Posts Tagged ‘River birch’

An August Look at the River Birch

Posted in Follow a tree, River Birch, tagged , on August 13, 2015| 7 Comments »

River Birch or Himalayan Birch???

8-4-15...A look at the River Birch, (Betula nigra) while the sun is out.

8-4-15…A look at the Birch, while the sun is out.

I was happy to meet Ollie who happened to be walking her dog at the same time.  I explained that I was ‘following’ this tree, but was still unsure as to which species it was.  She said that she was the one who had trimmed the ivy off the tree.  “I know it’s a birch,” she says, “try looking up Himalayan birch” (betula utilis Jacquemontii)

I looked it up, but the Himalayan birch leaf is squarer at the base, not so wedge-shaped.

This is a Himalayan birch leaf. Note the rounded base of leaf...clearly not the same as a River birch. This image is courtesy of Oregon State University.

This is a Himalayan birch leaf. Note the rounded base of leaf…clearly not the same as a River birch. This image is courtesy of Oregon State University.

Here is another Himalayan leaf furnished by oregonstate.edu. The leaf is tapered similar to the River Birch. How am I supposed to know the difference???

Here is another Himalayan leaf furnished by oregonstate.edu.
The leaf is tapered similar to the River Birch. How am I supposed to know the difference???

August 13...River birch still putting out a few new leaves.

August 13…I picked another leaf off this morning to get another look at it.

Aug. 13...I shot another leaf with a new camera. This is just to see how well the zoomed close up option works.

Aug. 13…I shot this close up with a new camera. This is just to see how well the zoomed close up option works and get a good close up look.

According to Washington State University, “Himalayan birch is the most widely grown of the birch species in the Pacific Northwest and is greatly prized for its distinctive white bark which makes it a welcome addition during the darker days of winter.“

Logically, since the Himalayan birch is more prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, it follows that this is a Himalayan birch…but of all the Himalayan leaves that are shown on Google images, most of them are “square” at the base, and while the River Birch is native to the southeastern United States, it is tolerant in other climates too as long as it can grow in moist acidic soils.  Since it was planted possibly over 40 years ago, this area was getting about 65 inches of rain a year then.  It would have been moist enough for a River Birch.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂

Speaking of leaves…

Hmmm. I think the leaves are starting to turn already. We've been having many days of sunny weather

I think the leaves are starting to turn already. We’ve been having many days of sunny weather.

August 4...example of a leaf that has lost it's chlorophyll. Chlorophyll gives leaves their green color and absorbs light that is used in photosynthesis. You have to wonder why some leaves lose color while others don't. "Okay everyone on this list gets no more chlorophyll." I'm sure there's a good reason, but this leaf here must be on the list. :) Eventually, because of shorter days and decreasing sunlight, the tree will stop producing chlorophyll altogether and all the leaves will turn color.

August 4…example of a leaf that has lost it’s chlorophyll. Chlorophyll gives leaves their green color and absorbs light that is used in photosynthesis. You have to wonder why some leaves lose color while others don’t. “Okay everyone on this list gets no more chlorophyll.” I’m sure there’s a good reason, but this leaf here must be on the list. 🙂  Eventually, because of shorter days and decreasing sunlight, the tree will stop producing chlorophyll altogether and all the leaves will turn color.

Cinnamon bark is a-peeling. (Sorry about that, I couldn't resist)

Cinnamon bark is a-peeling.

An even closer look at the peeling bark.

An even closer look at the peeling bark.

8-4-15...Holes in the trunk...are the dreaded

8-4-15…Uh oh, holes in the trunk…Is this the result of the dreaded Bronze Birch Borer?  Not to worry, the River Birch is resistant to it, whereas it can severely damage a Himalayan Birch.

Some birch cones are 'maturing.' This one fell apart in my hand. Next month I'll take one home and try to find the seeds.

Some birch cones are ‘maturing.’ This one fell apart in my hand. Next month I’ll take one home and try to find the seeds.

