BIRCH. 
Natural Order , Betuline^e, (Richard.) Linnsean Classifi- 
cation, Moncecia, Polyandria. 
BETULA.t (Linn.) 
Male flowers in long cylindric aments. Scales in a double 
series, the inner by 3 ? s, 1 -flowered; stamens 6 to 12. Female 
flowers with ovoid or oval aments; the scales trifid, 1 to 3- 
flowered. Styles 2. Nuts minute, compressed, 1-seeded, 
edged with an alated thin margin. 
Trees or shrubs of the colder parts of the northern hemisphere 
on both continents with the bark often exfoliating in thin cir- 
cular plates. Leaves alternate, ovate, or deltoid, serrated; pro- 
ducing stipules; aments axillary. 
WESTERN BIRCH. 
BETULA occidentalis; ramis resinoso-verrucosis , foliis 
lato rhombeo-ovatis sublobatis ineiso-serratis hirsutulis , 
subtus pallidioribus punctatis , nervis remotis , amentis foe - 
miners lato-cylindraceis squamis lobis lateralibus ovatis 
intermedio longiore . 
Betula occidentalis. Hook. Flor. Bor. Amer., vol. 2. p. 155. 
This low species of Birch, only 6 to 10 feet high, was 
first observed westward, near the sources of the Sweet- 
Water, a northern branch of the Platte, and where it 
penetrates into the first range of the Rocky Mountains. 
On the borders of this clear stream, diminished to a 
small purling brook, and accompanied by clumps of 
willows, we first saw it growing. According to Drum- 
f Supposed to be derived from Betu, the Celtic name for the 
Birch. 
