The timber, of which I brought home a specimen now at Kew, is a hard wood of a bright pinkish brown colour, and is used for flooring. It seems at least as good as the best American birch timber. It was, however, very difficult to identify the species of birch, of which no less than five! are said to be found in this district, and the foresters of Japan were not themselves sure of their scientific names. (H.J.E.)
BETULA LUMINIFERA
- Betula luminifera, Winkler, Betulaceæ, 91, fig. 23 (1904).
A tree, the dimensions of which are not known. Young branchlets covered with dense, erect, pale pubescence, non-glandular. Leaves (Plate 270, Fig. 16), about 5 inches long and 3½ inches wide, broadly ovate, sub-cordate or truncate at the broad base, acuminate at the apex; margin ciliate, irregularly serrate, the serrations ending in cartilaginous points; nerves ten to fourteen pairs; covered more or less on both surfaces with white, short pubescence; petiole ¾ inch, pubescent. Fruiting catkins (Plate 270, Fig. 16), solitary, cylindrical, elongated, about 3 inches long and 2⁄5 inch in diameter; on a peduncle ¾ inch long; scales lanceolate, auricled on each side a little below the middle; nutlets pubescent, with broad wings.
This species, which is the representative in central China of B. Maximowiczii of Japan, was discovered by Père Farges in the north-eastern mountains of Szechwan, and was introduced into cultivation in 1901 by E. H. Wilson, who sent seeds from the same locality. A young tree in Veitch’s nursery at Coombe Wood is now 16 feet high at seven years old, and is very flourishing. This species is remarkable for its fine foliage, and is worthy of cultivation as an ornamental tree. (A.H.)
BETULA UTILIS, Himalayan Birch
- Betula utilis, Don, Prod, Fl. Nepal. 58 (1825); Hooker, Fl. Brit. India, v. 599 (1888); Gamble, Indian Timbers, 668 (1902); Winkler, Betulaceæ, 61 (1904); Schneider, Laubholzkunde, 102 (1904); Brandis, Indian Trees, 622 (1906).
- Betula Bhojpattra, Wallich, Pl. As. Rar. ii, 7 (1832); Brandis, Forest Flora, N.-W. India, 457 (1874).
- Betula Jacquemonti, Spach, in Ann, Sc. Nat. sér. 2, xv. 189 (1841).
A tree, attaining in the Himalayas about 60 feet in height, but becoming a shrub at high elevations. Bark on young trees thin, smooth, brownish red, with
1 Matsumura, in Shokubutsu Mez-[, 47 (1895), enumerates eight distinct species of birch as occurring in Japan; but of these, B. utilis, as explained in a note under our account of that species, and B. grossa, mentioned above, are doubtful. There remain six distinct species, undoubted natives of Japan, viz.:—B. Maximowiczii, B. corylifolia, B. Ermani, B. globispica, B. ulmifolia, and B. verrucosa, var. japonica ; all of which are referred to in this account of the genus Betula, and under each species is given its native name.
