Betula humilis

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. *Betula humilis* is listed as **Least Concern**.

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Fagales
Classification System: APG IV Superregnum: Eukaryota Regnum: Plantae Cladus: Angiosperms Cladus: Eudicots Cladus: Core eudicots Cladus: Rosids Cladus: Eurosids I Ordo: Fagales

Familia: Betulaceae
Subfamilia: Betuloideae
Genus: Betula
Subgenus: Betula subg. Betula
Sectio: Betula sect. Apterocaryon
Species:

Name

Betula humilis Schrank, Baier. Fl. 1: 420 (1789).

Synonyms

Homotypic
- Chamaebetula humilis (Schrank) Opiz, Lotos 5: 259 (1855).
- Betula humilis var. genuina Regel, Nouv. Mém. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 13(2): 106 (1861), nom. inval.
- Betula humilis var. vulgaris Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 639 (1936), nom. inval.
Heterotypic
- Betula fruticans Pall., Reise Russ. Reich. 3: t. kk (1776), nom. nud.
- Betula myrsinoides Tausch, Flora 11: 753 (1828).
- Betula oycowiensis Rchb., Icon. Fl. Germ. Helv. 12: t. 622, f. 1281 (1850), nom. illeg.
- Betula palustris Rupr., Bull. Cl. Phys.-Math. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg 15: 376 (1857), nom. illeg.
- Betula humilis var. camtschatica Regel, Nouv. Mém. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 13(2): 107 (1861).
- Betula humilis var. commutata Regel, Nouv. Mém. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 13(2): 108 (1861).
- Betula humilis var. socolowii Regel, Nouv. Mém. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 13(2): 108 (1861).
- Betula sibirica Lodd. ex Regel in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 16(2): 173 (1868).
- Betula socolowii J.Jacq. ex Regel in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 16(2): 173 (1868), pro syn.
- Betula kamtschatica H.Buek, Gen. Sp. Syn. Candoll. 4: 52 (1874).
- Betula humilis var. oycowiensis Nyman, Consp. Fl. Eur.: 673 (1881).
- Betula humilis f. calcarata Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 642 (1935).
- Betula humilis f. crispa Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 642 (1935).
- Betula humilis var. cuneata Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 640 (1935).
- Betula humilis f. elliptica Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 641 (1935), nom. illeg.
- Betula humilis f. elliptica Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 643 (1935), nom. illeg.
- Betula humilis f. elliptica Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 643 (1935), nom. illeg.
- Betula humilis f. obovata Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 643 (1935).
- Betula humilis f. ovata Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 641 (1935), nom. illeg.
- Betula humilis f. ovata Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 643 (1935), nom. illeg.
- Betula humilis var. subcordata Perfil., Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 20: 641 (1935).
- Betula extremiorientalis Kuzen. & V.N.Vassil., Vestn. Dal'nevost. Fil. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 21: 161 (1936).
- Betula fruticosa subsp. extremiorientalis (Kuzen. & V.N.Vassil.) Vorosch. in A.K.Skvortsov (ed.), Florist. Issl. Razn. Raionakh SSSR: 162 (1985).

Distribution

Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe
- Regional: Middle Europe
  - Austria, Czechoslovakia (extinct), Germany, Poland, Switzerland.
- Regional: Southeastern Europe
  - Romania.
- Regional: Eastern Europe
  - Belarus, Baltic States, Central European Russia, East European Russia, North European Russia, South European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Ukraine.
Continental: Asia-Temperate
- Regional: Siberia
  - Buryatiya, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, West Siberia.
- Regional: Russian Far East
  - Khabarovsk.
- Regional: Middle Asia
  - Kazakhstan.
- Regional: China
  - Xinjiang.
- Regional: Mongolia
  - Mongolia.
- Regional: Eastern Asia
  - Korea.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2^nd Edition

References

Primary references

Schrank, F.v.P. 1789. Baiersche Flora. Erster Band. 753 pp. Bey Joh. Baptist Strobl, München. Biblioteca Digital. Reference page.

Additional references

Li, P.C. & Skvortsov, A.K. 1999. Betula. Pp. 304-313 in Wu, Zh.Y. & Raven, P.H. (eds.), Flora of China. Volume 4: Cycadaceae through Fagaceae. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, ISBN 0-915279-70-3. efloras Reference page.
Ashburner, K. & McAllister, H.A. 2013. The genus Betula: A taxonomic revision of birches (A Botanical Magazine Monograph). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 431 pp., ISBN 978-1-84246-141-9. Reference page.

Shaw, K., Roy, S. & Wilson, B. 2014. Betula humilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014. IUCN Red List Category: Least Concern . DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T194645A2355398.en.
Wang. N., McAllister, H.A., Bartlett, P.R. & Buggs, R.J.A. 2016. Molecular phylogeny and genome size evolution of the genus Betula (Betulaceae). Annals of Botany 117(6): 1023–1035. DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcw048 Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2025. Betula humilis in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2025 Jul 21. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2025. Betula humilis. Published online. Accessed: 21 Jul 2025. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2025. World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. . Betula humilis. Accessed: Jul 21 2025.

Vernacular names

беларуская: Бяроза нізкая
čeština: bříza nízká
Deutsch: Strauch-Birke
eʋegbe: Madal kask
eesti: Madal kask
hornjoserbsce: Niska brěza
Limburgs: Liekninis beržas
lietuvių: Zemais bērzs
polski: brzoza niska
русский: Берёза низкая