File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (20313639198).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11penx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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lU ill PAPER BIRCH. Betula alba var. papyrifera, (Marshall) Spach. FORM—A large tree usually attaining a height of 50-75 ft. with a diameter of 1-2 ft., but may roach a height of 80 ft. with a diameter of 3 feet. Trunk in open grown trees short and covered nearly to the base with lateral, often ascending branches; in close stands branchless below and bearing a narrow open head. BARK—On trunk and older branches chalky to creamy white and peeling off in thin fllm- like layers which are tinged with yellow and covered with horizontally-elongated lenticels. On older trunks rough and often fissured into irregular thick scales. TWIGS—Rather stout, somewhat viscid, decidedly hairy, at first greenish, later becoming smooth, reddish-brown, and after several years, bright white, like the trunk, covered with pale, horizontally-elongftted, orange-colored lenticels. BUDS—Alternate, ovate, sharp-pointed, divergent, about i of an inch long, dark chestnut- brown In color, covered by a few overlapping bud-scales with downy margins. LEAVES—Alternate, simple, ovate, 2-3 inches long, li-2 Inches wide, rather firm in texture; upper surface dark green, under surface light green; narrowed or rounded at the base, sharply toothed on the margin and sharp-pointed at the apex. LEAF-SCARS—See "Leaf-Scars" under Black Birch, page 118. FL0V7ERS—Appear in April or May before the leaves. The staminate are arranged In anients, which occur in groups of 2-3 and are about i to H inches long, becoming 3i-4 Inches long in spring. The pistillate havo light green lanceolate scales and bright red styles, and are arranged in clusters about 1-li inches long. FRUIT—A cylindrical, short-stalked strobile about li inches long. Scales long, with thick lateral lobes and a rather long terminal lobe. Seeds small and winged. Wings wider than the nut. WOOD—Diffuse-porous; rays small and inconspicuous; light, strong, hard, light brown tinged with red, with rather thick, light sapwood. Weighs 37.11 lbs. per cubic foot. Used exten- sively for spools, shoe lasts, pegs, fuel, and in the manufacture of paper pulp. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS—^The Paper Birch, also known as Canoe Birch and White Birch, may readily be distinguished from all the other species of Birch in Pennsyl- vania except the Gray Birch, by its characteristic white bark, which is never renewed when once removed. The European White Birch, which is introduced extensively for ornamental pur- poses, also has a white bark. To distinguish it from the Gray Birch see "Distinguishing Characteristics" under Gray Birch. RANGE—From Newfoundland to Alaska, south to Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado, and Washington. This is one of the few transcontinental species. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA—Found only in the northern part of the State. Com- mon but scattered In Tioga and adjoining counties. HABITAT—Usually found on rich wooded slopes and on the borders of lakes, swamps, and streams; also scattered through the forests of other hardwoods and occasionally through coniferous forests. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES—This species is commercially of little importance In Pennsylvania on account of its limited distribution. It is not of sufficient importance to justify its artificial propagation, but wherever it occurs naturally it should be .protected so as to insure an abundant future growth. The wood is sutficiently prized to justify its conservative utilization, and also its protection, where nature produces It gratuitously.
Text Appearing After Image:
PLATE XLIII. PAPER BIRCH. 1. Fl«w.ri„« hr.n,i. with *'">""V>'-V,.l'--s .s, -'i^^^li^^^^.^'^.oi^ ^S 2. liraiici! witii luiitmv l.av.s, Iruitiuj,' strobik's. and p.uuj 3. A wiiiKt'il seed, cnlartiod. 5: 1 S:j;^.rl.?.H; wlth'rpartly d^veloju-d t..rn.i,>n1 sta.ninatc aments, x i. 6. Section of a liiti'ral winter spur-biaueb, enlarged. T. Section of a tenuiiial winter branch, enlarged. i..^..llate flowers, x J. staminate aments, x 4.

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