River Birch

TREES

GENUS/SPECIES

Betula nigra

FAMILY

Betulaceae

SYNONYMS

Common: Red Birch

DISTRIBUTION

Southeastern US

E Texas northward to Missouri
Missouri eastward to Maryland
Maryland southward to N Florida
N Florida westward to E Texas
Northward along Upper Mississippi Valley to SE Minnesota
Northward along Atlantic Coast to SE New York and S New Hampshire
Mostly absent from Appalachian Mountain systems and Lower Mississippi Valley

Human Product Number - 79

Veterinary Product Number - 79

Comments

This is the only birch native to lowland areas of the southeastern US, and it is typically found in wet areas such as floodplains of rivers and streams. It is a medium-sized tree often cultivated as an ornamental because of its shaggy, brownish, papery bark that peels in layers. The male catkins, which soon release their wind-blown pollen, can be seen hanging in the early spring just as the leaves are beginning to develop while the female “cones” develop later, then disintegrate to release their seeds.