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Betula lenta

L.

Sweet Birch

G5Secure Found in 40 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.147443
Element CodePDBET02050
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 lenta var. lenta
Other Common Names
Bouleau flexible (FR) Cherry Birch (EN) sweet 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
This record is for the narrow treatment of Betula lenta, excluding B. uber as a distinct species, as recognized in Kartesz (1994, 1999) and FNA (1997). As such, it is equivalent in concept to Betula lenta var. lenta as treated in Weakley et al. (2015, 2023 2024), who recognize B. uber as a variety, possibly only a form, of B. lenta, as B. lenta var. uber.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-15
Change Date1983-11-20
Edition Date2024-08-15
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 Reasons
Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) occurs in eastern North America, in southern Ontario, Canada and in the United States from Maine in the Appalachians and Piedmont to northern Georgia, Alabama, eastern Tennessee, Kentucky, and eastern Ohio. It is common in the southern Appalachians and is a dominant tree in the northern hardwood forests of the northern Appalachians. There are estimated to be more than 2300 occurrences, including on various National Forests, National Parks, State Forests, State Parks, and other conservation lands. Residential development and urbanization are threats in certain areas.
Range Extent Comments
Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) occurs in eastern North America, in southern Ontario, Canada and in the United States from Maine in the Appalachians and Piedmont to northern Georgia, Alabama, eastern Tennessee, Kentucky, and eastern Ohio. Range extent was estimated to be 800,000 square kilometers, using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (FNA 1997, GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 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 2300 occurrences of Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Residential development and urbanization are threats in certain areas.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) occurs in rich, moist, cool forests, especially on protected slopes, and on rockier, more exposed sites. It is common in the southern Appalachians and is a dominant tree in the northern hardwood forests of the northern Appalachians. In the Southern Appalachians is occurs at medium elevations and lower, but in Virginia and northwards it reaches higher elevations, where it can be as common as Yellow Birch (B. alleghaniensis), elevation ranges from 0 to 1500 meters (FNA 1997, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).

Reproduction

Flowers in the spring and fruits in the summer (FNA 1997, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedWoodland - Hardwood
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN1
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS1Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
DelawareS4Yes
North CarolinaS5Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
MarylandSNRYes
VermontS5Yes
New HampshireSNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
South CarolinaS3Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
VirginiaSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
New JerseyS5Yes
New YorkS5Yes
AlabamaSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
MassachusettsSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
MaineSNRYes
West VirginiaS5Yes
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 (40)
Alabama (1)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
Georgia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Boggs CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,073
Cedar MountainChattahoochee National Forest1,083
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
New Hampshire (1)
AreaForestAcres
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
North Carolina (6)
AreaForestAcres
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Linville Gorge AdditionPisgah National Forest2,809
Middle Prong AdditionPisgah National Forest1,852
Pennsylvania (2)
AreaForestAcres
Clarion RiverAllegheny National Forest3,821
Hearts ContentAllegheny National Forest221
Vermont (2)
AreaForestAcres
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Wilder Mountain 09082Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests8,759
Virginia (16)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beartown Addition BJefferson National Forest2,985
Elliott KnobGeorge Washington National Forest9,380
Garden MountainJefferson National Forest3,960
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
West Virginia (9)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
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.