Newfoundland dwarf birch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newfoundland dwarf birch |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Betula
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| Species: |
michauxii
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The Newfoundland dwarf birch, also known as Betula michauxii, is a type of birch tree. It is native to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Quebec in Canada. You can also find it on the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
What is the Newfoundland Dwarf Birch?
This special birch is quite small, usually growing to about 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) (about 1.6 feet) tall. It has a fresh, minty smell, much like wintergreen.
How to Spot This Birch?
The leaves of the Newfoundland dwarf birch are shaped like an upside-down egg, wider at the top than the bottom. They also have a very smooth surface, meaning they are free of hairs.
When the plant produces fruit, they grow in a cluster called an infructescence. This cluster is shaped like a cylinder, stands upright, and is quite short, usually between 0.5–0.8 centimetres (0.20–0.31 in) long. The fruits themselves ripen in the fall and are just as smooth as the leaves.
