Common Name: sweet birch Circumference: 109
Species: Height: 84
Scientific Name: Betula lenta Crown: 64
Native/Naturalized: Native to Virginia Points: 209
Status: alive Last Measured: 2021
National Champion: no Last Measured by: Brendan Fitzgerald
Comments: The tree appears exceptionally healthy. It is a double-stemmed tree, and the stems physically diverge about 4' above ground, but there is bark inclusion between the stems down to about 2.5' above ground. At that height, the stems are completely fused (circumference=134""), and share a single root collar. Given the conformation of the root collar and the near identical size of the stems at 4.5' above ground (circumference=78"" and 76""), there is strong evidence that the tree originated from a single seed. However, the stems do not appear to have a common pith above ground line when applying the visual rule of pith line tracing.

The measurements and score presented here reflect that this is a single tree. However, using the fused trunk measurement unfairly inflates the score relative to single-stem specimens. Thus the score incorporates the composite functional circumference calculation using the two stem measurements above.

Tree was previously measured by Carmean, Kirwan, and Williamson in 2015 at 140"" (fused trunk measured 2' above ground), 91', 64', 247 points.

Declared national champion in 2018 and recognized as national co-champion in 2019, sharing the title with a tree in New Hampshire. Was not listed as national champ in 2020 due to lack of validation of trunk measurement.

More Photos

Top. Brendan Fitzgerald. 2021. Bottom. G. Williamson. 2015.
Location of Tree
Tree is located in: Giles Land Owner: Mountain Lake Conservancy
GPS Coordinates: 37.36701, -80.53693 Owner Email: events@mtnlakelodge.com
Directions:
Take Rt. 700 (Mountain Lake Road) past the hotel to the lower end of the lake. Pond Drain Road (gravel) goes left along drain. Tree is on uphill side of the road approximately 1/4 mile from Mountain Lake Road.

Owner Address:
115 HOTEL CIR
PEMBROKE, VA 24136-3055

 Owner Phone: 540-626-7121
Contact Information
Contact Name: Eric Wiseman Permission to Advertise: Yes
Contact Email: pwiseman@vt.edu Contact Address:
Contact Phone: 540-231-5148
 
Contact Info:
Nominators
Original Nominator(s): Byron Carmean, Jeff Kirwan, Gary Williamson
Other Nominators: