110 FAMILIAR TREES AND THEIR LEAVES. 



him his life, but something very nearly related to 

 them spears ! The leaf of this tree resembles that 

 of its American relative, but it is broader, shorter, 

 and in many varieties it is wavy, without teeth ; 

 in others it is deeply cut at the margin. The pur- 

 ple or copper beech (var. atropurpurea)* is a va- 

 riety with a rounded figure, very dark copper-colored 

 foliage, and somewhat curved leaves sparsely toothed. 

 There are several handsome specimens in the Public 

 Garden, Boston. The tree is very slow in unfolding 

 its leaves, and it is extremely loath to part with them ; 

 for that matter, the beeches often hold their faded, 

 ghostly, brown-white leaves throughout the winter. 



* The latest name for the copper beech is Fagus sylvatica 

 foliis atrorubentibus. 



