CANOE BIRCH
Betula papyrifera
Page [61]
Chapter VI
THE BIRCHES, HOP HORNBEAM, AND HORNBEAM
Family Betulaceæ
The birches are a family of exceedingly graceful and attractive trees, and charm us quite as much in winter by the color of their stems and the delicacy of their twigs, as they do in summer by the fresh green of their foliage. Like other trees, birches vary in appearance according to the place where they grow. If they are shaded by other trees in the woods their trunks are tapering and tall and free from branches, but when they grow in open fields and the lateral branches develop, their general outline is bushy and far less attractive; unlike other trees, birches are improved by not having full development.
The birch has been known from the earliest ages, and it is found in Europe, Asia, and North America.
There are distinguishing characteristics in the details of buds and stems, but the color and texture of the bark on the trunk and branches of the different species are the most obvious and certain means of identification in winter.
There are in all six native species in New England, and one from Europe which is planted in our parks and gardens.
Canoe, Paper or White Birch Betula papyrifera