Betula nana explained

Betula nana, the dwarf birch,^[1] is a species of birch in the family Betulaceae, found mainly in the tundra of the Arctic region.

Description

It is a monoecious, deciduous shrub growing up to 1– high. The bark is non-peeling and shiny red-copper colored.^[2] The leaves are rounded, 6- diameter, with a bluntly toothed margin. The leaves are a darker green on their upper surface. Leaf growth occurs after snow melt and become red in autumn.

The wind-pollinated fruiting catkins are erect, 5– long and 4– broad.

Distribution

Betula nana is native to arctic and cool temperate regions of Greenland, Iceland, northern Europe, northern Asia and northern North America and it will grow in a variety of conditions. Outside of far northern areas, it is usually found growing only in mountains above, up to in Great Britain and in the Alps. Its northern range limit is on Svalbard, where it is confined to favourable sites. In the UK Betula nana is at its southern range limit, with many populations having declined significantly in recent decades.^[3] In southern Sweden the occurrence of Betula nana in Sund, Ydre is deemed a glacial relict.^[4]

In general, it favours wet but well-drained sites with a nutrient-poor, acidic soil which can be xeric and rocky. B. nana has a low tolerance for shade.

Ecology

There are two subspecies:

• Betula nana subsp. nana. Canada (Baffin Island), Greenland, northern Europe (south to the Alps at high altitudes), northwestern Asia. Young twigs hairy, but without resin; leaves longer (to 20 mm), usually as long as broad.
• Betula nana subsp. exilis. Northeastern Asia, northern North America (Alaska, Canada east to Nunavut). Young twigs hairless or with only scattered hairs, but coated in resin; leaves shorter (not over 12 mm long), often broader than long.

Genome

The genome of B. nana has been sequenced.^[5]

External links

• Trees for Life: Species profile and Reference list
• Flora of North America: Betula nana
• Betula nana Distribution map
• Conservation Genetics and Population History of Betula nana etc., in Svalbard
• Dwarf birch genome website
• Literature arising from the Expedition » Betula nana

Notes and References

1. Book: Routledge Handbook of Forest Ecology. Kelvin S.-H. Peh. Richard T. Corlett. Yves Bergeron. Routledge. 2015. 12. 978-0-415-73545-2.
2. Ewing, Susan. The Great Alaska Nature Factbook. Portland: Alaska Northwest Books, 1996.
3. Borrell, James S.. Wang, Nian. Nichols, Richard A.. Buggs, Richard J. A.. 15 August 2018. Genetic diversity maintained among fragmented populations of a tree undergoing range contraction. Heredity. 121. 4. 304–318. 10.1038/s41437-018-0132-8. 30111882. 6134035. 0018-067X. 888447574.
4. Book: Hellgren . George . Ydre-Boken . 1960 . Linköping . 86–91. Något om växtligheten i Ydre. Filén. Thure. Swedish.
5. Wang N.. Thomson M.. Bodles W.J.A.. Crawford R.M.M.. Hunt H.V.. Featherstone A.W.. Pellicer J.. Buggs R.J.A.. Genome sequence of dwarf birch (Betula nana) and cross-species RAD markers. Mol. Ecol.. 2013. 22. 11. 3098–3111. 10.1111/mec.12131. 23167599. 206179485.