709:
721:
735:
749:
82:
485:
prominent species found in forested wetland communities and in areas containing moist soil, such as floodplains. States include: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
240:
765:
1120:
57:
611:
517:
437:
321:
color is exchanged for a reddish-brown with a dark grey base color. The scales on a mature tree lack the loose curling and are closely pressed into thick, irregular plates. These scales are slightly separated from the trunk and can shift outward to the side. Once the river birch ages past maturity, the scales become thicker towards the base of the trunk and are divided in deep furrows.
33:
512:
In states in which mining is prevalent, the river birch is often used for reclamation and erosion control, as it is well suited for soils that are too acidic for other species of hardwoods. In West
Virginia, they have been found to establish within mine refuse sites after being blown from neighboring
583:
Once mature, the seeds are predominantly spread by wind or water from neighboring stream channels. Seeds spread by water are generally more successful as the moist banks of stream channels, where the seeds are deposited, are favorable for germination and sturdy establishment. Successful germination
484:
The river birch is often found in low-elevation regions from as north as
Massachusetts to as south as northern Florida. It can be found extending west to Kansas and east to the coast where proper habitat conditions occur. As its name depicts, this birch is found along stream-sides. It can also be a
524:
As the species occurs predominately in flood plains and along stream banks, it is described as being moderately tolerant of flooding. Saplings were observed to survive up to 30 days of continuous flooding in some regions. While the species is tolerant of excessive water, it is intolerant of shade.
579:
Seeds are typically produced annually. Seasonal development begins in the fall as male catkins begin to form and mature. The emergence of female catkins corresponds with the return of leaves around early spring. Male and female fruit matures during the spring season or in the early summer months.
528:
This species is utilized by many local bird species, such as waterfowl, ruffed grouse, and wild turkey. Many waterfowl use the cover for nesting sites, while the ruffed grouse and wild turkey use the seeds as a food source. Deer have been known to graze on saplings or reachable branches. It is a
320:
Bark characteristics of the river birch differ during its youth stage, maturation, and old growth. The bark of a young river birch can vary from having a salmon-pink to brown-gray tint and can be described as having loose layers of curling, paper thin scales. As the tree matures, the salmon-pink
281:
native to the
Eastern United States from New Hampshire west to southern Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and west to Texas. It is one of the few heat-tolerant birches in a family of mostly cold-weather trees which do not thrive in USDA Zone 6 and up.
393: in) broad, with a serrated margin and five to twelve pairs of veins. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green in color, while the underside can be described as having a light yellow-green color. The leaves turn yellow in Autumn. The
633:, and the inner bark as a survival food. The river birch is not typically used in the commercial lumber industry, due to knotting, but its strong, closely grained wood is sometimes used for local furniture, woodenware, and fuel.
600:
with much whiter bark than the normal wild type have been selected for garden planting, including 'Heritage' and 'Dura Heat'; these are notable as the only white-barked birches resistant to the bronze birch borer
329:
The twigs are glabrous or thinly hairy. There is an absence of terminal buds, and lateral buds often have a hook at the tip of the bud, which differs from other species in the family
312:
growing to 25–30 meters (80–100 ft) with a trunk 50 to 150 centimeters (20 to 60 in) in diameter. The base of the tree is often divided into multiple slender trunks.
1711:
1459:
1537:
1676:
1696:
1686:
468:, are shrubs or trees that grow along stream sides or in poorly drained soils throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Betulaceae is included within the order
734:
748:
1407:
720:
1716:
1472:
1420:
976:
592:
While its native habitat is wet ground, it will grow on higher land, and its bark is quite distinctive, making it a favored ornamental tree for
1586:
1085:
999:
618:
1221:
1706:
708:
81:
1691:
1267:
1701:
1030:
915:
885:
433:
is unusual among birches in maturing in late spring; it is composed of numerous tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts.
