Comments
provided by eFloras
Betula populifolia is an important successional tree on burned, cleared, or abandoned land in the Northeast. It is closely related to Betula pendula Roth of Europe, B . neoalaskana of the Northwest, and several Asian taxa. This species is easily distinguished from the paper birch, with which it is often sympatric, by the long tapering apices of its leaves, its nonpeeling bark, and the characteristic expanded, black triangular patches on the trunks below the branches.
The Iroquois used Betula populifolia medicinally to treat bleeding piles, and the Micmac, to treat infected cuts and as an emetic (D. E. Moerman 1986).
The blue birches ( Betula × caerulea Blanchard) have been variously considered to represent a true species or a hybrid between B . papyrifera Marshall and B . populifolia Marshall (T. C. Brayshaw 1966) or B . papyrifera and the big blue birch B . caerulea-grandis (M. L. Fernald 1922). Both B . × caerulea and B . caerulea-grandis have been shown in more recent experimental studies to be of hybrid origin between B . cordifolia Regel and B . populifolia (A. G. Guerriero et al. 1970; W. F. Grant and B. K. Thompson 1975; P. E. DeHond and C. S. Campbell 1989). Individuals of these hybrids combine characteristics of the parents, the infructescence scales and leaves somewhat resembling those of B . populifolia , and the habit and exfoliating reddish bark that of B . cordifolia .
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Description
provided by eFloras
Trees , broadly pyramidal, to 10 m; trunks usually several. Bark when young dark reddish brown, in maturity becoming grayish white, smooth, close; lenticels dark, horizontally expanded. Twigs without taste and odor of wintergreen, glabrous to sparsely pubescent, dotted with small, inconspicuous, resinous glands. Leaf blade broadly ovate to deltate or rhombic with 5--18 pairs of lateral veins, 3--10 × 3--8 cm, base truncate to cuneate, marginally coarsely, irregularly, or sometimes obscurely doubly serrate, apex abruptly long-acuminate; surfaces abaxially glabrous or sparsely pubescent, often covered with minute, resinous glands. Infructescences erect to nearly pendulous, nearly cylindric, 1--2.5(--3) × 0.8--1 cm, shattering with fruits in early fall; scales adaxially densely pubescent, lobes diverging distal to middle, central lobe cuneate, acute, much shorter than lateral lobes, lateral lobes divergent, broad, irregularly angular. Samaras with wings much broader than body, broadest near middle, often extended beyond body both apically and basally. 2 n = 28.
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Distribution
provided by eFloras
N.B., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que.; Conn., Del., Ill., Ind., Maine, Md., Mass., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., S.C., Vt., Va.
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Flowering/Fruiting
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Flowering late spring.
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Habitat
provided by eFloras
Rocky or sandy open woods, moist to dryish slopes, old fields, and waste places; 100--600m.
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Synonym
provided by eFloras
Betula alba Linnaeus subsp. populifolia (Marshall) Regel; B. alba var. populifolia (Marshall) Spach
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Common Names
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
gray birch
grey birch
white birch
wire birch
fire birch
oldfield birch
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Conservation Status
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
In Maryland gray birch is known from only three or four contiguous
stations or populations within the boundaries of the state. In Delaware
gray birch is listed as being extinct [
3,
33].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Cover Value
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term:
coverIn Maine, gray birch provides hiding cover for the bobcat and hare [
23].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Description
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term:
treeGray birch is a fast-growing, short-lived, deciduous tree commonly
attaining heights of 20 to 30 feet (6-9 m) [
5]. Its short, slender,
contorted branches form a narrow pyramidal crown. The alternate leaves
occur singly or in pairs on thin, gray twigs. The leaves are long and
pointed with double-toothed margins. The male flowers are borne on
yellow catkins hanging from the twigs. The female catkins are erect on
the stems which develop into drooping, stalked cones with many small
nutlike winged seeds. The trunk is dark, rough, and irregularly broken
by shallow fissures. The roots are shallow [
6,
7,
9,
17].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Distribution
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
The range of gray birch extends west from Nova Scotia to southern
Ontario, and south to New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Disjunct
populations occur in northern Ohio, Virginia, and western North Carolina
[
6,
9,
22,
33].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Fire Ecology
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms:
fire regime,
root crown,
seed,
treeFire, which can help establish gray birch, can also be quite damaging.
The thin bark of gray birch is very flammable, so the tree is easily
injured by fire [
4,
31]. Starker [
32] lists gray birch as low in
resistance to fire, ranking it 17th out of 22 fire-resistant hardwoods
in the northeastern United States. Gray birch is able sprout from the
root crown after aboveground portions are killed by fire [
13].
Gray birch's abundant wind-dispersed seed is important in colonizing
burns. Also, gray birch is likely to accumulate abundant seed in the
soil. Seedling establishment following fire is probable from such seed
banks.
