Betula Pubescens - Characteristics

Characteristics

It is a deciduous tree growing to 10–20 m tall (rarely to 27 m), with a slender crown and a trunk up to 70 cm (exceptionally 1 m) diameter, with smooth but dull grey-white bark finely marked with dark horizontal lenticels. The shoots are grey-brown and finely downy. The leaves are ovate-acute, 2–5 cm long and 1.5-4.5 cm broad, with a finely serrated margin. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins, produced in early spring before the leaves. The fruit is a pendulous, cylindrical aggregate 1–4 cm long and 5–7 mm diameter, which disintegrates at maturity, releasing the individual seeds; these are 2 mm long with two small wings along the side.