LXIX. 5ETULA^CE^ : BE^TULA. 



843 



N. Du Ham., 3. p. 203. 

 Arb. 2. p. 162. ; B. 



linear, equal. (JVil/d.) 



by the bark of no other tree, is the construction of canoes. The plant 

 usually known by the name of B. papyracea, in the London nurseries, is the 

 B. rubra of Michaux, jun., the B. lanulosa of Michaux, sen., and our B. nigra. 

 No. 9. This mistake has arisen from the bark of B. nigra, even in trees not 

 above 1 in. in diameter, separating from the trunk, and rolling up in very thin 

 paper-like laminse. 



2 9. B. ni'gra L. The black Birch. 



Identification. Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 464. ; Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept. 2. p. 621. 

 Synonymcs. B. lanulbsa Michx. FL Bor. Amer. 2. p. 181. ; ? B. rubra Micnx 



angulata Lodd. Cat. ed. 1836; red Birch, Amer. ; Betulada Canoa, Ital. 

 Engravings. Deiid. Brit., t. 153. ; Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., 2. t. 3. ; Bot. Cab., t. 1248. ; the plates 



of this tree in Arb. Brit. 1st edit., vol. vii. ; and onvfigs. 1537. and 1538. 



Spec. Char., S(c. Leaves rhomboid-ovate, doubly serrated, acute ; pubescent 

 beneath, entire at the base. Scales of the strobiles villose ; segments 



A deciduous tree, with the bark rising in very 

 thin paper-like laminae. 

 New Jersey to Carolina. 

 Height 60 ft. to 70 ft. In- 

 troduced in 1736. Flow- 

 ers greenish white ; May. 

 Fruit brown ; ripe in June. 



The epidermis is red- 

 dish, or of a cinnamon 



colour. The petioles are 



short and downy. The 



leaves, on young trees, are 



about 3 in. long, and 2 in. 



broad, of a light green on 



the upper surface, and 



whitish beneath, though on 



old trees they are much 



smaller : they are doubly 



denticulated at the edge, 



very acuminate at the sum- 

 mit, and terminated at the base in an acute angle, more regular than is seen in 

 the leaf of any other tree. The female catkins in America are 5 or 6 inches long, 

 straight, and nearly cylindrical ; about London, they are not half the size. 



t 10. B. exce'lsa H. Kew. The tall Birch. 



Identification. Ait. 



Hort. Kew., 3. p. 



337. ; Pursh Fl. 



Amer. Sept., 2. p. 



261.; N. Du Ham., 



3. p. 203. 

 Si/no7tt/7nes. B. liitea 



Mic/ix. N. Amer. Si/l. 



2. 103.; ?. nigra i)M 



Roi Herb. Bavyn. 1. 



p. 148. ; yellcv Birch, 



Amer. 

 Etigravings. Michx. 



N. Amer. Syl., 2. 



103. ; Wats. Dend. 



Brit., t. 95. ; N. Du 



Hara.,3.t..52.;Wnid. 



Baum., t. 1. f. 2. ; 



and our fig. 1539. 



from Michaux, and 



fig. 1540. from the 



Nouv. Du Ham. 



Spec. Char., <Sfc. 

 Leaves ovate, 

 acute, serrated; 

 petioles pubes- 

 cent, shorter 

 than the pedun- ^^^ cescasa. 



1538. B. nigra. 



li^- B. ejcelM, 



