Marsh.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.150177
Element CodePDBET020F0
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
Other Common NamesBouleau gris (FR) gray birch (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, 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.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-13
Change Date1983-11-20
Edition Date2024-08-13
Edition AuthorsNordman, C. (2024)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsGray Birch (Betula populifolia) occurs in eastern North America, in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, it is most common from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to southern Quebec, south to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and more rare south to Virginia, and west to Ontario, Michigan and Indiana. There are estimated to be more than 3000 occurrences, including on on the Allegheny, George Washington and White Mountain National Forests, Shenandoah National Park, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and on State Forests, State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas, and other conservation lands. Threats include the loss of habitat as a result of residential development and urbanization, and competition by invasive exotic plants.
Range Extent CommentsGray Birch (Betula populifolia) occurs in eastern North America, in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, it is most common from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to southern Quebec, south to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, becoming more rare south to Virginia, and west to southern Ontario, Michigan and Indiana. It has been introduced outside this native range in North Carolina, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and elsewhere. The native range extent in North America was estimated to be 1.4 million square kilometers, using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (FNA 1997, GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, POWO 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy 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 3000 occurrences of Gray Birch (Betula populifolia) rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsThreats to Gray Birch (Betula populifolia) include the loss of habitat as a result of residential development and urbanization, and competition by invasive exotic plants.