Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera · Betulaceae (Birch family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Ovate to broadly ovate with an acute to acuminate tip and a rounded to cuneate base
Margin
Doubly serrate with coarse, sharp teeth
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate with prominent parallel lateral veins branching from a central midrib
Key Features
Distinguished by its bright white, exfoliating bark on mature trunks, doubly serrate ovate leaves, and alternate arrangement
Description
The Paper Birch is a graceful, medium-sized deciduous tree famous for its striking white, papery bark that peels off in thin layers. The leaves are crisp and clean-looking, turning a brilliant golden-yellow in autumn. The tree produces dangling catkins in the spring and features a relatively open, pyramidal canopy when young that becomes more rounded and irregular with age.
Habitat
Typically found in moist woods, forest edges, slopes, and burned-over areas, thriving in well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade
Native Range
Native to northern and north-central North America, spanning from Alaska across Canada down into the northern United States