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“It would be awesome if the college could work toward building a wind generator or start investing in photovoltaics to cut our electricity bill.”
Desktop Technology Specialist David Levine
Gray Birch Betula populifolia
Birch Betulaceae family
Leaves are double-toothed, and conspicuously triangle shaped with a long point at the tip. This is an important distinguishing characteristic.
The flower is in the form of a catkin. These are narrower and shorter than the catkins of yellow, black and yellow birch. Often there will be a single ament pointing up at the end of the twig.
Fruit Like the other birches, the fruit is a catkin, but the gray birch fruit is narrower and shorter than other birches.
Bark is white, chalky, and "not peely." Gray birch tends to look dirtier than paper birch because it doesn't periodically peel. There are often dark colored chevrons (upside-down "v's")at the base of branches.
Form/Habitat: Gray birch is a small tree that often grows up in disturbed places. It's a lover of dry, waste places. 20 - 30' tall, with diameters of 10 - 18".
Winter identification: Look for the single ament sticking up at the end of the twigs, and the distinguishing bark. Twigs are brown with small white lenticels.
NWI Status: FAC
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