WINTER TREE STUDY 



17 





Figure 3. — Yellow Birch. 



\\"hi:c A.h. 



The color of the outer bark is an important mark of distinction 

 and is the chief means of separating the different species of the 

 Birches. The color and taste of the inner layers of the bark 

 are in some cases also characteristic. The Black Oak, for ex- 

 ample, is best distinguished from other Oaks by the yellow and 

 intensely bitter inner bark. Similarly, the Black Birch, the Sas- 

 safras and the genus Prunus, including the Cherries, have barks 

 with characteristic flavors. The swamp-loving Poison Sumach 

 is the only poisonous tree in New England so that after this 

 shrubby form is known there need be no fear of tasting bark 

 and twigs of any unknown tree-like species. 



