64 TREES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



long, ^-2 inches wide, dull green on both sides, paler beneath 

 and more or less pubescent on the straight veins ; outline 

 oval to oblong, for the most part doubly serrate ; apex acumi- 

 nate or acute ; base heart-shaped, obtuse or truncate ; leaf- 

 stalk short, grooved, often pubescent or woolly ; stipules soon 

 falling. 



Inflorescence. April to May. Sterile catkins 3-4 inches 

 long, purplish-yellow; scales fringed : fertile catkins sessile or 

 nearly so, about 1 inch long, cylindrical ; bracts 3-lobed, nearly 

 to the middle, pubescent, lobes slightly spreading. 



Fruit. Fruiting catkins oblong or oblong-ovoid, about 

 1 inch long and two-thirds as thick, erect : nut oval to 

 narrowly obovate, tapering at each end, pubescent on the 

 upper part, about the width of its wing. 



Horticultural Value. Hardy throughout New England ; 

 grows in wet or dry situations, but prefers wet, peaty soil, 

 where its roots can find a constant supply of moisture ; simi- 

 lar to the black birch, equally valuable in landscape-garden- 

 ing, but less desirable as a street tree ; transplanted without 

 serious difficulty. 



Differences between black birch and yellow birch : 



Black Birch. Bark reddish-brown, not separable into thin 

 layers ; leaves bright green above, finely serrate ; fruiting 

 catkins cylindrical; bark of twigs decidedly aromatic. 



Yellow Birch. Bark yellow, separable into thin layers ; 

 leaves dull green above ; serration coarser and more de- 

 cidedly doubly serrate ; fruiting catkins ovoid or oblong- 

 ovoid ; flavor of bark less distinctly aromatic. 



PLATE XXXI. BETULA LUTEA. 



1. Winter buds. 



2. Flower-buds. 



3. Flowering branch. 

 4-6. Sterile flowers. 



7. Fertile flower. 



8. Bract. 



9. Fruiting branch. 

 10. Fruit. 



