Yellow Birch
I’m not certain about this one, but my best guess, from studying the Virginia Department of Forestry tree identification guide and doing further research on the Internet, is that it is a yellow birch (betula alleghaniensis). If I’ve learned anything from posting these findings it is that I need to take more pictures of leaf patterns, the leaves themselves (both sides), and the bark of the tree that the leaves are part of! Sigh ….
From what I’ve read, the birch is a pioneer species that rapidly colonizes disturbed land. That doesn’t fit my property at all, but I don’t have any other ideas of what the tree might be. I wish that I had looked at the bark of the tree – that would have settled the question for certain. This is the tree whose bark was used by the Iroquois, among others, to make canoes. I’ll take my books and camera and do some further investigation in November.
I think this is actually a species of alder. The birch and alder are in the same family, but this doesn’t quite look like birch to me. Alders are nitrogen fixers, and good for the soil.
Try the Dendrology at Virginia Tech website to compare photos: http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/biglist_frame.htm
Good luck!
Another possibility is the hornbeam (carpinus caroliniana). When you return in November, since the leaves will mostly be off the trees, look for a heavily fluted trunk that has thin, smooth, gray to bluish gray bark. The tree doesn’t grow very tall – maybe 25′, unlike the yellow birch. Your property isn’t disturbed, so I’d be inclined to lean towards a hornbeam.
Thanks, Bob. I probably should have consulted with you before I posted the piece, but I didn’t think to do so. I’ll keep an eye out for shrubby trees with heavily fluted trunks and smooth, gray to bluish gray bark.
I think your land qualifies as disturbed land; it’s not virgin forest. I’m not familiar with that birch. I have some birches but their leaves are not serrated.