1446:
1503:
764:
1477:
1524:
972:
1067:. US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory
1612:
859:
1599:
1173:
1721:
1542:
1498:
855:
958:
567:
187:
1604:
755:
543:
537:
1399:
841:
1394:
1278:
593:
950:
1119:
Robinson, Gaden S.; Ackery, Phillip R.; Kitching, Ian; Beccaloni, George W.; Hernández, Luis M. (2023).
214:
1257:
1425:
1552:
1358:
489:
1386:
1060:
1249:
813:
46:
1516:
1648:
1193:
678:
561:
549:
76:
1640:
1591:
1089:
1464:
1316:
1022:
1016:
464:
and includes alders, birches, hornbeams, and hazelnuts. Species within this family, along with
1560:
1345:
1026:
995:
911:
881:
531:
1565:
1490:
1237:
1185:
1128:
968:
808:
1681:
1244:
555:
456:, which is commonly known as the Birch or Alder Family. This family comprises six genera (
239:
119:
1327:
1573:
603:
106:
1578:
1670:
1485:
854:. Vol. 3. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org,
799:
790:
694:
658:
642:
501:
230:
66:
61:
1197:
849:
665:
with many more compounds in smaller concentrations. The combined essential oils are
1653:
1350:
1230:
610:
1617:
1529:
1511:
1433:
1310:
1121:"HOSTS - The Hostplants and Caterpillars Database at the Natural History Museum"
686:
662:
630:
516:
436:
1337:
1301:
32:
690:
666:
584:
often occurs in large numbers along sandbars, where alluvial soil is present.
453:
330:
287:
165:
1371:
1263:
626:
306:
1630:
429: in) long, the male catkins pendulous, the female catkins erect. The
1625:
1295:
880:. Hanover and London: University Press of New England. pp. 110–111.
654:
597:
132:
938:. Charleston: West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. p. 35.
1412:
670:
650:
469:
274:
155:
1438:
906:
Leopold, Donald Joseph; McComb, William C.; Muller, Robert N. (1998).
1189:
1132:
398:
394:
334:
145:
1272:
1172:
Woods, Katherine E; Chhetri, Bhuwan; Jones, Chelsea (October 2013).
525:
Seeds will not germinate without a large amount of direct sunlight.
1451:
1376:
609:
515:
473:
435:
430:
291:
278:
175:
93:
1363:
309:
1276:
1174:"Bioactivities and Compositions of Betula nigra Essential Oils"
622:
607:) in warm areas of the southeastern United States of America.
848:. In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.).
1100:. Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team
908:
Trees of the
Central Hardwood Forests of North America
529:
larval host for over fifteen moth species, including
957:. In Burns, Russell M.; Honkala, Barbara H. (eds.).
741:
An ornamental river birch planting in
Washington, DC
1285:
901:
899:
897:
871:
869:
929:
927:
814:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T194551A2348770.en
979:(USDA) – via Southern Research Station.
645:derived from leaves, inner bark, and buds of
8:
910:. Portland: Timber Press. pp. 258–259.
878:Bark:A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast
851:Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA)
1155:Harlow, W. M., & Harrar, E. S. (1969).
994:. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt. pp. 258–259.
1273:
238:
55:
31:
20:
1151:
1149:
812:
685:) seedlings. They have also demonstrated
458:Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Corylus, Ostrya,
496:Conservation status in the United States
452:is a tree that falls into the family of
1167:
1165:
977:United States Department of Agriculture
781:
704:
337:are alternate, ovate, 4–8 centimeters (
1712:Plants used in Native American cuisine
1065:Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
1054:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1044:
1042:
1098:The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov)
835:
833:
831:
7:
1553:7bbaefa3-6dfe-4f07-a7aa-94140502ca16
1178:Journal of Medicinally Active Plants
992:Vascular Plant Taxonomy, 6th edition
770:Close-up of mature river birch bark.
365: in) long and 3–6 centimeters (
1677:IUCN Red List least concern species
1234:— Diagnostic photos and information
800:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
754:Mature river birch specimen at the
1697:Trees of humid continental climate
1687:Trees of the Eastern United States
1268:University of California, Berkeley
14:
1605:urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:295155-1
763:
747:
733:
719:
707:
80:
40:The bark of a young river birch
1717:Garden plants of North America
500:It is listed as threatened in
488:River birch is best placed in
440:River birch leaves & seeds
1:
936:Forest Trees of West Virginia
1015:Glimn-Lacy, Kaufman (2006).
