Betula populifolia
Gray birch Taxonomy
Synonyms: Subspecific taxa: Classification:
Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI Images
   
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Species Distribution
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County Map Legend
Absent: Not known from county Medium confidence: Medium or unknown confidence; often old records or unverifiable observations Medium-high confidence: Often observations by expert botanists High confidence: Often vouchered herbarium records Planted / introduced: Native species introduced outside historic range, or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations) Historic / extirpated: Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated (Note that this category is not yet functional) North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON
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Species Status
Status/Listing: Formerly State Endangered Notes:This species was recently delisted as endangered and is not considered a Vagrant Breeding Species in IL Origin: Native
Species Description
General: Dicot-woody, perennial Roots: primary Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; doubly serrate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; cordate leaf shape Inflorescence: catkin Flowers: unisexual, monoecious; incomplete, not petals; epigynous ovary position Fruit: samara Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation Reproduction: sexual
Ecology & Natural History
Habitat: Scrubby sand prairie. ILPIN Notes: Probably native only in Winnebago County (Sheviak, 1981). An attractive ornamental tree which is not used extensively because it is so short lived. The light, soft wood is of little commercial importance but is used to some extent for spools, toothpicks, barrel hoops, paper pulp, and for fuel (Grimm, 1950). The sap can be used as a drink or can be reduced to syrup or sugar by boiling; it can also be used to make vinegar. The inner bark can be ground into flour and used as emergency bread-stuff (Fernald et al., 1958). Functional Relationships:
Human Relationships:
Wildlife and Livestock Information:
Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :
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