northern mountains (Varnous, Voras, Vennio, Paiko, Beles, Orvilos, Lailias, Pangeo,
Phalakro and Rhooope). The unique extensive pure Betula penduta-forest, which covers an
area of about 1755 ha, occurs in the western part of the Rhodope mountain range. The other
appearances of birch in the Greek area are limited either to small stands or to individuals in
mixture with other forest trees. The Betula pendula forest in western Rhodope have been …