Scrub Birch (Also known as Bog Birch, Swamp Birch and Dwarf Birch)
Plants of the The Taiga PlainsBalsam Poplar | Black Spruce | Cloudberry | Horsetail | Red Osier Dogwood Scrub Birch | Siberian Yarrow | Sphagnum Moss | Tamarck Trembling Aspen | White Spruce Betula glandulosaAppearanceScrub birch is a shrub with resin-filled wart-like glands on its twigs and nearly circular, deciduous and leathery leaves. Its flowers are male and female catkins up to 3cm long. Range & HabitatScrub birch is native to the northern part of Canada and Greenland and to higher elevations in areas as south as California. At lower elevations, it's usually found near wet or boggy areas while at higher elevations it is found in drier areas. Life CycleWhen the female catkins are pollinated, they forms small nutlets that each contain a single seed and drop when they are ripe in the autumn. Animal UsesAlthough it is not particularly nutritious, moose and snowshoe hare graze on the leaves and twigs of the scrub birch, while ruffed grouse eat the buds and seeds. Traditional First Nations UsesOccasionally, First Peoples used the flowers for respiratory problems and to help during childbirth. Modern UsesGardeners plant scrub birch as ornamental plants. Status
COSEWIC: Not at Risk
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