According to SF Gate, “River birch also is valuable as a source of erosion control and is used to reclaim areas with high soil acid caused by mining. Wildlife, such as birds and rodents, eat its seeds, and deer eat its twigs and foliage. Ruby-throated hummingbirds drink its sap.”

Any birch tree experts out there?

 

 

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Follow a Tree—Looking at the River Birch in July

Posted in Follow a tree, tagged , , , , on July 13, 2015| 2 Comments »

River Birch (Betula nigra)

June 9...Here is how the tree looked last month. I know, I know, I didn't post it last month. It wasn't because I got into a disagreement with a police officer about how long to wait for someone in the crosswalk before turning right...he was lenient on me and luckily didn't give me a citation. Nor was it because I had to watch the first episode of Poldark on Masterpiece Theatre, or maybe it was. :) I promise to be more punctual in the future.

June 9…Here is how the tree looked last month. I know, I know, I didn’t post it last month. It wasn’t because I got into a disagreement with a police officer about how long to wait for someone in the crosswalk before turning right.  Nor was it because I wanted to watch the first episode of Poldark on Masterpiece Theatre, or maybe it was. 🙂 in any case, I promise to be more punctual in the future.

When the valley gets hot, clouds get sucked in from the ocean, resulting in cloudy weather on the coast, and less than perfect picture-taking weather. A River birch can grow as tall as 70 ft. (21 meters) if it's a single trunk. If the trunk branches out, the height will be limited to about 50 ft (15 m) with a 40 ft. breadth.

When the valley gets hot, clouds get sucked in from the ocean, resulting in cloudy weather on the coast, and less than perfect picture-taking weather.
A River birch can grow as tall as 70 ft. (21 meters) if it’s a single trunk. If the trunk branches out, the height will be limited to about 50 ft (15 m) with a 40 ft. breadth.  It requires acidic soil which is consistently moist.  It grows along waterways or at the edge of  wooded areas, or in this case, on the edge of someone’s property.

Last month the leaves and catkins looked like this. I believe these are male catkins which point in a downward direction.

Last month the leaves and catkins looked like this.
I believe these are male catkins which point in a downward direction.

7-5-15...This month I don't see much difference except for the lack of contrast from overcast picture taking.

7-5-15…This month I don’t see much difference except for the lack of contrast from overcast picture taking.

6-9-15...Look at that rugged and gnarly trunk. Does that spell "CHARACTER" or what?

6-9-15…What a rugged and gnarly trunk.  As the tree matures (40 years) the bark thickens, darkens, and becomes deeply fissured beginning at the bases of the trunks.  This tree must be over 40 years old.

July 5...another look at the trunk of the River Birch. One of its characteristics is that bark flakes off the tree revealing the multicolored layers of the inner bark. This can be seen towards the top of the trunk. According to "The Master Gardener at University of Wisconsin," it naturally forms just a single trunk, but is sometimes sold in multiple-trunked form with two to five trunks per tree.

July 5…another look at the trunk of the River Birch. One of its characteristics is that bark exfoliates revealing the multicolored layers of the inner bark. This can be seen towards the top of this trunk. According to “The Master Gardener at University of Wisconsin,” River birch naturally forms just a single trunk, but is sometimes sold in multiple-trunked form with two to five trunks per tree.

The River birch can thrive in damp soil, but it can also take a certain amount of drought.  Birch roots, along with willow and poplar, are among the most aggressive — and destructive — tree roots.  The tree’s aggressive roots seek water, prying open cracks or joints in sewer or irrigation systems.

Note:  I’m about 85% sure this tree is a River birch.  The 15% uncertainty is because when I compare this River birch tree trunk to the River birch tree trunks on the internet, I don’t see any like this one.  Furthermore, the catkins look slightly different too.  If there are any birch tree experts out there that would like to make a correction, please feel free to do so.

The following web sites were used for River birch information…

Wisconsin Master Gardener Program

Garden Guides

Anne Carlsmith

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