yellow birch

Yellow Birch Betula alleghaniensis
Family: Betulaceae (Birch)
Branching: Alternate

Yellow Birch is a common tree in Ontario and often grows on drier ground than White Birch (Black Birch is very rare in Canada but more or less shares the habitat of Yellow Birch). Compared to White Birch, its bark is golden in colour and its peeling bark forms much tighter and small curls. Young trees can be quite similar as the twigs and buds resemble each other but Yellow Birch (and Black Birch) have a wintergreen scent when broken.

End bud of Yellow Birch

Another view of an end bud

Yellow Birch twig

Sometimes Yellow Birch has obvious "dwarf shoots"

Yellow Birch bark

Another view of Yellow Birch bark. The golden colour was exaggerated by the sun setting.