206 



TREES OF MINNESOTA. 



new growth with reddish or dark brown bark. It closely re- 

 sembles the Canoe Birch. 



Distribution. Native of northern Europe and Asia and is 

 becoming naturalized in localities in the United States. 

 Propagation. See genus Betula. 



Properties of wood. Fairly heavy, moderately hard, does 

 not split well, not durable. Specific gravity, air dried, 0.64. 

 Uses. The European White Birch is used here for orna- 

 mental plantings, the same as the Paper Birch though it is a 

 smaller tree. In Russia the bark is used in the tanning of 

 leather for its preservative qualities and delightful odor. 

 Many parts of the tree are used in pharmacy. 



Varieties. There is a large number of cultivated varieties 

 of the European White Birch among which the following is 

 the most highly esteemed. 



Betula alba pendula laciniata. Cutleaf Weeping 



Birch. 



This is a very handsome tree with finely divided leaves 

 and a drooping habit to the smaller branches. Desirable for 



lawn and park planting in re- 

 tentive moisc soil but is very 

 short-lived in dry locations. 



Betula nigra. River Birch. 



Red Birch. 



Leaves broadly ovate, acute 

 or obtuse at apex, wedge-shaped 

 at base, irregularly serrate or 

 somewhat lobed; when mature 

 dark green and glabrous above, 

 pale and glabrous or tomentose 

 beneath. Flowers open in early 

 spring; staminate catkins mostly 

 clustered in 2's or 3's, 2i to 3i 

 inches long; pistillate catkins 

 soft downy, oblong, cylindrical; 

 catkins in fruit 1 to li inches 

 long and about i inch in diam- 

 eter: fruiting bracts tomentose, about equally lobed; nut 

 broadly ovate and wider than its wings, pubescent at its base; 



Figure 44. Leaf of Cutleaf 

 Birch, 1/2 natural size. 



