in diameter; forming a wide-spreading crown of large, horizontal
branches and stout, stiff branchlets.
LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 15-30 inches long. Leaflets 11-17, 2-4
inches long and one-half as broad; sessile, except the terminal;
oblong-lanceolate; finely serrate; thin; yellow-green and rugose above,
pale and soft-pubescent beneath. Petioles stout, hairy.
FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in cylindrical,
greenish, drooping catkins 3-5 inches long; calyx 6-lobed, borne on a
hairy bract; corolla 0; stamens 8-12, with brown anthers; the pistillate
solitary or several on a common peduncle, about 1/3 inch long, their
bracts and bractlets sticky-hairy; calyx 4-lobed, hairy; corolla 0;
styles 2; stigmas 2, fringed, spreading, bright red.
FRUIT.--October; about 2-1/2 inches long, cylindrical, pointed, greenish,
sticky-downy, solitary or borne in drooping clusters of 3-5; nuts with
rough shells, inclosing a sweet, but oily kernel; edible.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/2-3/4 inch long, oblong-conical, obliquely
blunt, somewhat flattened, brownish, pubescent.
BARK.--Twigs orange-brown or bright green, rusty-pubescent, becoming
smooth and light gray; gray and smoothish on young trunks, becoming
brown on old trunks, narrow-ridged, with wide furrows.
WOOD.--Light, soft, weak, coarse-grained, light brown, with thin, lighter
colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Of common occurrence in the southern half of the Lower
Peninsula.
HABITAT.--Prefers low, rich woods; river-banks; low hillsides.
NOTES.--Leaves appear late and fall early. Pith chambered,
chocolate-brown. Large trees usually unsound. Not easily transplanted.
[Illustration: +Black Walnut+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/6.
3. Leaflet, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, back view, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.]
+JUGLANDACEAE+
+Black Walnut+
_Juglans nigra L._
HABIT.--A large tree 60-80 feet high, with a massive trunk 2-5 feet in
diameter; forming an open, capacious crown of heavy branches and coarse
branchlets.
LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 1-2 feet long. Leaflets 13-23, the terminal
often lacking, 2-4 inches long and one-half as broad; sessile;
ovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed; sharp-serrate; thin; yellow-green and
glabrous above, lighter and soft-pubescent beneath. Petioles stout,
pubescent. Foliage aromatic when bruised.
FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in cylindrical,
greenish, drooping catkins 3-5 inches long; calyx 6-lobed, borne on a
hairy bract; corolla 0; stamens numerous, with purple anthers; the
pistillate solitary or several on a common peduncle, about 1/4 inch
long, their bracts and bractlets hairy; calyx 4-lobed, pubescent;
corolla 0; styles and stigmas 2.
FRUIT.--October; globose, 1-1/2-2 inches in diameter, smooth, not viscid;
solitary or borne in clusters of 2-3; nuts with irregularly furrowed
shell, inclosing a sweet, edible kernel.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/3 inch long, ovoid, obliquely blunt,
slightly flattened, silky-tomentose.
BARK.--Twigs brownish and hairy, becoming darker and smooth; thick,
brownish or blackish on the trunk and deeply furrowed by broad, rounded
ridges.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, very durable in contact with
the soil, rich dark brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Lower Peninsula as far north as Bay City, but more
abundant in the southern portion of its range.
HABITAT.--Prefers rich bottom-lands and fertile hillsides.
NOTES.--Leaves appear late and fall early. Fruit very aromatic. Pith
chambered, cream colored. The juices from the husk stain the hands
brown. Not easily transplanted. Often infested with caterpillars.
+SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CARYA+
a. Bark of trunk essentially smooth, not deeply furrowed nor
shaggy; husk of fruit less than 1/8 inch thick.
b. Leaflets usually 5-7, glabrous beneath; buds dome-shaped,
greenish; kernel of nut sweet.
c. Twigs long-hairy; fruit less than 1 inch long. _C.
microcarpa_, p. 75.
cc. Twigs glabrous or nearly so; fruit 1-1/2-2 inches long.
_C. glabra_, p. 77.
bb. Leaflets usually 7-11, more or less downy beneath; buds
elongated, bright yellow; kernel of nut bitter. _C.
cordiformis_, p. 79.
aa. Bark of trunk deeply furrowed or shaggy; husk of fruit
more than 1/8 inch thick.
b. Twigs more or less pubescent; leaflets 5-7, more or less
pubescent beneath.
c. Twigs brownish; buds densely hairy; fruit 1-1/2-2 inches
long. _C. alba_, p. 73.
cc. Twigs orange; buds merely puberulous; fruit 1-3/4-2-1/2
inches long; (leaflets usually 7). _C. laciniosa_, p. 71.
bb. Twigs tending to be glabrous; leaflets usually 5, glabrous
beneath. _C. ovata_, p. 69.
+WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CARYA+
a. Bark of trunk essentially smooth, not deeply furrowed nor
shaggy; husk of fruit less than 1/8 inch thick.
b. Terminal bud narrow, long-pointed, flattish, bright yellow;
kernel of nut bitter. _C. cordiformis_, p. 79.
bb. Terminal bud broad, dome-shaped, not bright yellow; kernel
of nut sweet.
c. Buds greenish; twigs glabrous; fruit 1-1/2-2 inches long.
_C. glabra_, p. 77.
cc. Buds red-brown; twigs long-hairy; fruit less than 1 inch
long. _C. microcarpa_, p. 75.
aa. Bark of trunk deeply furrowed or shaggy; husk of fruit
more than 1/8 inch thick.
b. Twigs more or less pubescent; buds more or less pubescent.
c. Buds 1/2-3/4 inch long, densely hairy; outer bud-scales
deciduous in autumn; twigs brownish; fruit 1-1/2-2 inches
long. _C. alba_, p. 73.
cc. Buds about 1 inch long, merely puberulous; outer
bud-scales persistent until spring; twigs orange colored;
fruit 1-3/4-2-1/2 inches long. _C. laciniosa_, p. 71.
bb. Twigs tending to be glabrous; buds glabrous or nearly so.
_C. ovata_, p. 69.
[Illustration: Shagbark Hickory. Shellbark Hickory
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/3.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.]
+JUGLANDACEAE+
+Shagbark Hickory. Shellbark Hickory+
_Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch_ [_Hicoria ovata (Mill.) Britt._] [_Carya
alba Nutt_.]
HABIT.--A tree 60-80 feet high, with a slender, columnar trunk 1-2 feet
in diameter; forming a narrow, somewhat open crown of stout, slightly
spreading limbs and stout branchlets.
LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-14 inches long. Leaflets usually 5, the
upper 5-7 inches long and 2-3 inches broad; sessile, except the
terminal; obovate to oblong-lanceolate; finely serrate; thick and firm;
glabrous, dark green above, paler beneath and glabrous or puberulous.
Petioles stout, smooth or hairy. Foliage fragrant when crushed.
FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate hairy,
greenish, in pendulous, ternate catkins 4-5 inches long, on a common
peduncle about 1 inch long; scales 3-parted, bristle-tipped; stamens 4,
with bearded, yellow anthers; the pistillate in 2-5-flowered spikes, 1/3
inch long, brown-tomentose; calyx 4-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2,
large, fringed.
FRUIT.--October; globular, 1-2 inches long, with thick husk separating
completely; nut usually 4-ridged, with thick shell and large, sweet,
edible kernel.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/2-3/4 inch long, broadly ovoid, obtuse, dark
brown, pale-tomentose or nearly glabrous.
BARK.--Twigs brownish, more or less downy, becoming smooth and grayish;
thick and grayish on old trunks, separating into thick strips 1-3 feet
long, free at one or both ends, giving a characteristic shaggy
appearance.
WOOD.--Heavy, very hard and strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, light
brown, with thin, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Common in the Lower Peninsula as far north as Roscommon
County.
HABITAT.--Prefers light, well-drained, loamy soil; low hillsides;
river-banks.
NOTES.--Hardy throughout its range. Moderately rapid in growth. Difficult
to transplant.
[Illustration: Shellbark Hickory. King Nut
1. Winter twig, × 1/2.
2. Leaf, × 1/4.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1/2.]
+JUGLANDACEAE+
+Shellbark Hickory. King Nut+
_Carya laciniosa (Michx. f.) Loud._ [_Hicoria laciniosa (Michx. f.)
Sarg._] [_Carya sulcata Nutt._]
HABIT.--A tree 60-80 feet high, with a tall, slender trunk 2-3 feet in
diameter; forming a narrow, oblong crown of small, spreading branches.
LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 1-2 feet long. Leaflets usually 7, the
upper 5-9 inches long, 3-5 inches broad, larger than the lowest pair;
sessile or short-stalked; oblong-lanceolate to obovate, taper-pointed;
finely serrate; thick and firm; lustrous, dark green above, paler and
soft-pubescent beneath. Petioles stout, glabrous or pubescent, often
persistent on the branches during the winter. Foliage fragrant when
crushed.
FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous,
ternate catkins 5-8 inches long, slender, yellow-green, on common
peduncles 1 inch long; scales 3-lobed, tomentose; stamens 4, with
yellow, hairy anthers; the pistillate in crowded, 2-5-flowered spikes,
tomentose; calyx 3-toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, light green.
FRUIT.--October; oblong to subglobose, 1-3/4-2-1/2 inches long, with very
thick, woody husk, splitting to the base; nut 4-6-ridged, with thick,
hard shell and large, sweet kernel.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud about 1 inch long, ovoid, obtuse, dark brown,
puberulous.
BARK.--Twigs orange and more or less pubescent, becoming darker in the
first winter, and finally grayish; on the trunk 1-2 inches thick, light
gray, separating into broad, thick plates 3-4 feet long, persistent on
the trunk for many years.
WOOD.--Heavy, very hard, strong, tough, close-grained, very elastic, dark
brown, with thin, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Occurs in the southern portion of the Lower Peninsula, but
is rather a rare tree.
HABITAT.--Prefers deep, rich bottom-lands.
NOTES.--Rapid in growth. May be distinguished from other hickories by
orange colored branchlets.
[Illustration: Mocker Nut Hickory
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/3.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1/2.]
+JUGLANDACEAE+
+Mocker Nut Hickory+
_Carya alba (L.) K. Koch_ [_Hicoria alba (L.) Britt._] [_Carya tomentosa
Nutt._]
HABIT.--A tree 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2-1/2 feet;
forming a wide crown of strong, upright branches and stout branchlets.
LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7,
sometimes 9, the upper 5-8 inches long, 3-4 inches broad; sessile,
except the terminal; oblong- to obovate-lanceolate; minutely or sometimes
coarsely serrate; thick and firm; lustrous, dark yellow-green above,
paler and more or less pubescent beneath. Petioles pubescent. Foliage
fragrant when crushed.
FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous,
ternate catkins 4-5 inches long, slender, green, hairy; scales 3-lobed,
hairy; stamens 4-5, with red anthers; the pistillate in crowded,
2-5-flowered, tomentose spikes; calyx toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas
2, hairy.
FRUIT.--October; globose to globose-oblong, 1-1/2-2 inches long, with
thick husk splitting nearly to the base; nut 4-ridged, red-brown, with
very thick, hard shell and small, sweet kernel.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/2-3/4 inch long, broadly ovoid, red-brown,
pilose; outermost scales fall in early autumn.
BARK.--Twigs at first brown-tomentose, becoming smooth and grayish; on
the trunk thick, hard, grayish, slightly ridged by shallow, irregular
fissures, becoming rugged on very old trunks.
WOOD.--Very heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark
brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Southern Peninsula as far north as Grand Rapids and Flint.
Infrequent.
HABITAT.--Prefers rich, well-drained soil, but grows well in various
situations, if they are not too wet.
NOTES.--Hardy throughout its range. Difficult to transplant.
[Illustration: +Small Pignut Hickory+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/3.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.]
+JUGLANDACEAE+
+Small Pignut Hickory+
_Carya microcarpa Nutt._ [_Hicoria odorata (Marsh.) Sarg._] [_Hicoria
microcarpa (Nutt.) Britt._] [_Hicoria glabra, v. odorata Sarg._]
HABIT.--A tree usually 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3
feet; forming an oblong or sometimes rounded crown of slender, spreading
branches.
LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, the
upper 3-6 inches long, 2-2-1/2 inches broad; sessile, except the
terminal; oblong to ovate-lanceolate, long-pointed; sharply serrate;
thick and firm; glabrous, dark yellow-green above, lighter beneath.
Petioles long, glabrous. Foliage fragrant when crushed.
FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous,
ternate catkins 3-7 inches long, slender, greenish, glabrous; stamens 4,
with orange anthers; the pistillate in 2-5-flowered spikes, 1/4 inch
long; calyx 4-toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, yellow.
FRUIT.--September; subglobose or globose-oblong, less than 1 inch long,
with thin husk splitting nearly to the base; nut obscurely 4-ridged,
with thin shell and small, sweet kernel.
WINTER-BUDS.--1/4-1/2 inch long, dome-shaped, red-brown, smooth.
