File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (20315840689).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11pennx (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

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
'
Text Appearing After Image:
PLATE XLVI. GRAY BIRCH 1. Flowoniiff bniiM-h with iiiiiiiatmo Icavi-s (s) staiiiimite flowers, (p) pistillate flowors, x l. â 2. Branoli witli mature leaves aiitl fniitiug strobiles, x *. :!. A winged seed, «>nlHrued. 4. A strobile seale, «'iilarKed. ."i. A winter bran< h with a jiarlly dt velMjtcd lennhial staniinat*' aineiit, x *. 0. Section <d' a wint<'i- twii;, enlarged. 123 GRAY BIRCH Betula populifolia, Marshall FOBMâA small tree usually occurring In clumps and attaining a height of 20-30 ft. with a diameter of 9 inches, but may reach a height of 45 ft. and a diameter of 18 inches. Trunlc slender, often inclined, continuous, and covered with ascending lateral branches with drooping ends which form a narrow pyramidal, rather open, and pointed crown. BARKâDull white, close, smooth, not peeling off into thin film-like layers but covered with triangular black spots below the insertion of the lateral branches. On old trunks black and roughened with fissures. Inner bark orange-yellow. See Figs. 85 and 90. TWIGSâSlender, greenish to brown, roughened by warty projections and by raised, pale, and horizontally-elongated lenticels, later smooth and dull white. BUDSâAlternate, 2-ranked, ovate, 1/5 of an inch long, sharp-pointed, divergent, covered with 3-4 visible, smooth, slightly resinous, brown bud-scales with downy margins. LEAVESâAlternate, simple, triangular, ovate, 2)-3 inches long, l)-2 inches wide, wedge- shaped at base, decidedly serrate on margin, with long-toothed apex and long, slender petioles which cause the leaves to quiver when stimulated by a slight breeze only. LEAF-SCABSâSee "Leaf-Scars" under Black Birch, page 124. FLOWERSâ^Appear about April before the leaves. Staminate occur in solitary or occasionally paired aments which are about li-li Inches long and i of an inch wide during the winter, but develop in spring to a length of 2-4 inches. Pistillate are cylindrical, slender, about i of an inch long and stalked. FRUITâA slender, cylindrical, stalked strobile about J of an inch long and obtuse at the apex. Scales are small and downy; tlieir lateral lobes broad and recurving, while the terminal one is rather straight and narrow. Seeds small, ovul and winged. Wings are broader than the tieed. WOODâDiffuse-porous; rays inconspicuous; light, soft, not strong, not durable; heartwood light brown; sapwood light. Weighs 36 lbs per cubic foot. Used for fuel, and in the manufacture of paper pulp, spools, shoe pegs, and hoops for barrels. DISTIKGUISHnra characteristicsâThe Gray Birch, also known as Oldfleld, White, Poverty, or Poplar Birch, can bo distinguished from all the other Birches of Pennsylvania, except the native Paper Birch, and the commonly introduced European White Birch, by its white bark which is never renewed when once removed. The bark is close, dull white, and marked with black triangular blotches just below the insertion of the lateral branches and does not peel off in thin paper-like layers like that of the Paper Birch. The Gray Birch is usually a small tree with a rather continuous trunk and frequently occurs in climips. The twigs of the Gray Birch are also rougher than the Paper Birch and its leaves are long-acuminate, while those of the Paper Birch arc ovate. RANGEâNova Scotia south to Delaware and southern Pennsylvania, west to the southern shores of Lake Ontario. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIAâOccurs chiefly in the northeastern and northern parts. Common in Monroe, Schuylkill and Pike counties. Abundant along streams in northern part of the State and on the piles of coal refuse (culm) in the anthracite region. Pure stands occur near Tamaqua, Schuylkill county. A few specimens found on the Knob of South Mountains, in Adams county, and on the Tuscarora mountains west of Mercersburg in Franklin county near the Mason and Dixon line, and on Tussey mountain in Huntingdon county. A pure stand of medium and large trees occurs south of Easton, Northampton county. HABITATâUsually occurs on moist soil along streams, ponds, and lakes; also grows on hillsides and occasionally on rocky mountain tops. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIESâThe Gray Birch is of little commercial value on account of the small size which it attains due to its short life. The existing stands should, however, be conservatively utilized. It cannot be recommended for forest planting, but is an extremely attractive tree for ornamental purposes. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

Note About Images