Silver Birch - Betula pendula
Description
Erect tree to 30 metres. Bark silvery white in more mature trees and peeling. Leaves triangular and irregularly toothed. Catkins yellowish, the male present and unprotected from Winter, maturing with the leaves and drooping. The female stand erect.
Similar Species
Downy Birch Betula pubescens
Identification difficulty
Habitat
Woods and heaths.
When to see it
April and May.
Life History
Deciduous.
UK Status
Quite common throughout Britain.
VC55 Status
Quite common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 312 of the 617 tetrads.
 Male Flower Corner of Green Lane Sapcote SP 4866 9318 (taken 23.4.2008).JPG)
Graham CalowSapcote23 April 2008Male Flowers (Catkins) Corner of Green Lane Sapcote SP 4866 9318 (taken 3.5.2008).JPG)
Graham CalowSapcote03 May 2008
Alan SemperHarby, churchyard24 May 2012
Graham CalowNarborough Road, Cosby12 April 2016catkins Female Flower Corner of Green Lane Sapcote SP 4866 9318(taken 23.4.2008).JPG)
Graham CalowSapcote23 April 2008Female Flower
Graham CalowStoney Stanton01 February 2016
 Male Flower Corner of Green Lane Sapcote SP 4866 9318 (taken 23.4.2008).JPG)
 Corner of Green Lane Sapcote SP 4866 9318 (taken 3.5.2008).JPG)
 Female Flower Corner of Green Lane Sapcote SP 4866 9318(taken 23.4.2008).JPG)
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015
UK Map
Alan SemperHarby churchyard08 July 2012
Graham CalowCosby Golf Club05 February 2016
Graham CalowWitherley27 May 2015
Graham CalowWitherley27 May 2015
Graham CalowHigham on the Hill15 May 2015
