Betula pendula Silver Birch

Silver Birch is a small, deciduous tree which is widespread and common in Britain. The silvery white bark and the drooping (pendulous) ends to the branches are very distinctive, paticularly in winter. It also has diamond-shaped patches (lenticels) on its usually warty and hairless twigs. It is a widespread species in West Glamorgan occuring in  woodland, hedgerows and scrub but less common than Downy Birch (B. pubescens) in Gower and perhaps less abundant on higher ground. A hybrid between Silver Birch and Downy Birch also occurs in West Glamorgan, but its distribution and status is less well understood.

Native