Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Ovate to oblong-ovate with a rounded to heart-shaped base and an acute to acuminate tip
Margin
Finely and sharply doubly serrate (toothed)
Arrangement
Alternate on the twig, typically occurring singly or in pairs
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and 12 to 20 pairs of straight, parallel veins extending to the margin
Key Features
Finely doubly serrate margins, heart-shaped or rounded leaf base, prominent straight parallel veins, and twigs that smell strongly of wintergreen when scratched
Description
Betula lenta, commonly known as the sweet birch, is a medium-sized deciduous tree recognized for its dark, aromatic bark that resembles cherry bark when mature. It produces slender twigs containing wintergreen oil, simple alternate leaves with finely toothed margins, catkins in spring, and small winged nutlets in autumn. The foliage provides deep shade in summer and turns brilliant gold before dropping.
Habitat
Typically found in moist, well-drained rich upland soils, along mountain slopes, and bordering streams and ravines in deciduous or mixed forests
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, ranging from southern Maine and Ontario south to Georgia and Alabama, primarily in the Appalachian mountain regions