973:United States Forest Service
1707:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
860:Harvard University Herbaria
1740:
1222:Bioimages.vanderbilt.edu:
1127:. Natural History Museum.
472:, which branches from the
1692:Trees of Northern America
876:Wojtech, Michael (2011).
856:Missouri Botanical Garden
246:
237:
220:
213:
77:Scientific classification
75:
53:
44:
39:
30:
23:
1702:Plants described in 1753
1059:Sullivan, Janet (1993).
965:Silvics of North America
934:McClung, Lester (1968).
840:Furlow, John J. (1997).
568:Pseudotelphusa betulella
756:Cornell Botanic Gardens
649:are mostly composed of
544:Bucculatrix coronatella
538:Acrobasis betulivorella
1159:5th ed., LOC# 68-17188
1157:Textbook Of Dendrology
990:Murrell, Zack (2010).
949:Grelen, H. E. (1990).
858:, St. Louis, MO &
727:At Skyfields Arboretum
615:
521:
520:Trunk of a river birch
441:
1021:. Springer. pp.
807:: e.T194551A2348770.
613:
519:
439:
789:Stritch, L. (2014).
588:Cultivation and uses
490:USDA hardiness zones
397:are wind-pollinated
1250:Plants for a Future
1240:accession 232-51-3.
286:commonly occurs in
47:Conservation status
1018:Botany Illustrated
679:perennial ryegrass
616:
614:Middle of the tree
562:Orgyia leucostigma
550:Nemoria bistriaria
522:
442:
1664:
1663:
1561:Open Tree of Life
1279:Taxon identifiers
1001:978-0-7575-7615-7
714:River birch leaf.
532:Acronicta betulae
480:Habitat and range
401:3–6 centimeters (
254:
253:
247:Natural range of
70:
1729:
1722:Ornamental trees
1657:
1656:
1644:
1643:
1634:
1633:
1621:
1620:
1608:
1607:
1595:
1594:
1582:
1581:
1569:
1568:
1556:
1555:
1546:
1545:
1533:
1532:
1530:NBNSYS0000042066
1520:
1519:
1507:
1506:
1494:
1493:
1481:
1480:
1468:
1467:
1455:
1454:
1442:
1441:
1429:
1428:
1416:
1415:
1403:
1402:
1390:
1389:
1380:
1379:
1367:
1366:
1354:
1353:
1341:
1340:
1331:
1330:
1321:
1320:
1319:
1306:
1305:
1304:
1274:
1266:photo database,
1254:
1238:Morton Arboretum
1209:
1208:
1206:
1204:
1190:10.7275/R5639MP8
1169:
1160:
1153:
1144:
1143:
1141:
1139:
1133:10.5519/havt50xw
1116:
1110:
1109:
1107:
1105:
1082:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1072:
1056:
1037:
1036:
1012:
1006:
1005:
987:
981:
980:
969:Washington, D.C.
946:
940:
939:
931:
922:
921:
903:
892:
891:
873:
864:
863:
862:, Cambridge, MA.
837:
826:
825:
823:
821:
816:
786:
767:
751:
737:
723:
711:
621:used the boiled
619:Native Americans
428:
427:
423:
420:
414:
413:
409:
406:
392:
391:
387:
384:
378:
377:
373:
370:
364:
363:
359:
356:
350:
349:
345:
342:
325:Leaves and fruit
242:
226:
192:
85:
84:
64:
59:
58:
35:
21:
16:Species of birch
1739:
1738:
1732:
1731:
1730:
1728:
1727:
1726:
1667:
1666:
1665:
1660:
1652:
1647:
1639:
1637:
1629:
1624:
1616:
1611:
1603:
1598:
1590:
1585:
1577:
1572:
1564:
1559:
1551:
1549:
1541:
1536:
1528:
1523:
1515:
1510:
1502:
1497:
1489:
1484:
1476:
1471:
1463:
1458:
1450:
1445:
1437:
1432:
1424:
1419:
1411:
1406:
1398:
1393:
1385:
1383:
1375:
1370:
1362:
1357:
1349:
1344:
1336:
1334:
1326:
1324:
1315:
1314:
1309:
1300:
1299:
1294:
1281:
1243:
1218:
1213:
1212:
1202:
1200:
1171:
1170:
1163:
1154:
1147:
1137:
1135:
1118:
1117:
1113:
1103:
1101:
1084:
1083:
1079:
1070:
1068:
1058:
1057:
1040:
1033:
1014:
1013:
1009:
1002:
989:
988:
984:
967:. Vol. 2.
