Identification River Birch Tree Leaves

Birch is the name of a certain tree of the genus betula in the family betulaceae closely related to the beech oak family fagaceae.
Identification river birch tree leaves. Birch species are generally small to medium size trees or shrubs mostly of temperate climates. The species is valued for its relatively rapid growth tolerance of wetness and some drought unique curling bark spreading limbs and relative resistance to birch borer. Coniferous trees have needles and seeds in cones. The simple leaves may be toothed or pointed with serrated edges and the fruit is a small samara a small seed with papery wings.
The national audubon society field guide to trees describes river birch leaves as being nearly four sided their irregular shape somewhat resembling that of a diamond. In an alternate leaf and branch arrangement there. Betula nigra the black birch river birch or 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. Their shape structure and texture can help you figure out which species you are looking at.
Birch trees offer interesting bark color and texture and attractive foliage but they are relatively short lived and they may suffer from a susceptibility to diseases and insects especially the bronze birch borer. All north american birches have double toothed leaves and are yellow and showy in the fall. To distinguish different species of trees you need to examine the tree s form bark leaf. Deciduous trees have leaves and covered seeds.
The veins of the leaves run directly to the teeth from the mid vein of the leaf. Deciduous trees drop their leaves in the fall while coniferous trees keep their needles year round except for tamarack which drops its needles in the fall. All of ohio s trees can be placed into one of three cat egories. The simple leaves may be toothed or pointed.
River birch is distinguished by having alternate simple leaves 1 1 2 to 3 1 2 inches long 3 4 to 2 1 2 inches wide sharp pointed double toothed or shallowly lobed with a wedge shaped base. One of the easiest ways to identify one of these deciduous trees is by looking closely at its leaves. Some of the other shapes of birch leaves include the almost triangular outline of gray birch and the oblong form of sweet birch. Alternate opposite or whorled.
These trees each have their own unique qualities from the heart shaped leaves of the birch to the interlocking wood grain of the elm. One of the most important tree identification concepts is leaf and branch arrangement. Many types of birch grow in clumps of two to four closely spaced separate trunks. The various species of birch trees in the betula genus include at least 12 that are important landscape trees.