BIRCH FAMILY 



grown are dull dark green above, pale yellow green below ; midrib 

 yellow, primary veins indistinct alDove but conspicuous and hairy 

 below. In autumn they turn a clear bright yel- 

 low. Petioles stout, hairy, deeply grooved 

 above. Stipules ovate, pale green or nearly 

 white, caducous. 



Flowers. — April, before the leaves. Stami- 

 nate catkins form in late summer, during winter 

 are three-fourths of an inch long. When the 

 flowers open the catkins become three to four 

 inches long, and in general appearance become 

 bright yellow due to the abundant anthers. 

 Scales ovate, bright red brown above the mid- 

 dle, pale brown below. Pistillate catkins from 

 one-half to three- fourths of an inch long, scales 

 ovate, pale green ; styles e.xserted, slender, 

 pale pink. 



Fruit. — Strobiles oblong-ovoid, smooth, ses- 

 sile, erect, one to one and one-half inches long, 

 one-half an inch thick. Scales smooth, with rounded or acute lat- 

 eral lobes. Nut obovate, pointed at base, about as broad as its wing. 



The Black Birch which is a liandsome tree with its tall dark stem, graceful 

 fragrant branches and dark green foliage, is especially beautiful in early spring 

 wlien its long staminate catkins hang from the leafless branches changing them 

 for a few days into fountains of golden spray and making it the most conspicu- 

 ous of the American birches. 



— Charlks S. Sargent. 



Sweet Birch, Bctula Inita. 

 Strobiles erect, l' tc 

 i;i' long. 



The names AVhite, Black, and Yellow are often given to 

 trees with very little justification, but in the case of the 

 birches they express differences which are apparent to the 

 most casual observer. The trunk of the White Birch is really 

 white, the bark of tiie Yellow Birch is indeed yellow and that 

 of the Black Birch is so dark that it may easily be considered 

 black. The bark resembles in general appearance that of the 

 common cherry tree, whence the name Cherry Birch, and like 

 that of the other birches, it divides in lines running hori- 

 zontally around the tree. On old trees it becomes very 

 rough and clings in horizontal plates, loosened and often 

 curled at one end. The inner bark is very fragrant and 

 has a pleasant spicy taste. For this reason it is called 

 Sweet Birch. The bark of the Yellow Birch is also aromatic 

 but not to the same degree. This flavor is due to an essen- 



312 



