 

 branches are made into twig bridges, and the leaves are lopped for cattWbdder. 



2. B. acuminata, Wall. ; Brandis 458; Kurzii. 476; Gamble 79. 

 Vern. Phya udish, hambar mdi/a, maksheri, sheori, shag, Pb. ; Bhfy- 

 pattra, hdur, shdul, Hind.; Haoul, Kumaun; Shakshin, Tibet ; Saver, 

 sauer, payong, utis, Nep.; ttlosungli, Lepcha; Dingleen, Khasia. 



A large tree. Bark grey, peeling off in horizontal rolls. Wood 

 white, moderately hard, close-grained. Pores small and very small, 

 often subdivided; numerous in the inner part of each annual ring, 

 scanty and smaller in the outer half. Medullary rays fine. 



Himalaya, from 6,000 to 8,000 feet, Khasia hills, and hills of IMartaKin. 



