Yellow Birch (Betula lutea)

Form

Height occasionally 85 feet, diameter 2 to 3 feet; developing a broad, round crown.

Bark

Yellow-gray or straw colored; peeling freely into thin, papery layers on younger trees, but developing ragged, broken plates on mature trees. Twigs light brown, lustrous, and slightly aromatic with oil of wintergreen.

Fruit

Catkin, about 1 inch in length, contains numerous minute winged seeds when mature. Ripens in fall of first year.

Range

Common in the northern half of state on rich, moist uplands with scattered trees as far south as Sheboygan, Sauk and Grant counties.

Wood

Heavy, strong, hard, close-grained, light brown with pale sapwood; takes good polish; used for flooring, interior finish, veneers, wooden ware, furniture and small wooden novelties; excellent firewood.