![]() It can also be a prominent species found in forested wetland communities and in areas containing moist soil, such as floodplains. As its name depicts, this birch is found along stream-sides. It can be found extending west to Kansas and east to the coast where proper habitat conditions occur. The river birch is often found in low-elevation regions from as north as Massachusetts to as south as northern Florida. Betulaceae is included within the order Fagales, which branches from the Rosid clade. Species within this family, along with Betula nigra, are shrubs or trees that grow along stream sides or in poorly drained soils throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This family comprises six genera ( Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Corylus, Ostrya, and Ostryopsis) and includes alders, birches, hornbeams, and hazelnuts. Taxonomy īetula nigra is a tree that falls into the family of Betulaceae, which is commonly known as the Birch or Alder Family. ![]() The fruit is unusual among birches in maturing in late spring it is composed of numerous tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins 3–6 centimeters ( 1 + 1⁄ 4– 2 + 1⁄ 4 in) long, the male catkins pendulous, the female catkins erect. 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 are alternate, ovate, 4–8 centimeters ( 1 + 1⁄ 2– 3 + 1⁄ 4 in) long and 3–6 centimeters ( 1 + 1⁄ 4– 2 + 1⁄ 4 in) broad, with a serrated margin and five to twelve pairs of veins. 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 Betulaceae. Once the river birch ages past maturity, the scales become thicker towards the base of the trunk and are divided in deep furrows. These scales are slightly separated from the trunk and can shift outward to the side. The scales on a mature tree lack the loose curling and are closely pressed into thick, irregular plates. As the tree matures, the salmon-pink color is exchanged for a reddish-brown with a dark grey base color. 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. īark characteristics of the river birch differ during its youth stage, maturation, and old growth. The base of the tree is often divided into multiple slender trunks. 4 Conservation status in the United Statesīetula nigra is a deciduous tree growing to 25–30 meters (80–100 ft) with a trunk 50 to 150 centimeters (20 to 60 in) in diameter.
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