River Birch

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Tree ID:

171

Family:

Betulaceae

Genus and species:

Betula nigra

Description:

This River Birch is situated towards the Eastern end of Sachem's Wood, and can most easily be identified by its peeling, mottled bark. It exhibits a distinctive growth pattern that is typical of its species by splitting into five trunks that sag outwards, which benevolently shade a nearby bench. Its leaves are contoured by double serration, and are painted a stunning shade of green, taking on a beautiful golden hue in the autumn. However, this tree did not foliate during the entire Spring semester, preventing its surveyors from witnessing these entrancing structures or colors.

Surveyors:

Lucas Cohen & Sarah Jacobs

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Area:

Prospect and Sachem

Leaflet | OSM Mapnik

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Tree shape:

irregular / oval

Date of tree entry:

02/05/2025

Height:

9.25 m

Diameter at breast height:

0.56 m

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Bark is thin and naturally peels away, giving the impression that the tree is covered in scraps of paper. It is whitish or light tan in color, although peeling can reveal darker brown and red hues. Shallow horizontal lines furrow the smoother areas.

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Branches are slender and flex easily. Their texture is rough although they appear shiny, and they are colored a dark reddish brown. Brown or green buds grow alternately every few centimeters.

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Leaf blades are 5 to 10 centimeters long and are placed alternately along each branch. They are colored bright green or golden yellow in the autumn, and the adaxial surface is shiny, while the abaxial surface appears more dull. The shape is simple ovate, with pinnate venation. The margin is doubly serrated, with an acute base and apex.

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The river birch is monoecious, meaning it has separate male and female flowers on the same tree. Male catkins form during the fall and mature during the following year's spring, producing abundant amounts of pollen that are dispersed by wind. Female catkins flower in early spring, are pollinated, and by late spring mature into fruits with seeds. River birches are also able to asexually reproduce through root suckering, in which new shoots sprout from the tree's roots.

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Fruit develops from the female catkins and resembles gymnosperm cones. They dry out and turn brown, eventually breaking down and releasing their bi-winged seeds to be dispersed by the wind.

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Winter - Feb
Early spring - Mar
Mid spring - Apr

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Natural range of distribution:

Habitat:

River birch is primarily found in the southeastern United States. Its native range spans from eastern Texas to northern Florida, and reaches up into middle New England and the Great Lakes region. The tree is commonly found on river and stream banks, as it grows well in moist, well-drained soils. However, it is also able to survive in dryer soils, allowing for it to survive in a wide range of habitats. It does well in acidic soils and is shade intolerant.

Origin, history, and uses:

River birch’s timber is both strong and light, and is made into inexpensive furniture, baskethoops, artificial limbs, and childrens’ toys. It is also used as fuel. The tree is often planted for erosion control and for strip mine reclamation. It is highly disease and insect resistant.

River birch is native to the eastern United States. Indigenous peoples have used the bark and leaves for medicinal purposes, such as alleviating stomach pain and urinary issues, and have used its wood for carving bowls, tools, and other craft products. Its sap can be turned into a syrup, thicker than maple syrup and not as sweet as sweet birch. Its peeled bark is also used in the construction of various items like baskets and other storage containers, as it has some antifungal properties.

Phenology:

River Birch is deciduous, so it undergoes several evident seasonal changes. Its buds develop into leaves and female catkins in late April and early May, and the male catkins open up during this time as well. In late May and early June, the female catkins bear seeds. During the autumn, the leaves turn yellow and fall off, and the immature male catkins also begin to develop. Over the course of the winter, the tree is bare, with only small buds and immature male catkins growing from the branches.

References:

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/river-birch-betula-nigra/#:~:te….

https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/betula/nigra.htm

https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/betnig…

https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/river-birch/#:~:text=Ornamental%20Fea….

http://floranorthamerica.org/Betula_nigra

https://www.adkinsarboretum.org/programs_events/ipp/river-birch.html

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