146 TREES OF THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES 
3. Bétula alba, L. (EUROPEAN WHITE BIRcH.) 
Leaves ovate, acute, somewhat deltoid, unequally 
serrate, often deeply cut, nearly smooth; in var. 
pubescens covered with white hairs. Fruit brown, 
eylindrie, drooping. A tree, 30 to 60 ft. high, 
with a chalky-white bark; from Europe, exten- 
sively cultivated in this country, under many 
B. dlba. names, which indicate the character of growth or 
foliage; among them may be mentioned pendula (weeping), laciniata 
(cut-leaved), fastigiata (pyramidal), atropurpurea (purple-leaved), 
and pubescens (hairy-leaved). 
4. Bétula lénta, L. (Sweet, Buack or 
CHERRY BircH.) Leaves and bark very 
sweet, aromatic. Leaves ovate or ovate- 
oblong, with more or less heart-shaped, base, 
very acute apex, and doubly and finely ser- 
rate margin, bright shining green above, 
smooth beneath, except the veins, which are 
hairy. Fruit 1 to 114 in. long, cylindric, 
with spreading lobes to the scales. Arather a 
large tree, 50 to 70 ft. high, with bark of 
trunk and twigs in appearance much like 
that of the garden Cherry, and not splitting B. lénta. 
into as thin layers as most of the Birches. Wood rose-colored, fine- 
grained. Moist woods, rather common throughout; also cultivated. 
5. Bétula lutea, Michx. f. (YELLOW 
OR GRAY BircH.) A species so like the 
preceding (Betula lenta) as to be best 
described by stating the differences. 
Leaves and bark are much less aro- 
matic. Leaves 3 to 5 in. long, not so 
often nor so plainly heart-shaped at 
base, usually narrowed; less bright 
green above, and more downy beneath; 
more coarsely serrate. Fruit not so 
long, and more ovate, with much larger 
and thinner scales, the lobes hardly 
spreading. A large tree, 50 to 90 ft. 
B. lutea. high, with yellowish or silvery-gray 
bark peeling off into very thin, filmy layers from the trunk. Wood 
whiter, and not so useful. Rich, moist woodlands, especially north- 
ward; also cultivated. : 
