68 



Native Trees of Canada 



THE BIRCHES 



The thirty species of birch (Beiula) recognized are confined chiefly to the 

 north temperate zone and range in size from very large trees to very small shrubs. 

 Nine species occur in Canada of which four inhabit the Pacific coast region. Certain 

 species are found at the very limit of tree growth in the north. 



The bark of all birches is characteristically marked with long horizontal slits 

 or lenticels, and on young trees of most species it can be separated into papery layers. 



The leaves are alternate in their arrangement on the twig, that is they do not 

 come out in pairs from the opposite sides of the twig, although on twigs one year 

 old they are often produced in pairs on each side of a bud. 



The birches are related to the alders, and, like them, produce their seed in 

 small, scaly cones. These cones in the case of the birches fall to pieces when ripe, 

 while those of the alders remain intact. 



WHITE BIRCH 

 grey birch, wire birch, poplar- 



BETULA POPULIFOLIA, Marsh. 



Common names: White birch, 



leaved birch. 

 French names: Bouleau gris, 

 bouleau rouge*. 

 The white birch ranges from the Maritime Provinces westward through the 

 St. Lawrence river valley to eastern Ontario. It is found growing on dry, gravelly 



bouleau a feuilles de peuplier, 



WHITE BIRCH 



S. p op u///o//o 



