NATIVE WOODY PLANTS OF THE UNITED STATES 73 



Betula alleg-haniensis, see Betula lutea. 



Betula coerulea Blanch. Blueleaf birch. 



B. pendula Fern., not Roth. 



Range : 15, 18, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27. 

 Site : Well-drained, moist, sun. 



Fruit : Small samara or nutlet, available September-October. 

 A large tree. 



Betula cordifolia, see Betula papyrifera. 



Betula fontinalis Sarg. Red birch. 



B. occidentalis Nutt, not Hook., B. utahensis Britt., B. microphylla Bunge. 

 Range : 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15. 

 Site: Well-drained, moist, sun. 

 Fruit : Small samara or nutlet. 



A small to rarely large tree ; fair to good browse for sheep and goats ; about 

 1,134,000 seeds per pound. 



Var. piperi (Britt.) Sarg., (B. piperi Britt.) is smaller than the species, 

 occurs in region 7, and is clump-forming. 



Betula glandulifera, see Betula pumila. 



Betula glandulosa Michx. Bog birch. 



B. hallii HoTvell. 



Range : 2, 4, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 26. 

 Site: Wet, sun. 



Fruit : Small samara or nutlet. 



A small to large shrub ; usually occurs in sphagnum bogs. 

 Observations: White-tailed ptarmigan, northern sharp-tailed grouse, greater 

 prairie chicken. Palatability good for cattle and sheep in most western sec- 

 tions, but plants are often inaccessible because of their occurrence in bogs. 



Betula hallii, see Betula glandulosa. 



Betula lenta L. Sweet birch. 



Range : 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. 



Site : Dry, well-drained, moist, sun, shade. 



Fruit: Small samara or nutlet, available September-October. 

 A large tree with open foliage; rapid growing when young, later slower; 

 long-lived ; root system fibrous, deep, and spreading ; not fire resistant ; wind- 

 firm; little attacked by disease except in old age; rarely attacked by insects; 

 appears to flourish best in association with other species; wood used com- 

 mercially to some extent; oil of wintergreen, produced by distillation of the 

 leaves, is of importance commercially ; about 500,000 seeds per pound, germina- 

 tion about 26 percent. 



Stomach records: Ruffed grouse, greater prairie chicken. Observations: Red- 

 poll, sharp-tailed grouse; important food of white-tailed deer, moose, cotton- 

 tail rabbit. 



Betula lutea Michx. f. Yellow birch. 



B. alleghaniensis Britt. 



Range : 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. 

 Site : Well-drained, moist, sun, shade. 



Fruit: Small samara or nutlet, available September-October. 

 A large tree; rapid growing, especially when young; moderately long-lived; 

 root system widespread; taproot usually developed in a lateral direction; not 

 fire resistant; wood of importance commercially; 400,000-440,000 seeds per 

 pound. 



Stomach records: Merganser, ruffed grouse. Observations: Seven species of 

 birds, including sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse, prairie chicken ; important 

 food of white-tailed deer ; red squirrel, cottontail rabbit, moose. 



Betula microphylla, see Betula fontinalis. 

 Betula montanensis, see Betula papyrifera. 



Betula nigra L. River birch. 



Range : 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. 

 Site : Moist, sun. 

 Fruit: Small samara or nutlet, available July-September. 