948:
947:
943:
933:
932:
925:
918:
905:
904:
895:
888:
875:
874:
867:
839:
838:
829:
819:
817:
788:
787:
783:
778:
771:
768:
759:
752:
743:
742:
738:
729:
728:
724:
715:
712:
703:
639:
590:
577:
556:Nites betulella
510:
498:
482:
447:
425:
421:
418:
416:
411:
407:
404:
402:
389:
385:
382:
380:
375:
371:
368:
366:
361:
357:
354:
352:
347:
343:
340:
338:
300:
233:
228:
222:
209:
190:
79:
71:
60:
56:
49:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1737:
1736:
1733:
1725:
1724:
1719:
1714:
1709:
1704:
1699:
1694:
1689:
1684:
1679:
1669:
1668:
1662:
1661:
1659:
1658:
1654:wfo-0000334917
1645:
1635:
1622:
1609:
1596:
1583:
1570:
1557:
1547:
1534:
1521:
1508:
1495:
1482:
1469:
1456:
1443:
1430:
1417:
1404:
1391:
1381:
1368:
1355:
1342:
1332:
1322:
1307:
1291:
1289:
1283:
1282:
1277:
1271:
1270:
1255:
1245:"Betula nigra"
1241:
1228:
1217:
1216:External links
1214:
1211:
1210:
1161:
1145:
1111:
1077:
1061:"Betula nigra"
1038:
1031:
1007:
1000:
982:
941:
923:
916:
893:
886:
865:
827:
780:
779:
777:
774:
773:
772:
769:
762:
760:
753:
746:
744:
740:
739:
732:
730:
726:
725:
718:
716:
713:
706:
702:
699:
683:Lolium perenne
675:Lactuca sativa
643:essential oils
638:
637:Essential oils
635:
604:Agrilus anxius
596:. A number of
589:
586:
576:
573:
509:
506:
497:
494:
481:
478:
446:
443:
299:
296:
252:
251:
244:
243:
235:
234:
229:
218:
217:
211:
210:
203:
201:
197:
196:
185:
181:
180:
173:
169:
168:
163:
159:
158:
153:
149:
148:
143:
136:
135:
130:
123:
122:
117:
110:
109:
104:
97:
96:
91:
87:
86:
73:
72:
54:
51:
50:
45:
42:
41:
37:
36:
28:
27:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1735:
1734:
1723:
1720:
1718:
1715:
1713:
1710:
1708:
1705:
1703:
1700:
1698:
1695:
1693:
1690:
1688:
1685:
1683:
1680:
1678:
1675:
1674:
1672:
1655:
1650:
1646:
1642:
1636:
1632:
1627:
1623:
1619:
1614:
1610:
1606:
1601:
1597:
1593:
1588:
1584:
1580:
1575:
1571:
1567:
1562:
1558:
1554:
1548:
1544:
1539:
1535:
1531:
1526:
1522:
1518:
1513:
1509:
1505:
1500:
1496:
1492:
1487:
1483:
1479:
1474:
1470:
1466:
1461:
1457:
1453:
1448:
1444:
1440:
1435:
1431:
1427:
1422:
1418:
1414:
1409:
1405:
1401:
1396:
1392:
1388:
1382:
1378:
1373:
1369:
1365:
1360:
1356:
1352:
1347:
1343:
1339:
1333:
1329:
1323:
1318:
1312:
1308:
1303:
1297:
1293:
