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Virginia roundleaf birch

Scientific Name: Betula uber

Family: Betulaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Tree

Duration: Perennial

Other Names: VA (Virginia round-leaf birch)

       

Virginia Round-leaf Birch (Betula uber)

The Virginia Round-leaf Birch, scientifically known as Betula uber, is a rare and endangered tree species belonging to the birch family (Betulaceae). It is one of the most endangered tree species in North America.

Considerations for Pets

  • The text mentions that the Virginia Round-leaf Birch has aromatic bark, which might be attractive to some animals.
  • The tree produces small cone-shaped fruits, which could be ingested by pets.
  • The tree has slender branches that can be easily accessed.

Considerations for Children

  • The tree produces small cone-shaped fruits, which could be a choking hazard for young children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Betula uber (Ashe) Fernald
  • Common Name: Virginia Round-leaf Birch
  • Family: Betulaceae (Birch Family)
  • Synonyms: Betula lenta uber, B carpinifolia

Distribution and Habitat

  • Endemic to a specific region.
  • Originally discovered in a single creek drainage in 1918.
  • Rediscovered along the banks of Cressy Creek.
  • The only known natural population grows along a creek in Smyth County, Virginia, at an elevation of 2750 feet.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Moderate-sized tree with a compact crown.
  • Aromatic bark.
  • Narrow trunk.
  • Oval crown with many slender branches.
  • Dark green, distinctly rounded leaves.
  • Produces small cone-shaped fruits in the fall.
  • The bark is tight, dark silver-gray to black with horizontal rows of raised reddish-brown lines (lenticels).

Ecological Role

  • Its habitat has been threatened by habitat degradation from logging.

Quirky Facts

  • The Virginia Round-leaf Birch was thought to be extinct until 1975.
  • It was the first tree given protection under the Endangered Species Act.
  • A champion Virginia Roundleaf Birch was recognized as the largest known tree of its kind in 1978 by American Forests Champion Trees.

Further Information

  • ARKive (for photos and facts)
  • Dave's Garden
  • Discover Life
  • RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Smithsonian Institution, Department of Systematic Biology, Botany