River Birch (Betula nigra)
Description
Betula nigra (black birch,river birch,water birch) is a species of birch native to the Eastern United States from New Hampshire west to southern Minnesota,and south to northern Florida and west to Texas.It is one of the few heat-tolerant birches in a family of mostly cold-weather trees which do not thrive in USDA Zone 6 and up.B.nigra commonly occurs in flood plains and/or swamps.It is a deciduous tree growing to 25?30 meters (80?100 ft) with a trunk 50 to 150 centimeters (20 to 60 in) in diameter,often with multiple trunks.The bark is variable,usually dark gray-brown to pinkish-brown and scaly,but in some individuals,smooth and creamy pinkish-white,exfoliating in curly papery sheets.The twigs are glabrous or thinly hairy.The leaves are alternate,ovate,4?8 centimeters (1 1_2?3 1_4 in) long and 3?6 centimeters (1 1_4?2 1_4 in) broad,with a serrated margin and five to twelve pairs of veins.The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins 3?6 centimeters (1 1_4?2 1_4 in) long,the male catkins pendulous,the female catkins erect.The fruit is unusual among birches in maturing in late spring;it is composed of numerous tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Fagales
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Family: Betulaceae
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Genus: Betula
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