Handbook of Tbees of the IsoETi-nntN States .untd Canada 



The Yellow Birch is a large and important 

 forest tree of the northeastern states and the 

 eastern provim-es of Canada, sometimes at- 

 taining the height of 100 ft. with trunlv 3 or 

 4 ft. in diameter. \\ hen isolated it develops 

 a broad rounded top of many small straight- 

 ish branches. Its peculiar bark is its most 

 striking feature and distinguisiies it from all 

 other trees of the forest. The bark on its 

 branches and smaller trunks is very smooth 

 and lustrous silvery or golden gray, breaking 

 finally as the trunk expands and rolling back 

 in rihhon-like strips and curls, which long re- 

 main attached rustling with every passing 

 breeze. On very old trunks the character of 

 the bark is quite different, as it is there rougli 

 with irregular plate-like scales. It inhabits 

 rich moist uplands in company in our northern 

 forests with the Beech, Sugar and Red Maples, 

 Black and \Yhite Ash, White Elm, Hop Horn- 

 beam, etc. 



Its wood is hard and strong, a cul)ic foot, 

 when absolutely drj', weighing 40.84 lbs,, and 

 is highly valued in the manufacture of agri- 

 cultural implements, wooden ware, etc., and 

 furniture, occasional " figured " trees being 

 especially valuable for the latter use. It is 

 also one of the best woods of its range for fuel.i 



Leaves ovate to ovate-olilons. --•"» in. long, acnle 

 or acuminate at apex, rnunded, obtuse or heart- 

 shaped at base, sharply doubly serrate, silk.v 

 pubescent at first but finally glabrous dull green 

 above, paler and with siiliy hairs on midrib and 

 prominent veins beneath : petioles slender, hairy ; 

 branchlets at first green and piliisi>-pubcsceot but 

 finally smooth. Floicers: staminate amcnts usually 

 in cliisters of 2-4, 3-3 tl; in. long when fully ex- 

 panded (%-l in. long in winter and Vs in. thick) 

 with rounded scales ; pistillate aments about % 

 in. long with acute pilose scales ; styles pink. 

 Fruit an erect, subsessile, pubescent oblong stro- 

 bile, 1-1% in. long with lobes of scales about 

 equal, ciliolate and slightly spreading with obovate 

 nutlet about as broad as its wings. 



1. A. W., I, 17, 







