458 LXX. BETULACEiE. [Betula. 



.Bot. t. 158. Sans. Bhurja. Vern. Burj, bhuj, burzal, phurz, Pb. Hima- 

 laya ; Shag, shak, pad, phatah, talcpa, Ladak, Lahoul, Piti, Kunawar ; 

 Bhujpattra, N.W.P. 



A moderate-sized tree, shrubby near its upper limit ; extremities, peti- 

 oles and leaf-buds pubescent, the bark exfoliating in thin broad horizontal 

 belts. Leaves ovate, acuminate, unequally serrate, hairy along midrib, 

 pubescent when young with scattered hairs ; blade 2-3 in., petiole \ in. 

 long; main lateral nerves 8-12 pair, prominent beneath, impressed on 

 the upper side ; the under side generally with resinous dots. Bracts of 

 male flowers stalked, the stalk bearing numerous glabrous scales, ciliate 

 at the edge, the lower membranous, transparent, the upper coloured. 

 Anther-cells distinct, glabrous, with a tuft of few hairs at the tip. Bract 

 of female flowers pubescent, deeply 3-lobed, hardened in fruit, broader 

 than the winged fruit ; lobes linear- oblong. Wings narrower than greatest 

 breadth of nut. 



Higher ranges of the Himalaya, extending far into the inner arid tract, in the 

 Panjab not under 7000, in Sikkim and Bhutan not under 9500 ft., ascending 

 commonly to 11,000, and often to 12,000 ft., in Zanskar, Tibet, and inner Sik- 

 kim to 14,000 ft. Chur at 42,150 ft. Afghanistan. Higher mountains of Japan. 

 Gregarious, forming pure forests, often at the upper limit of arborescent vegeta- 

 tion, generally rising 500 ft. above the upper limit of Abies Webbiana; seems to 

 prefer north and west aspects. The leaves are shed in Oct., and the new foliage 

 comes out in April and May. Attains 50-60 ft. ; trunk erect, somewhat crooked, 

 6-7 and at times 10-12 ft. girth ; branches erect, twigs drooping, forming a hand- 

 some broad-oval crown with light foliage. Bark smooth, wrinkled, reddish- or 

 purplish- brown, with whitish linear or oblong stripes (lenticels) and fine parallel 

 lines, the outer bark consisting of numerous distinct paper-like layers, exfoliat- 

 ing in broad horizontal rolls or belts. Wood white, straight-grained, not hard, 

 but tough to cut. Weight 35.5 lb. per cub. ft. (Wall.) In the arid inner Hima- 

 laya, where timber is scarce, it is used extensively for building, and other pur- 

 poses. It is elastic, and has been recommended for turning. The bark is the 

 most valuable part of this tree ; it is used as paper for writing and packing, for 

 umbrella-covers, and to line the inside of the hooka-tube. Hindoos use it in 

 various religious ceremonies. It is called Toz, bhoj pattar, in Kashmir, drawa 

 on the Chenab, and bharangi in Kamaon, and is largely exported to the plains. 

 In Kashmir and Kunawar it is often placed under the flat earth roofs, and is 

 said to be very lasting. Twig bridges are made of the branches of this Birch, 

 and the trees are often lopped for fodder. 



2. B. acuminata,* Wall. Tab. LVL PL As. Ear. t. 109. Syn. B. 

 cylindrostachys, Wall.; DC. Prodr. xvi. ii. 179. Vern. Pity a udish, chambar 

 mciya, Pb. ; Bhujpattra, hdur, shdul, K W.P. ; ShaJcshin, Tibet ; Utis, 

 Nepal. 



ratis utrinque ramulisque villosis basi rotundatis subtus canescentibus, " hardly applies 

 to this species, and certainly does not give its distinguishing characters. Don adds, 

 on Wallich's authority, that the epidermis is used under the name of Bhog Pattrah; 

 but this proves nothing, for both species of Birch are called Bhuj pattra in the N". W. 

 Himalaya. 



* I retain this name, which is supported by Wallich's plate and description. Don's 

 B. alnoides, which he describes as dioicous, and nitida, are .probably synonyms, but 

 Don's descriptions are insufficient to identify them. B. nitida, Don, is retained as a 

 distinct but doubtful species in De Candolle's Prodromus. 



