Silver Birch |
Birch family |
Betula pendula |
Betulaceae |
Silver Birch trees can grow up to 25 metres tall, and are especially common on heathland.
They have characteristic silver bark, which is papery when young,
and becomes darker when older, often with diamond-shaped fissures.
The male catkins (which hang down) are larger than the erect female ones.
The leaves are doubly-toothed,
unlike those of Downy Birch, and turn yellow in autumn.
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Catkins: male (below) and female (above) |
Male catkins |
Buds and early catkins |
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Mature bark with diamond pattern |
Papery bark |
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Leaves changing colour |
Double-toothed leaves |