Specimen record
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Conservation note
Near the southern edge of its primary range in Worcester County. Do not peel bark from living trees — it causes permanent scarring and can be fatal.
Description
A graceful tree instantly recognized by its brilliant white, papery bark that peels in horizontal sheets. Paper birch is a pioneer species that colonizes open areas after disturbance. It reaches the southern limit of its main range in central Massachusetts and is less common here than farther north in New England. The bark was historically used by Indigenous peoples for canoes, containers, and writing surfaces.
Identification tips
- 1Bright white bark that peels in papery horizontal sheets
- 2Doubly serrate, ovate leaves with pointed tip and wedge-shaped base
- 3Drooping male catkins in spring (formed the previous autumn)
- 4Small upright female catkins that disintegrate at maturity, releasing tiny winged nutlets
- 5Bark on young twigs reddish-brown, becoming white on branches over ~5 cm diameter
Specimen & preservation notes
Press leafy branches with catkins if in season. Include a small piece of peeling bark — but never strip bark from living trees, as this can kill them. Collect naturally shed bark from the ground. Yellow fall foliage presses well and retains color.
Habitats
Collection calendar
| Wk | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||||
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| 4 |
Collection notes
Season check
Guide window is wider than observed records.
Flowering records: 9 iNaturalist observations, Massachusetts · Nearby: 437 observations within 25 km