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Photographer: Darrin Kimbler
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Family Betulaceae
Betula alleghaniensis Britton
yellow birch
Betula: ancient Latin name
alleghaniensis: referring to Allegheny Mountains
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | perennial tree to 98" tall, straight trunk, narrowly-rounded crown; bark smooth, often flaking irregularly, dark, shiny, reddish-brown early becoming tan, yellowish to grayish with time; dark, horizontal lenticels; twigs with small glands giving off a wintergreen taste and smell when crushed |
| Flower: | blooms in late spring |
| Fruit: | oval, erect fruit clusters, finely hairy; samara wings narrower than the body, widest near the top |
| Leaf: | leaf narrowly oval to oblong; edges with sharp, coarse, double, irregular teeth; some scattered tiny, resinous glands |
| Habitat: | moist to wet; streambanks, swampy woods, rich forested slopes |
| Notes: | often hybirdizes |
| (Glossary) |
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