THE BIRCHES AND HORNBEAMS 



The red birch is easily distinguished from all 

 the other birches by its reddish, loosely peeling 

 bark, which gives the trunk an unkempt, 

 shaggy, and torn appearance. The outer bark 

 separates into flakes which are loose at one 

 end and adhere to the trunk at the other, 

 and these projecting strips look like a fringe. 

 The lower branches often bend down towards 

 the ground in a straggling, irregular fashion, 

 while the upper branches are free and sweep- 

 ing. It should not be inferred from this de- 

 scription that the red birch is lacking in beauty, 

 for it is a most attractive tree. Its general out- 

 line is picturesque, and the soft red color of the 

 peeling epidermis of " the bark in the upper 

 branches has a very pleasing effect. The red 

 birch is the only semi-aquatic species among 

 the birches, and its drooping branches hanging 

 over the water add much to the beauty of our 

 streams and rivers. 



Its wood is light but strong, and is used for 

 furniture, wooden ware, and yokes. 



The specific name, nigra (black), was given 

 it by Linnaeus, the celebrated Swedish botanist, 

 — it seems to have no particular significance. 



The red birch is found growing on the banks 

 of the Nashua and Merrimac Rivers and beside 

 smaller streams in Massachusetts, but it grows 



67 



