Dwarf birch

Family Betulaceae. Grows in the north of the European part of Russia, in Western Siberia and Yakutia, and on Kamchatka. Outside Russia it is widespread in the northern parts of Europe and North America. Outside the north it can be found in mountains above 300 m; it occurs in mountains up to 835 m in Scotland and up to 2200 m in the Alps.

Description: Deciduous, highly branched shrub 0.2—1.2 m tall with ascending or semi-prostrate shoots. Shoots glabrous with dark brown bark.

Leaf arrangement — alternate. Leaves rounded, 1.0—2.5 cm long and wide, with a rounded apex and a broadly cuneate base, with bluntly toothed margins. Above the leaves are dark green and glossy, beneath lighter, sticky when young. Petioles short, 4—6 mm long.

Flowers small, inconspicuous, unisexual, gathered in short catkin inflorescences 5—15 mm long and 4—10 mm wide at the ends of lateral twigs, light brown.

Blooms before the leaves unfold.

Fruit — a small elliptical nutlet with very narrow membranous wings along the sides.