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Betula alleghaniensis

Britt.

Yellow Birch

G5Secure Found in 75 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133573
Element CodePDBET02010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderFagales
FamilyBetulaceae
GenusBetula
Synonyms
Betula luteaMichx. f.
Other Common Names
Bouleau jaune (FR) yellow birch (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
The treatment here follows Flora of North America (1997), and lumps the subspecific taxa, Betula alleghaniensis var. fallax (Fassett) Brayshaw and B. alleghaniensis var. macrolepis (Fernald) Brayshaw. Betula alleghaniensis Britt. was formerly widely known by the illegitimate (superfluous) name B. lutea F. Michaux (FNA 1997, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-14
Change Date1984-02-14
Edition Date2024-08-14
Edition AuthorsNordman, C. (2024).
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) occurs in eastern North America, in the Midwestern, Appalachian and Northeast regions and in southeastern Canada. The range extent was estimated to be 3.5 million square kilometers, and there are estimated to be more than 9000 occurrences, including on various National Forests, National Parks, State Forests, State Parks, Provincial Parks and other conservation lands. Residential development and urbanization are threats in certain areas.
Range Extent Comments
Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) occursIt occurs from Newfoundland to western Ontario in Canada and from Maine to northern Georgia, and west to Minnesota and Iowa in the United States. Range extent was estimated to be 3.5 million square kilometers, using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (FNA 1997, GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be more than 9000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Residential development and urbanization are threats in certain areas.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) occurs in a variety of mesic to wet forests and swamps, along stream banks, in swampy woods, and on rich, moist, forested slopes, mostly at elevations of 0 to 500 meters. It is characteristic of the northern Appalachians and Hemlock - hardwood forests of the Great Lakes region. In the Southern Appalachians in forests at medium to high elevations, up to 1980 meters, rarely at low elevations (FNA 1997, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - Mixed
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Prince Edward IslandS5Yes
New BrunswickS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS3Yes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
QuebecS4Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
IndianaSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
South CarolinaS1Yes
West VirginiaS4Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
GeorgiaSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
MichiganSNRYes
North CarolinaS5Yes
OhioSNRYes
MarylandSNRYes
VirginiaS5Yes
VermontS5Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
IowaS3Yes
MaineS5Yes
IllinoisS1Yes
New JerseySNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationDECIDUOUS
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (75)
Georgia (4)
AreaForestAcres
Indian Grave GapChattahoochee National Forest1,020
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
Rocky MountainChattahoochee National Forest4,269
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Maine (1)
AreaForestAcres
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
Minnesota (2)
AreaForestAcres
Cabin CreekSuperior National Forest6,071
Phantom LakeSuperior National Forest6,521
New Hampshire (15)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Cherry MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,766
Dartmouth RangeWhite Mountain National Forest9,233
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
JobildunkWhite Mountain National Forest3,660
KearsargeWhite Mountain National Forest4,554
KilkennyWhite Mountain National Forest28,766
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest11,846
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
Pemigewasset ExtWhite Mountain National Forest15,840
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
WatervilleWhite Mountain National Forest4,312
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
North Carolina (15)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Middle Prong AdditionPisgah National Forest1,852
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
SnowbirdNantahala National Forest8,489
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Pennsylvania (3)
AreaForestAcres
Hearts ContentAllegheny National Forest221
Minister ValleyAllegheny National Forest1,417
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
Tennessee (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Sycamore CreekCherokee National Forest6,984
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
Vermont (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Devil's Den 09083Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests9,169
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Lye Brook Addition 09085Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,111
Wilder Mountain 09082Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests8,759
Woodford 09086Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests2,456
Virginia (10)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Beartown Addition BJefferson National Forest2,985
Laurel ForkGeorge Washington National Forest9,967
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
West Virginia (14)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
East Fork Of GreenbrierMonongahela National Forest7,167
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Glady ForkMonongahela National Forest3,239
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
Tea Creek MountainMonongahela National Forest8,295
Turkey MountainMonongahela National Forest6,421
Wisconsin (2)
AreaForestAcres
09012 - Round Lake Study AreaChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest3,707
09154 - St. Peters DomeChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest4,002
References (6)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1997. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 3. Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiii + 590 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
  6. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.