Plant
River Birch
Betula nigraAlso known as Water Birch, Black Birch
River birch is a deciduous tree known for curling papery bark colored salmon, cream, cinnamon, and gray. Its diamond-shaped double-toothed leaves hang from slender twigs, and mature trees often divide into several trunks.
riparian treepeeling barkdeciduous
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyProduces energy through photosynthesis and draws abundant moisture through a spreading root system
Predators
- birch leafminers
- aphids
- beavers
ThreatsChannel alteration, prolonged drought, root damage, severe flooding, and habitat conversion
HabitatsRiverbanks, floodplains, swamps, wet woods, sandbars, and moist planted landscapes
Life spanOften fifty to seventy-five years, with favorable trees sometimes living longer
Classification
- OrderFagales
- FamilyBetulaceae
- GenusBetula
- SpeciesBetula nigra
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Do not peel living bark or compact wet soil around exposed roots.
Responsible observation
- Identify: Look for curling multicolored bark and sharply double-toothed diamond-shaped leaves.
- Protect: Admire bark in place without pulling loose-looking layers from the trunk.
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