1292:
1290:
1288:
1284:
1280:
1275:
1269:
1265:
1261:
1260:
1256:
1252:
1251:
1246:
1242:
1239:
1235:
1233:
1229:
1227:
1225:
1220:
1219:
1215:
1199:
1195:
1191:
1187:
1183:
1179:
1175:
1168:
1166:
1162:
1158:
1152:
1150:
1146:
1134:
1130:
1126:
1125:www.nhm.ac.uk
1122:
1115:
1112:
1099:
1095:
1093:
1087:
1081:
1078:
1066:
1062:
1055:
1053:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1045:
1043:
1039:
1034:
1032:0-387-28870-8
1028:
1024:
1020:
1019:
1011:
1008:
1003:
997:
993:
986:
983:
978:
974:
970:
966:
962:
961:
956:
954:
945:
942:
937:
930:
928:
924:
919:
917:0-88192-406-7
913:
909:
902:
900:
898:
894:
889:
887:9781584658528
883:
879:
872:
870:
866:
861:
857:
853:
852:
847:
845:
836:
834:
832:
828:
815:
810:
806:
802:
801:
796:
794:
785:
782:
775:
766:
761:
757:
750:
745:
736:
731:
722:
717:
710:
705:
700:
698:
696:
695:antibacterial
692:
688:
684:
680:
676:
672:
668:
664:
660:
659:palmitic acid
656:
652:
648:
644:
636:
634:
632:
628:
624:
620:
612:
608:
606:
605:
599:
595:
594:landscape use
587:
585:
581:
574:
572:
570:
569:
564:
563:
558:
557:
552:
551:
546:
545:
540:
539:
534:
533:
526:
518:
514:
507:
505:
503:
502:New Hampshire
495:
493:
491:
486:
479:
477:
475:
471:
467:
463:
459:
455:
451:
444:
438:
434:
432:
400:
396:
336:
332:
327:
326:
322:
318:
317:
313:
311:
308:
304:
297:
295:
293:
289:
285:
280:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
259:
250:
245:
241:
236:
232:
227:
225:
219:
216:
215:Binomial name
212:
208:
207:
206:B. nigra
202:
199:
198:
195:
194:
186:
183:
182:
179:
178:
174:
171:
170:
167:
164:
161:
160:
157:
154:
151:
150:
147:
144:
141:
138:
137:
134:
131:
128:
125:
124:
121:
118:
115:
112:
111:
108:
107:Tracheophytes
105:
102:
99:
98:
95:
92:
89:
88:
83:
78:
74:
68:
63:
62:Least Concern
52:
48:
43:
38:
34:
29:
26:
22:
19:
1317:Betula nigra
1287:Betula nigra
1286:
1259:Betula nigra
1258:
1248:
1232:Betula nigra
1231:
1224:Betula nigra
1223:
1201:. Retrieved
1181:
1177:
1156:
1138:27 September
1136:. Retrieved
1124:
1114:
1102:. Retrieved
1097:
1092:Betula nigra
1091:
1080:
1069:. Retrieved
1064:
1017:
1010:
991:
985:
964:
959:
953:Betula nigra
952:
944:
935:
907:
877:
850:
844:Betula nigra
843:
818:. Retrieved
804:
798:
793:Betula nigra
792:
784:
697:properties.
