Murray's Birch (Betula murrayana)

A snowy shot of a full-sized tree of this species in its natural habitat. Photo Credit:

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Betulaceae
State: MI, ON
Nature Serve ID: 135809
Lifeform: Shrub
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/08/1989

Description:

This species is an unusual natural hybrid of an already naturally hybridized species, purpus birch, Betula x purpusii, crossed with another native species, yellow birch, Betula allegheniensis. It can be described as a small tree or a tall shrub, ranging from 4-15m tall. The tree is 5-20cm in diameter at breast height. The prominent lenticels are horizontally elongated in the bark. The flowers appear in April and May before the leaves and the fruit ripens in autumn. Many characteristics distinguish this species from its relatives. The first visible feature is the non-exfoliating, shiny, smooth, dark reddish bark, which peels similar to the yellow birch. The leaves are larger and broader than those of its parents, but are shaped similar to the purpus birch. The pollen is less visible, but different in that the grains are, on average, larger than either parent and are highly viable, similar only to yellow birch. Invisible to the naked eye, one of the biggest differences is that the Murray birch has many more chromosomes than either parent.

Where is Murray's Birch (Betula murrayana) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This species is found in northern temperate deciduous swamp forests. (Barnes and Danick 1985)

Distribution:

Found in only one site in Michigan, by Third Sister Lake in Saginaw Forest the demonstration forest for the University of Michigan. (Barnes and Danick 1985)

States & Provinces:

Murray's Birch can be found in Michigan, Ontario

Which CPC Partners conserve Murray's Birch (Betula murrayana)?

Holden Forests and Gardens

Conservation Actions

09/01/2020

Originally two trees were found, but in the early 1980s one died unexpectedly. Only one known original individual remains in the University of Michigan's demonstration forest. Several cuttings from this original have produced plants at the University of Michigans Matthaei Botanical Gardens and at The Holden Arboretum. (Barnes 1989) The tree at The Holden Arboretum, has recently been diagnosed with bronze birch borer. No course of action has been decided yet. (Butte pers. com [Less...]

08/30/2020

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Betula murrayana is known from a single naturally occurring site in Washtenaw County, Michigan. One one individual remains, of the two originally known there in the 1960's. Propagated plants are maintained in cultivation, and a few that were planted at the original site and another site have reached flowering size. The species may have recently evolved through hybridization.