Handbook of Treks of the K'oktiiej^x States axd Canada. 119 



This is the smallest of the tree Birches of 

 eastern North America, commonly not more 

 than 20 or 30 ft., or exce])tionally 40 ft., in 

 height, with trunk sometimes 18 in. in di- 

 ameter. The bark of younger trees is dull 

 creamy white, usually with dark triangular 

 marks at the insertion of branches, and peeling 

 off tardily in strips around the trunk. On 

 older trunks it is darker and rough with 

 transverse fissures. It develops a narrow and 

 more or less irregular top of many small 

 branches commonly clothing the stem to the 

 ground. With its long stemmed small leaves 

 in constant agitation by the wind, like those 

 of the Quaking Asp, and white bark, it is a 

 conspicuous and interesting object. It com- 

 monly grows in dry sandy and often quite 

 barren soil, springing up in abundance after 

 forest fires and affording by its shade a shelter 

 for the germinating of the more tender seeds 

 of more useful trees. 



Its wood, a cubic foot of which, when abso- 

 lutely dry, weighs 35.90 lbs., is used in the 

 manufacture of small wooden-ware, as spools, 

 clothes-pins, shoe-pegs, hoops for casks, etc.. 

 and is excellent for fuel and charcoal. i 



Leaves triangular-ovoid, from 2-31/4 in. long. 

 with very slendor points, truncate, obtuse or 

 slightly cordate and entire at base, doubly serrate 

 with spreading glandular teeth, dark shining 

 green and glandular-roughened above and slightly 

 paler and smooth beneath ; petioles long and 

 slender; branchlets rcsin-glandtilar. Ffdinrs un- 

 folding with the leaves : stainiuatc ami'uts solitary 

 or in pairs, about 1 in. or less in Irngth and slendiT 

 in winter, becoming from 2-."!V_. in. long, with 

 apiculate scales ; iiistlllate aments slender, about 

 % in. long, on glandular pedicels of about the 

 same length with pale green scales. Fruit: stro- 

 biles cylindrical, about % in. long and 14 in. 

 thick, erect or spreading with slender peduncle : 

 scales with lateral lobes recurved, the middle one 

 narrow ; nutlet narrower than its wings. - 



1. A. W., Ill, 70. 



