River Birch

Description:

River 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 a deciduous tree growing to 25 to 30 metres (82 to 98 ft) with a trunk 50 to 150 centimetres (20 to 59 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 cm (1.5–3 in) long and 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in) broad, with a serrated margin and five to twelve pairs of veins. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins

Habitat:

It is commonly found in flood plains and/or swamps. This one was photographed at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park near Augusta, GA.

Notes:

Native Americans used the boiled sap as a sweetener similar to maple syrup, and the inner bark as a survival food. It is usually too contorted and knotty to be of value as a timber tree. Its bark is quite distinctive, making it a favored ornamental tree for landscape use