River Birch

When you were walking past this tree, you might’ve been captivated by the way that the bark looks. This is because birch trees are known for their peeling bark, which occurs naturally in this species of tree as it grows. When the tree sheds its bark it reveals a lighter shade and when the tree is mature enough the bark will become black and brittle. If you take a look down at the bottom of the tree towards the canopy you will notice that this tree was once one bark that over time grew into two separate barks. Multi-trunk clumping is very common in river birch trees, especially the ones located on this campus. Now, if you look up at the branches of this tree, you will noticed that the leaves are arranged in an alternate patten and are diamond in shape. The leaves also have pinnate venation with serrated margins on either side. River birches are deciduous tree’s meaning that they will drop their leaves during that fall and the branches will be bare all winter. Make sure to catch this tree during the fall, where you will see that the leaves have turned from green to a vibrant yellow color.

River birch trees are angiosperms, meaning that they have flowering structures that produce nuts. Depending on the time that you are visiting this tree you might notice catkins hanging off of the branches, these are cylindrical flower structures that don’t have any petals. This species of tree is also monoecious, which means that both male and female parts are located on the same tree. Female catkins are pink and stand upright on the leaves, and male catkins are brownish and dangle on the twigs. Late summer is when female catkins release their flowers and male catkins release pollen in order to breed.This reproductive process is facilitated using wind dispersal, where seeds and pollen are spread using the wind. This process will continue  annually from the spring to summer months for as long as the tree lives.

Aside from river birches being able to grow in diverse areas, this tree also some medicinal properties. In Native American culture, the leaves of the river birch are often used to treat colds and dysentery but more widely they are used to treat milky urine and stomach problems. If your ever wondering what kind of wood was used to build your house, wonder no more as river birch tree bark is one of the most widely used for plywood. In addition to this tree being used medicinally and for construction, river birches improve the soil of where it is planted. For this property they are often used to recover areas with high soil acidity.

Today you have learned about a special tree with many characteristics that add to the biodiversity of our campus. As you continue along your walk make sure to look up and enjoy all of the beautiful trees that make up the landscape of our campus.

These resources are a product of Dr. Sara Wright’s Plant Diversity course in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department. My name is Georgina Vasquez, and I will earn my Biology degree in may of 2023. I plan to pursue a career in public health. You can read more about me and the River Birch tree below.