dwarf birch Betulaceae Betula glandulosa

Leaf:Alternate, simple, pinnately-veined, nearly round, 1/2 to 1 inch long, with 10 or fewer rounded large teeth on each side, thickened, sticky and resinous, shiny green above and a bit paler below, with petioles longer than the very similar B. nana.
Flower:Species is monoecious; single preformed male catkins are 1/2 inch long, and become much longer and yellow-green as they open in late spring; females are upright, 1/2 inch long, and reddish green in color.
Fruit:Cone-like aggregate of winged nutlets, 1/2 to 1 inch long, upright, ripen in late fall.
Twig:Slender, dark reddish brown, covered with resinous glands, mostly glabrous; buds are reddish-brown and resinous; spur shoots numerous; no taste or odor.
Bark:Shiny, dark brown, numerous pale horizontal lenticels; larger stems develop dull white markings.
Form:Dense shrub reaching up to 10 feet in height with a round crown in the southern parts of its range. It is much shorter (18 inches) and more prostrate in the northern (artic) portions of its range.

flower fruit twig map

Notes: