Taxon Report

Betula glandulosa Michx.

dwarf resin birch

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Betula glandulosa, commonly known as dwarf resin birch, is a perennial deciduous shrub in the Betulaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Bogs and fens, Lower montane coniferous forest, Marshes and swamps, Meadows and seeps, and Subalpine coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1300 to 2300 meters. Betula glandulosa is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Betula glandulosa Michx.
Common Name:	dwarf resin birch
Family:	Betulaceae
Element Code:	PDBET02040
USDA Plants Symbol:	BEGL
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial deciduous shrub
Blooming Period: May-Jul	May-Jul
Elevation:	1300-2300 (4265-7545)
General Habitats:	Bogs and fens, Lower montane coniferous forest, Marshes and swamps, Meadows and seeps, Subalpine coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Mesic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	IUCN_LC
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	28
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	4
Fair (C)	4
Poor (D)	3
None (X)	1
Unknown (U)	16

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Butte (BUT), Lassen (LAS), Modoc (MOD), Plumas (PLU), Siskiyou (SIS), Tehama (TEH)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Almanor (4012122), Antelope Mtn. (4012058), Bogard Buttes (4012152), Caribou (4012112), Chester (4012132), Childs Meadows (4012134), Davis Creek (4112063), Eagle Peak (4112032), Emerson Peak (4112022), Fort Bidwell (4112072), Humbug Valley (4012123), Jess Valley (4112023), Jonesville (4012114), Lake Annie (4112081), Mt. Bidwell (4112082), Panther Rock (4112272), Pegleg Mtn. (4012048), Warren Peak (4112042)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	6
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	9	32 %
Grazing	8	28%
Foot traffic/trampling	4	14%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	2	7%
Dam/Inundation	1	3%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	3%
Surface water diversion	1	3%

Notes



Possibly threatened by grazing, trampling, vehicles, and recreational activities. CA plants previously misapplied to Betula pumila var. glandulifera.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Betula glandulosa account for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2022)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 30 January 2025].