Family: Betulaceae
yellow birch
[Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis Britton, more...]
Botanical Illustration
Dave Lee
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Betula: ancient Latin name
Plants: perennial tree to 98 feet tall, straight trunk, narrowly-rounded crown; bark smooth, often flaking irregularly, dark, shiny, reddish-brown early becoming tan, yellowish to grayish with time; dark, horizontal lenticels; twigs with small glands giving off a wintergreen taste and smell when crushed Leaves: leaf narrowly oval to oblong; edges with sharp, coarse, double, irregular teeth; some scattered tiny, resinous glands
Flowers: blooms in late spring
Fruits: oval, erect fruit clusters, finely hairy; samara wings narrower than the body, widest near the top
Habitat: moist to wet; streambanks, swampy woods, rich forested slopes
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: perennial tree to 98 feet tall, straight trunk, narrowly-rounded crown; bark smooth, often flaking irregularly, dark, shiny, reddish-brown early becoming tan, yellowish to grayish with time; dark, horizontal lenticels; twigs with small glands giving off a wintergreen taste and smell when crushed Leaves: leaf narrowly oval to oblong; edges with sharp, coarse, double, irregular teeth; some scattered tiny, resinous glands
Flowers: blooms in late spring
Fruits: oval, erect fruit clusters, finely hairy; samara wings narrower than the body, widest near the top
Habitat: moist to wet; streambanks, swampy woods, rich forested slopes
Conservation Status: Native
Flora of North America: Flora of North America Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 7, Wetland Indicator = FAC USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos University of Wisconsin - Green Bay: Trees: Photos, descriptions, information USGS - Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin Virginia Tech Dept. of Forestry, College of Natural Resources: detailed description and photographs Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada" Landscape Plants of the Upper Midwest; UW-Extension: Interactive guide providing information on cultivation including: soil, zone, growth rate, landscape uses, pruning, light requirements; with photos and Latin name pronounciation
Dave Lee
Aaron_Carlson
Lee, David
Matthew L. Wagner
Dave Lee
Christopher Noll
Dave Lee
Robert W. Freckmann
Christopher Noll
Hugh H. Iltis
Matthew L. Wagner
David Lee
Aaron_Carlson
David Lee
Aaron_Carlson
Aaron_Carlson
Kenneth J. Sytsma
Darrin Kimbler
Dave Lee
Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson
Know Your Trees
