752 



THE CATKIN FAMILY. 



Fig. 904. 



the white bark of the trunk readily 

 peeling off in layers. Leaves usually 

 broadly ovate, taper-pointed, and toothed, 

 but varying from rhomboidal to trian- 

 gular or broadly cordate, often trembling 

 on their slender stalks like those of the 

 Aspen, glabrous and shining, with minute 

 glandular dots when young. Male catkins 

 drooping, 1 to 2 inches long ; the females 

 shortly stalked, about 6 lines long when 

 in flower. Fruiting catkins 1 to 1^ inches, 

 the scales wedge-shaped, full 2 lines long, 

 broadly 3-lobed. 



In woods, in northern and central 

 Europe, Russian Asia, and North Ame- 

 rica, more limited to mountain districts 

 in southern Europe. Extends all over 

 Britain. Fl. spring, before the leaves are 

 fully out. 



2. Dwarf Birch. Betula nana, Linn. (Eig. 905.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 2326.) 



Fig. 905. 



Usually a small shrub, but when left 

 to itself will form a tree of 20 feet. 

 Leaves very shortly stalked, nearly or- 

 bicular, seldom above half an inch long, 

 and not pointed. Catkins small and 

 sessile, the males oblong or shortly cy- 

 lindrical, the females scarcely above 3 

 lines long. Fruiting catkins about 6 

 lines long, the scales not so thin, nor 

 falling off so readily as in the common B. 



In moors and bogs, in northern Eu- 

 rope, Asia, and America, and in the 

 great mountain-chains of central Europe 

 and Asia. Not uncommon in the High- 

 lands of Scotland, but rare in the north 

 of England, and unknown in Ireland. 

 Fl. spring. 



