JTandbook of Tkkes of the jNoetiiern States axd Canada. }-25 



TI19 Sweet Birrli attains the height of TO or 

 HO ft., witli a liiinls diaiiiclpr of fruiii 2-5 ft., 

 away from other trees de- 

 al o\t>iil or |)\ lamidal ti;)p 

 strong small liian<;hes. l)nt 

 broad hy tlie lengthening 

 • liark of trnnk is 

 lit traiisverseh' in 



and \^lien growii 



velops a synnnetrie 



at first with nniny 



finally roninled or 



oi the latoal hramlies. TIh 



at lirst >nioL)th and pefd> 1 



tliiu stri|)S. but linally 1 'ronies lissnred witli 

 large a)id snnill irregilar s:-ales sngg-sting 

 the liark of the ]jla"k e iierry. for which re iso.i 

 the tree is sometimes railed the t'lu'iry Bin-h. 

 The daik:. 'ss of its e.dor gi\'es it the nanu' of 

 Black Birch and from t];e sweet aromalii' ll.ivor 

 of its lea\'e3 and bark it is called the .Sweet 

 Birch. It flourishes on riidi well-drained up- 

 lands, and in early spring while the Itranches 

 are bare of leaves and it is trimmed with its 

 golden tassels of catkins, unlo.uling their 

 pollen on tlie lightest touch, it is a particu- 

 larly handsome object. 



The wood is heavy, liard and strong, a cidiic 

 foot when absolutely dry weighing 47.47 lbs., 

 and is valued in the manufacture of furniture, 

 agricultural im]ilements and general wooden 

 ware, and fur fuel.i 



L((ir('s ovate to evate-oblon.c:, 2Vj to ."i in. long. 

 acute to acuminate at apes, rounded i>r cordate at 

 Ijase, sharply unevenly serrate. si]l<y pubescent at 

 first but finally glabrous sLiiniot green above, 

 Iialer and pubescent along the prominent vein.s Ije- 

 neath ; petioles stout, bairy and grooved above. 

 FloiPcrs staminate generally in clusters, 1 in. or 

 less in lenstb and Vs in. thick and scales with 

 free apiculate tips in winter, linally .1-4 in. long 

 in spring ; pistillate aments % in. long with 

 greenish round-pointed scales and iiink styles. 

 Frtdt: strobules erect ovoid-oblong, sessile, 1-1 1/2 

 in. long, glabrous with lobes of scales about equal, 

 lateral lobes divergent; uullet obovoid, broader 

 than its wings. 



1. A. W., II, 44, 



