Betula nigra Linnaeus. River Birch, Red Birch. Phen: Mar-Apr; May-Jun. Hab: Riverbanks, streambanks, floodplains, sandbars, disturbed uplands. Dist: NH west to se. MN and e. KS, south to ne. FL, FL Panhandle, and e. TX.
ID notes: The bark of young trees and branches of older trees is a distinctive pinkish color, peeling off in paper-like sheets. Older trees have dark gray, fissured bark. The broadly wedge-shaped leaf base and strongly doubly-serrate leaves are also distinctive.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Syn: = Ar, C, F, Fl2, FNA3, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K1, K3, K4, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Furlow (1990), Hardin (1971a)
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© Richard & Teresa Ware | Original Image ⭷