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Taxon  Report  
Betula occidentalis  Hook.
Water birch
Betula occidentalis is a tree or shrub that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in western North America.
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Bloom Period
Genus: Betula
Family: Betulaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Wetlands: Occurs usually in wetlands, occasionally in non wetlands

Communities: North Coastal Coniferous Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Red Fir Forest, Lodgepole Forest, wetland-riparian

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS

Alternate Names:
PLANTSBetula beeniana
PLANTSBetula fontinalis
PLANTSBetula occidentalis var. inopina
PLANTSBetula papyrifera ssp. occidentalis
PLANTSBetula papyrifera var. occidentalis
...
Information about  Betula occidentalis from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
This plant is available commercially.
Jepson eFlora

USDA PLANTS Profile (BEOC2)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[Wikipedia] Range, Elevation, Animal Food Source, Native American Use,: Betula occidentalis, the water birch or red birch, is a species of birch native to western North America, in Canada from Yukon east to Northwestern Ontario and southwards, and in the United States from eastern Washington east to western North Dakota,[citation needed] and south to eastern California, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico, and southwestern Alaska. It typically occurs along streams in mountainous regions,[1] sometimes at elevations of 2,100 metres (6,900 feet) and in drier areas than paper birch. The foliage is browsed by sheep, goats,[6] and birds; some small birds also consume the seeds.[2] Some Plateau Indian tribes used water birch to treat pimples and sores. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 11/09/2024).