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Smith, R.W.

Betula pumila

Betula pumila L.

Bog Birch

Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: bepu4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Obovate , Ovate
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Dentate
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Fruit Type: Samara
Size Notes: Shrub to about 12 feet tall.
Leaf: Dark Green.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Notes: Male and female flowers born separately but on the same plant, the male in drooping clusters, the female in erect clusters up to 1 inch long.

Distribution

USA: CA , CO , CT , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , MA , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OR , SD , VT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: AB , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Habitat: Riparian,Swamp/Marsh,Bog/Fen

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Benefit

Use Medicinal: The Ojibwa used Betula pumila medicinally as a gynecological aid and as a respiratory aid (D. E. Moerman 1986).
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			OBL		OBL	OBL		OBL	OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Betula pumila in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Betula pumila in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Betula pumila

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-17
Research By: TWC Staff

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