Synonym: Betula fontinalis.   Betula occidentalis. (Water Birch)
Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Streamsides. Spring.
Bill Canyon, Utah, April 1, 2004.

River Birch is found in moist soils often within a few feet of year-round streams.  It can grow to 35 feet tall but usually is shorter in thicket clumps such as the one this three inch diameter trunk is part of.  Clusters of stems merge at their base and older, multiple-trunked trees appear perched on a pedestal.

"Betula" is the classical Latin name for the plant, "fontinalis" is of unknown meaning, and "occidentalis" means "western", in reference to the plants location in the U.S.

Synonym: Betula fontinalis.   Betula occidentalis. (Water Birch)
Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Streamsides. Spring.
Bill Canyon, Utah, April 1, 2004.

Synonym: Betula fontinalis.   Betula occidentalis. (Water Birch)
Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Streamsides. Spring.
Bill Canyon, Utah, April 15, 2008.

River Birch is monoecious, having both male (shown here) and female flowers separate but on each tree.  In each of the slits in the chain, tiny stamens protrude.

Synonym: Betula fontinalis.   Betula occidentalis. (Water Birch)
Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Streamsides. Spring.
Negro Bill Canyon, Utah, April 13, 2005.

Spring green.

Synonym: Betula fontinalis.   Betula occidentalis. (Water Birch)
Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Streamsides. Spring.
Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail, Escalante/Grand Staircase National Monument, Utah, October 23, 2007.