Betula lenta Black Birch
Family Betulaceae
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Description
Growth Form: Large tree.
Leaves: 6-13cm (2.5-5in) long, simple, ovate, with pointed tip and rounded base, finely double-toothed.
Flowers: Tiny. Male flowers are yellowish and hang in long catkins. Female flowers are greenish and stand in shorter upright catkins.
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Leaves
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Bud
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Cones: 2-4cm (0.75-1.25in) brownish, upright.
Buds: Hairless or lower scale with sparse hairs.
Bark: Smooth, tight, shiny, brown or black, with thin horizontal stripes, old bark fissured irregularly.
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Habitat and Range
Cool and moist habitats, with mixed hardwoods and conifers. Southern Main to nothern Ohio and northern Alabama.
Season
Sap and inner bark should be harvested in the spring. The twigs can be harvested any time of the year.
Fun Facts
All birches produce edible sap. Flow is usually best in late March and April, when daytime temperatures are above freezing and nighttime temperatures are below.
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Bark
Click here for a Black Birch Tea recipe!
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