FIRE REGIMES : Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the
FEIS home page under
"Find FIRE REGIMES".
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Growth Form (according to Raunkiær Life-form classification)
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic. More info for the term:
phanerophyte Phanerophyte
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Habitat characteristics
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term:
treeGray birch is found on a wide variety of sites. It grows best on moist,
well-drained soil along streams, ponds, lakes, and swamps but also grows
on dry sandy or gravelly soil. Gray birch grows on inorganic soils of
rocky slopes and hillsides, but its growth is usually retarded on these
sites [
6,
8,
17].
Common tree associates of gray birch are blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica),
black oak (Quercus velutina), red oak (Q. borealis), eastern hophornbeam
(Ostrya virginiana), American holly (Ilex opaca), black cherry (Prunus
serotina), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), and aspen (Populus
tremuloides). Common understory associates include hobblebush (Viburnum
alnifolium), blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), witch hazel (Hamamelis
virginiana), bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), and Canada serviceberry
(Amelanchier canadensis) [
22,
27,
29,
36].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Habitat: Cover Types
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic. This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):
5 Balsam fir
19 Gray birch - red maple
21 Eastern white pine
22 White pine - hemlock
25 Sugar maple - beech - yellow birch
32 Red spruce
33 Red spruce - balsam fir
35 Paper birch - red spruce - balsam fir
39 Black ash - American elm - red maple
45 Pitch pine
46 Eastern redcedar
97 Atlantic white-cedar
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Habitat: Ecosystem
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic. This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):
FRES10 White - red - jack pine
FRES13 Loblolly - shortleaf pine
FRES14 Oak - pine
FRES16 Oak - gum - cypress
FRES17 Elm - ash - cottonwood
FRES18 Maple - beech - birch
FRES19 Aspen - Birch
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Habitat: Plant Associations
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic. This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):
More info for the term:
forest K095 Great Lakes pine forest
K096 Northeastern spruce - fir forest
K101 Elm - ash forest
K102 Beech - maple forest
K104 Appalachian oak forest
K106 Northern hardwoods
K108 Northern hardwoods - spruce forest
K111 Oak - hickory - pine forest
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Immediate Effect of Fire
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More info for the terms:
ground fire,
organic soils,
treeGray birch is usually top-killed by low- to moderate-severity fires.
During periods of drought when organic soils can become extremely dry, a
hot, slow-moving ground fire can burn all the organic matter and consume
the shallow roots, thus killing the tree [
4,
31].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Importance to Livestock and Wildlife
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Beavers and porcupines chew on the bark and wood of gray birch.
Sapsuckers feed on the sap, and songbirds such as the pine siskin and
chickadee feed on the seeds. The ruffed grouse eat the male catkins and
buds [
7,
26]. The twigs provide winter browse for snowshoe hare, moose,
and white-tailed deer [
30].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Key Plant Community Associations
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms:
forest,
habitat type,
hardwoodGray birch is listed as a common associate of the aspen-birch (Populus
spp.-Betula spp.) and the beech-birch-maple (Fagus spp.-Betula spp.-Acer
spp.) communities in the northeastern hardwood forest, but it is not an
indicator of any particular habitat type [
21].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Life Form
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term:
treeTree
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Management considerations
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Gray birch is not a valued timber species due to its small size and
limited distribution [
17]. It is short-lived and does not compete with
more desirable commercial trees in any part of its range [
14]. With the
exception of injury caused by leaf miner, gray birch is free from
diseases. It is often seriously injured by ice and snow [
7].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Occurrence in North America
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
CT DE IN ME MD MA NH NJ NY NC
OH PA RI VT VA NB NF NS ON PE
PQ
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Other uses and values
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term:
treeThe pleasing form, white bark, graceful slender branches, and delicate
foliage make gray birch an attractive tree for ornamental purposes. Its
desirability is lessened only by its short life and liability to storm
injury [
7]. Gray birch also has some value as a "nurse tree" for the
more valuable pines that require protection to become established
[
17].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Phenology
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic. More info for the terms:
fruit,
seedGray birch flowers between April and May; the fruit ripens from
September to October. The seed is dispersed from October through the
middle of winter [
2].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Plant Response to Fire
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Gray birch will sprout from the stump following fire [
1,
25].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Post-fire Regeneration
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms:
secondary colonizer,
seed,
tree Tree with adventitious-bud root crown/root sucker
Secondary colonizer - on-site seed
Secondary colonizer - off-site seed
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Regeneration Processes
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term:
seedSeed production and dissemination. Gray birch reproduces mainly by
seed. It begins producing seed at 8 years of age with abundant seed
crops every year. The seed crops germinate readily. The light, winged
seeds are dispersed by the wind and some seeds travel great distances
[
1,
10]. Gray birch is a prolific seed producer and will form a seed
bank in the soil [
14,
18].
