Leaf: Alternate, simple; blades rhombic to ovate, acute at tip, truncate or tapering to the base, coarsely double-toothed; shiny dark-green on upper surface, paler and densely hairy on lower surface; up to 3 inches long; leafstalks woolly; turning dull yellow in autumn.
Flower: Staminate and pistillate on same tree, tiny and inconspicuous, opening in late April or May; staminate yellowish with 2 stamens, many in slender, drooping clusters or catkins near tip of twigs; pistillate greenish, in short, upright, cone-like woolly clusters or catkins back of tip of same twig.
Fruit: Tiny, hairy nuts, each with a 2- or 3-lobed wing, crowded together in an upright, brownish, short-stalked, cylindrical cone with many hairy scales; up to 1 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch thick, maturing in late spring or early summer.
Twig: Slender, reddish-brown, with several short hairs; leaf scars alternate, half-elliptical, with 3 bundle traces.
Bark: Shiny pinkish-brown or reddish-brown to silvery-gray; separating, curling, shredding into papery scales; becoming thick, fissured, and shaggy.
Form:
Often slightly leaning and forked tree up to 75 feet tall; trunk
diameter 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 meters); crown irregularly rounded and
spreading.
Discussion
The river birch or red birch is used for making cheap furniture, shoe lasts, wagon hubs, and various small turned articles. Its use is limited now, but in bygone days it was used in the hoops of rice casks.
The river birch tree is valuable in helping to control erosion of stream banks. They also make fine ornamental trees, often planted in city parks, in business landscaping, or on residential property.
Distinguishing Characteristics
The shaggy, peeling reddish-brown bark readily distinguishes this tree from any other in Illinois as does its rhombic, doubly toothed leaves.
Distribution
Massachusetts and New Hampshire across to southern Minnesota and eastern Kansas, south to eastern Texas, and Florida.
Images
Click each small picture to see a larger image.
Location
N 39.26989° W -89.89149°
Northwest end of walking trail, Loveless Park,
Carlinville, Macoupin County, IL.
Copyright
Photos © 2002 Brandie Hubbard and Matt Bomkamp, Carlinville High School, linke@carlinvilleschools.net
References
Robert H. Mohlenbrock, Forest Trees of Illinois, 1996, Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
William C. Grimm, Familiar Trees of America, 1967, Harper & Row.
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