687:insecticidal
682:
674:
646:
640:
617:
602:
591:
582:
578:
566:
560:
554:
548:
542:
536:
530:
527:
523:
511:
499:
487:
483:
466:Betula nigra
465:
461:
457:
450:Betula nigra
449:
448:
328:
324:
323:
319:
315:
314:
303:Betula nigra
302:
301:
283:
270:
266:
262:
258:Betula nigra
257:
256:
255:
249:Betula nigra
248:
224:Betula nigra
223:
221:
205:
204:
188:
176:
139:
126:
113:
100:
25:Betula nigra
24:
18:
1512:NatureServe
1434:iNaturalist
1311:Wikispecies
820:19 November
691:nematicidal
663:heptacosane
631:maple syrup
629:similar to
575:Germination
462:Ostryopsis)
298:Description
288:floodplains
271:water birch
267:river birch
263:black birch
193:Neurobetula
120:Angiosperms
1671:Categories
1638:WisFlora:
1574:Plant List
1104:26 January
1086:USDA, NRCS
1071:2018-04-01
776:References
667:phytotoxic
454:Betulaceae
331:Betulaceae
184:Subgenus:
166:Betulaceae
1579:kew-21527
1400:233500258
1264:CalPhotos
960:Hardwoods
627:sweetener
598:cultivars
307:deciduous
200:Species:
90:Kingdom:
1626:Tropicos
1517:2.160835
1465:10248080
1452:295155-1
1302:Q1510231
1296:Wikidata
1198:80716012
1088:(n.d.).
975:(USFS),
655:linalool
647:B. nigra
445:Taxonomy
284:B. nigra
162:Family:
133:Eudicots
67:IUCN 3.1
1631:3600067
1499:MoBotPF
1413:5331532
1364:1149380
1262:in the
1203:30 July
701:Gallery
671:lettuce
651:eugenol
508:Ecology
476:clade.
470:Fagales
424:⁄
410:⁄
399:catkins
395:flowers
388:⁄
374:⁄
360:⁄
346:⁄
333:. The
275:species
273:, is a
189:Betula
172:Genus:
156:Fagales
152:Order:
94:Plantae
65: (
1682:Betula
1587:PLANTS
1566:267696
1550:NZOR:
1504:277830
1491:194551
1439:117429
1387:betnig
1384:FEIS:
1325:AoFP:
1226:images
1196:
1029:
998:
914:
884:
693:, and
677:) and
661:, and
565:, and
513:areas.
335:leaves
292:swamps
261:, the
177:Betula
146:Rosids
1478:19480
1460:IRMNG
1377:BETNI
1335:APA:
1194:S2CID
1184:(1).
625:as a
492:4–9.
474:Rosid
431:fruit
305:is a
279:birch
191:subg.
140:Clade
127:Clade
114:Clade
101:Clade
1641:2737
1618:2258
1600:POWO
1592:BENI
1543:3508
1538:NCBI
1486:IUCN
1473:ITIS
1447:IPNI
1426:7118
1421:GRIN
1408:GBIF
1372:EPPO
1351:LPBV
1338:1154
1328:3928
1205:2016
1140:2022
1106:2018
1027:ISBN
996:ISBN
912:ISBN
882:ISBN
822:2021
805:2014
641:The
460:and
316:Bark
310:tree
290:and
1649:WFO
1613:RHS
1525:NBN
1395:FNA
1359:EoL
1346:CoL
1186:doi
1129:doi
809:doi
669:to
623:sap
277:of
269:or
1673::
1651::
1628::
1615::
1602::
1589::
1576::
1563::
1540::
1527::
1514::
1501::
1488::
1475::
1462::
1449::
1436::
1423::
1410::
1397::
1374::
1361::
1348::
1313::
1298::
1247:.
1236:,
1192:.
1180:.
1176:.
1164:^
1148:^
1123:.
1096:.
1063:.
1041:^
1025:.
1023:84
971::
963:.
926:^
896:^
868:^
830:^
803:.
797:.
689:,
657:,
653:,
571:.
559:,
553:,
547:,
541:,
535:,
504:.
294:.
265:,
231:L.
142::
129::
116::
103::
1253:.
1207:.
1188::
1182:2
1142:.
1131::
1108:.
1094:"
1090:"
1074:.
1035:.
1004:.
955:"
951:"
920:.
890:.
846:"
842:"
824:.
811::
795:"
791:"
758:.
681:(
673:(
601:(
426:4
422:1
419:+
417:2
415:–
412:4
408:1
405:+
403:1
390:4
386:1
383:+
381:2
379:–
376:4
372:1
369:+
367:1
362:4
358:1
355:+
353:3
351:–
348:2
344:1
341:+
339:1
69:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
