40 Native Trees of Kentucky 



c. Cherry or Black Birch Betula lenta. 



The Black Birch is common through the mountains and found 

 scattered through the western part of the State. It has several 

 common names, Cherry Birch, Sweet Birch, Mahogany Birch, 

 each derived from a prominent character of the tree. The outer 

 bark of the middle-aged trunks and young branches is smooth 

 and shiny like the garden Cherry tree. The inner bark is spicy 

 and sweetly scented, yielding by distillation a birch oil which is 

 identical with wintergreen. This oil is used for flavoring and is 

 the essential agent in a medicine for rheumatism. 



Due to the difference between the annual rings, the wood has 

 a clouded effect and. when cut for veneer, is strongly figured like 

 Mahogany. 



Tree tall, graceful, with drooping lower limbs. 



Bark smooth, dark brown, shiny in young trees, becoming 

 deeply fissured in old trees. 



Leaves 2 to 6 inches long, doubly toothed, veins prominent 

 on under side. 



Fruit cones, erect, sessile ; nuts with narrow wings. 