Vegetative reproduction. Gray birch sprouts from the stump when cut or
following fire. Sprouting usually occurs when young trees have been cut
in the spring leaving stumps of about 2 inches (5 cm) in height [
17].
Stump sprouts can be a valuable seed source since sprouts alone are
usually not numerous enough to adequately reproduce mature gray birch
stands [
1,
7].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Successional Status
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More info on this topic. More info for the terms:
climax,
forest,
hardwood,
successionObligate Initial Community Species.
Gray birch is a pioneer species. It is an early seral species in
oldfield succession or following clearcutting in northern hardwood
forests. Gray birch is shade intolerant and eventually gives way to a
fir-spruce (Abies spp.-Picea spp.) forest community [
12,
18]. On
undisturbed sites, climax succession is toward a maple-beech forest
community [
18].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Taxonomy
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term:
marshThe currently accepted scientific name for gray birch is Betula
populifolia Marsh. [
22]. There are no recognized subspecies, varieties,
or forms.
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Value for rehabilitation of disturbed sites
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term:
hardwoodIts status as a pioneer species and its adaptability to disturbed sites
indicate that gray birch is a good hardwood species for use in
revegetating mine spoils and other disturbed areas. It has been planted
successfully on acid coal mine spoils in Pennsylvania [
35].
Propagation: Gray birch can be propagated by grafting of cuttings.
Cuttings from seedlings root sooner and at higher rates, although no
percentages have been given [
6,
19].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Wood Products Value
provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term:
fuelGray birch is easily worked with tools and is an excellent wood for
turning. It is used for woodenware such as spools, clothespins, and
novelties. Gray birch is much less valued than paper birch (B.
papyrifera) because of its small size, short life, and limited
distribution. Its wood is often used for fuel, and stands can be cut
for firewood at comparatively frequent intervals because of its ability
to regenerate quickly [
7,
17].
- bibliographic citation
- Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Betula populifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Betula populifolia
provided by wikipedia EN
Betula populifolia (gray or grey birch) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America.
Range
It ranges from southeastern Ontario east to Nova Scotia, and south to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with disjunct populations in Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina. It prefers poor, dry upland soils, but is also found in moist mixed woodlands. Living only about 30 years, it is a common pioneer species on abandoned fields and burned areas. It is possibly extirpated in Delaware.
Characteristics
Betula populifolia(Gray birch) grows quickly to 20 to 30 feet (6.9 to 9.1 m) tall and 15 inch (38 cm) trunk diameter, with an irregular open crown of slender branches. The tree often has multiple trunks branching off an old stump. The leaves are 2 to 2.7 inches (5-7 cm) long by 1.6 to 2.4 inches (4-6 cm) wide, alternately arranged, ovate, and tapering to an elongated tip. They are dark green and glabrous above and paler below, with a coarsely serrated margin.[2] The bark is chalky to grayish white with black triangular patches where branch meets trunk. It is most easily confused for the paper birch (Betula papyrifera) by means of its bark; it is smooth and thin but does not readily exfoliate like paper birch does. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins 5–8 cm long, the male catkins pendulous and the female catkins erect. The fruit, maturing in autumn, is composed of many tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts.
The wood is medium hard and is used for high grade plywood, furniture, drum shells, spools and firewood.
Like other North American birches, gray birch is highly resistant to the bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius).[3] The leaves of the gray birch serve as food for various Lepidoptera, such as the leaf miner moth Cameraria betulivora. Between about 1930 and 1950, many gray birch trees, along with paper birch and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), were affected and killed by birch dieback disease.[4]
Gray birch has been commonly planted as a landscaping tree in southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey as it tolerates heat and humidity better than paper birch and is more resistant to bronze birch borers and leaf miners.
Gallery
Betula populifolia leaves, New Brunswick, Canada
Betula populifolia bark, Vermont, US. Although the grey birch exhibits a smooth, thin white bark which can easily be confused with that of the paper birch (Betula papyrifera), it does not readily exfoliate.
References
-
^ Stritch, L. (2014). "Betula populifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T194635A2354478. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T194635A2354478.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
-
^ Hardin, James W., Donald Joseph Leopold, and Fred M. White. Harlow & Harrar's Textbook of Dendrology. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2001. Print.
-
^ Nielsen, David G., Vanessa L. Muilenburg, and Daniel A. Herms. "Interspecific Variation in Resistance of Asian, European, and North American Birches (Betula Spp.) to Bronze Birch Borer." Environmental Entomology 40.3 (2011): 648-53. BioOne. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
-
^ Ciesla, William M.; Donaubauer, Edwin (1994). Decline and Dieback of Trees and Forests: A Global Overview. Food & Agriculture Org. pp. 18, 698. ISBN 978-92-5-103502-3.
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Betula populifolia: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Betula populifolia (gray or grey birch) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America.
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