BARK.--Twigs greenish, long-hairy, becoming reddish and finally gray;
thick, hard and grayish on the trunk, divided by shallow fissures into
narrow plates, and more or less shaggy.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark brown,
with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Confined to the most southern portions of the Lower
Peninsula.
HABITAT.--Prefers well-drained slopes and hillsides.
NOTES.--Resembles _C. glabra_, but the nut is much smaller.
[Illustration: +Pignut Hickory+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/4.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 2/3.]
+JUGLANDACEAE+
+Pignut Hickory+
_Carya glabra (Mill.) Spach._ [_Hicoria glabra (Mill.) Britt._] [_Carya
porcina Nutt._]
HABIT.--A tree usually 50-65 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3
feet; forming a low, rather narrow, open crown of slender, often
contorted branches.
LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, the
upper 3-6 inches long, 2-2-1/2 inches broad; subsessile, except the
terminal; oblong to obovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed; sharply serrate;
thick and firm; glabrous, dark yellow-green above, paler beneath.
Petioles long, slender, glabrous or pubescent. Foliage fragrant when
crushed.
FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous,
ternate catkins 3-7 inches long, slender, yellow-green, tomentose;
scales 3-lobed, nearly glabrous; stamens 4, with orange anthers; the
pistillate in crowded, 2-5-flowered spikes, 1/4 inch long; calyx
4-toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, yellow.
FRUIT.--October; variable in size and shape, 1-1/2-2 inches long, with
thin husk splitting half-way and sometimes nearly to the base; nut
obscurely 4-ridged, with thin or thick, hard shell and small, sweet or
slightly bitter kernel which is hard to remove.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/4-1/2 inch long, dome-shaped, greenish or
grayish, smooth or finely downy.
BARK.--Twigs greenish, nearly glabrous, becoming reddish, and finally
grayish; thick, hard and grayish on the trunk, with a firm, close
surface divided by small fissures and sometimes broken into plates.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, very strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark
brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Occurs only in the extreme southern portion of the Lower
Peninsula. Common within its range.
HABITAT.--Prefers deep, rich loam, but grows in any well-drained soil;
dry ridges and hillsides.
NOTES.--Hardy and desirable for ornamental purposes. Difficult to
transplant. Not adapted to street use.
[Illustration: +Bitternut Hickory+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/3.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.]
+JUGLANDACEAE+
+Bitternut Hickory+
_Carya cordiformis (Wang.) K. Koch_ [_Hicoria minima (Marsh.) Britt._]
[_Carya amara Nutt._]
HABIT.--A tall, slender tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of
1-2-1/2 feet; forming a broad crown of slender, stiff, upright branches,
widest near the top.
LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 6-10 inches long. Leaflets 5-11, the upper
4-6 inches long and one-fourth as broad; sessile, except the terminal;
lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, long-pointed; coarsely serrate; thin
and firm; glabrous, bright green above, paler and more or less downy
beneath. Petioles slender, hairy. Foliage fragrant when crushed.
FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate slightly
pubescent, in pendulous, ternate catkins 3-4 inches long, on a common
peduncle about 1 inch long; scales 3-lobed, hairy; stamens 4, with
bearded, yellow anthers; the pistillate in 2-5-flowered spikes 1/2 inch
long, scurfy-tomentose; calyx 4-lobed, pubescent; corolla 0; stigmas 2,
greenish.
FRUIT.--October; obovate to globular, about 1 inch long, coated with
yellow, scurfy pubescence, with very thin husk splitting half-way to the
base, with sutures winged at the top; nut quite smooth, with thin shell
and small, bitter kernel.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud about 3/4 inch long, long-pointed, flattish,
granular-yellow; lateral buds more or less 4-angled.
BARK.--Twigs greenish and more or less downy, becoming brownish, and
finally grayish; gray, close, smooth on the trunk, often reticulately
ridged, but rarely broken into plates.
WOOD.--Heavy, very hard, strong, tough, close-grained, dark brown, with
thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Of common occurrence in the southern half of the Lower
Peninsula.
HABITAT.--Prefers a rich, loamy or gravelly soil; low, wet woods; along
the borders of streams; but also found on high, dry uplands.
NOTES.--Grows most rapidly of all the hickories, but is apt to show dead
branches. Should be propagated from the seed, as it is not easily
transplanted.
[Illustration: +Hornbeam. Ironwood+
1. Winter twig, × 1/2.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.]
+BETULACEAE+
+Hornbeam. Ironwood+
_Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch_
HABIT.--A small tree usually 20-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of
8-12 inches; forming a broad, rounded crown of many long, slender
branches and a slender, stiff spray.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, about one-half as broad;
oblong-ovate; sharply doubly serrate; thin and very tough; dull, dark
green above, paler and more or less pubescent beneath; petioles short,
slender, pubescent.
