Betulaceae

English: Birch family
Dutch: Berkenfamilie

The Betulaceae is a family of deciduous trees and shrubs comprising 6 genera and about 145 species. They are widespread in temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere and include important native trees such as birches, alders, and hazels.

Key Identifying Features

• Leaves: Simple, alternate, often doubly serrate with prominent veins
• Flowers: Monoecious; male flowers in pendulous catkins, female flowers in smaller upright catkins
• Fruits: Small nuts or nutlets, often winged (birches) or in woody cone-like structures (alders)
• Bark: Variable; often peeling in birches, smooth in alders

Parent: Plantae