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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Spring Birch
Betula occidentalis Hook.

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Birch (Betulaceae)
Flowering: May-June
Field Marks: This birch is a small tree or large shrub that has a shiny bronze bark that does not peel off. Its thin, pointed, ovate leaves also help distinguish the species.
Habitat: Along streams, in ravines, bogs.
Habit: Small tree or large shrub.
Bark: Smooth, shiny, bronze, not peeling.
Stems: Usually slightly glandular-sticky, with conspicuous pale lenticels.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, ovate, up to 2 inches long, not quite as wide, usually pointed at the tip, rounded or tapering to the base, doubly toothed, smooth, thin.
Flowers: Male and female flowers borne in separate spikes, the male spikes slender, pendulous, up to 3/4 inch long, with flowers in groups of 3, each group subtended by a small bract, the female spikes thicker and shorter, erect, with flowers in groups of 3, each group subtended by a small, 3-parted bract.
Sepals: 0.
Petals: 0.
Stamens: 2.
Pistils: Ovary inferior.
Fruits: "Cone"-like spikes consisting of 3-parted bracts that subtend tiny nutlets with narrow wings.
Notes: The immature male spikes are present during the winter. In part of its range, this tree is known as Betula fontinalis.

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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:25:50 EST
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