FLOWERS.--April-May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in
drooping, cylindrical catkins from wood of the previous season, usually
in threes; stamens 3-14, crowded on a hairy torus; the pistillate in
erect, lax catkins on the season's shoots, usually in pairs, each flower
inclosed in a hairy, sac-like involucre.
FRUIT.--September; strobiles, resembling clusters of hops, 1-2 inches
long, borne on slender, hairy stems; nuts small and flat, inclosed by
sac-like involucres.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/8-1/4 inch long, ovoid,
acute, red-brown.
BARK.--Twigs at first light green, becoming lustrous, red-brown, and
finally dull dark brown; thin, gray-brown on the trunk, very narrowly
and longitudinally ridged.
WOOD.--Heavy, very strong and hard, tough, close-grained, durable, light
red-brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Common throughout the entire state.
HABITAT.--Prefers dry, gravelly slopes and ridges.
NOTES.--Often grows in shade of other trees. Not easily transplanted.
Rather slow of growth. Too small for street use.
[Illustration: +Blue Beech. Water Beech+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.]
+BETULACEAE+
+Blue Beech. Water Beech+
_Carpinus caroliniana Walt._
HABIT.--Usually a low, bushy tree or large shrub, 10-30 feet high, with a
trunk diameter of 6-12 inches; trunk short, usually fluted; slender
zigzag branches and a fine spray form a close, flat-topped crown.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 2-4 inches long and one-half as broad; ovate
to oval, long-pointed; sharply doubly serrate; thin and firm; dull green
above, lighter beneath, turning scarlet and orange in autumn; petioles
short, slender, hairy.
FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; apetalous; the staminate
catkins 1-1-1/2 inches long, their scales greenish, boat-shaped, each
bearing 3-20 stamens; the pistillate catkins 1/2-3/4 inch long, their
scales hairy, greenish, each bearing 2 pistils with long, scarlet
styles.
FRUIT.--Ripens in midsummer, but often remains on the tree long after the
leaves have fallen; in loose, terminal strobiles; involucre
halberd-shaped, inclosing a small, ovate, brownish nut.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/8 inch long,
narrow-ovoid, acute, puberulous, brownish.
BARK.--Twigs pale green, hairy, becoming lustrous, dark red the first
winter; trunk and large limbs thin, smooth, close, dark bluish gray,
often mottled with lighter or darker patches.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, tough, very strong, close-grained, light brown, with
thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Common throughout the state.
HABITAT.--Prefers a deep, rich, moist soil along the borders of streams
and swamps. Often found in drier situations in the shade of other trees.
NOTES.--Propagated from seed. Not easily transplanted. Slow of growth.
Seldom found in masses.
+SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BETULA+
a. Bark of trunk white, separating freely into thin, papery
layers; twigs without wintergreen taste; leaves usually
solitary, not aromatic. _B. alba papyrifera_, p. 91.
aa. Bark of trunk not white, usually dark colored, not
separating freely into papery layers; twigs with more or less
wintergreen taste; leaves solitary or in pairs, aromatic.
b. Bark dirty-yellow, breaking into strips more or less curled
at the edges; leaves solitary or in pairs, slightly aromatic;
twigs with slight wintergreen taste. _B. lutea_, p. 89.
bb. Bark dark red-brown, cleaving off in thick, irregular
plates (resembles bark of Black Cherry); leaves in pairs,
strongly aromatic; twigs with strong wintergreen taste. _B.
lenta_, p. 87.
+WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BETULA+
a. Bark of trunk white, separating freely into thin, papery
layers; twigs without wintergreen taste. _B. alba papyrifera_,
p. 91.
aa. Bark of trunk not white, usually dark colored, not
separating into papery layers; twigs with more or less
wintergreen taste.
b. Bark dirty-yellow, breaking into strips more or less curled
at the edges; twigs with slight wintergreen taste. _B. lutea_,
p. 89.
bb. Bark dark red-brown, cleaving off in thick, irregular
plates (resembles bark of Black Cherry); twigs with strong
wintergreen taste. _B. lenta_, p. 87
[Illustration: +Sweet Birch. Black Birch. Cherry Birch+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
8. Fruit, enlarged.]
+BETULACEAE+
+Sweet Birch. Black Birch. Cherry Birch+