river birch (Betula nigra)
Family: Betulaceae
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| Form:
This is a medium sized tree reaching 70 – 80 ft. in height and a dbh of 2-3 ft. |
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Leaves: Shape: wedge-shaped or truncate base Margin: doubly serrate Texture: dark green above, pale and pubescent below Variation: parallel |
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| Bark:
It has salmon colored dehiscent (flaky) bark. |
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| Twigs and Buds:
Twigs are brown slender and covered with lenticels. |
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| Flowers and Fruit:
The fruit grows in a cylindrical pubescent bract. |
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| Distinguishing Characteristics:
Exfoliating bark that is salmon (pink) in color. |
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| Range:
Throughout the eastern U.S. excluding the Appalachian mountains. |
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| Silvics:
It is shade-intolerant and typically grows along river banks and within flood plains. |
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| Ecological and Cultural Importance:
It has little commercial value. Wild turkeys and white tail deer browse this species. |
