Everything about Paper Birch totally explained
Betula papyrifera (
Paper Birch, also known as
American White Birch and
Canoe Birch) is a species of
birch native to northern
North America, from
Newfoundland west to
Alaska, south to
Pennsylvania and
Washington, with small isolated populations further south in
mountains to
North Carolina and
Colorado.
It is a medium-sized
deciduous tree reaching 20 m tall (exceptionally to 35 m) with a trunk up to 80 cm diameter. The
bark is white, commonly brightly so, flaking in fine horizontal strips, and often with small black marks and scars. In individuals younger than five years the bark appears brown with white lenticels, making the tree much harder to distinguish from other trees. The
leaves are alternate, ovate, 5-12 cm long and 4-9 cm broad, with a doubly serrate margin. The leaf buds are conical and small, they're green colored with brown edges. The
flowers are wind-pollinated
catkins 3-8 cm long growing from the tips of twigs, the
fruit matures in the fall. The mature fruit is composed of numerous tiny winged
seeds packed between the catkin bracts. They drop between September and spring.
Betula papyrifera is the
Provincial tree of
Saskatchewan and the
State tree of
New Hampshire.
The names reflect the use of the tree's bark, primarily by
Native Americans, for a
writing material and also that the waterproof bark was used for the outer covering of
canoes.
Ecology
Betula papyrifera is a
pioneer species. It needs high nutrients and a lot of sun. Birch bark is a winter staple food for
moose. The nutritional quality is poor, but is important to wintering moose because of its sheer abundance. Although
white-tailed deer consider Birch a "secondary-choice food", it's an important dietary component. In Minnesota, white-tailed deer eat considerable amounts of paper birch leaves in the fall.
Snowshoe hares browse paper birch seedlings,
porcupines feed on the inner bark and
mice eat the seeds. The leaves of the Paper Birch serve as food for various
Lepidoptera. See
List of Lepidoptera that feed on birches.
Distribution and Conservation
Betula papyrifera is found in all
provinces and territories of
Canada, except
Nunavut, as well as the northern
United States, south to
Colorado,
Tennessee and
North Carolina. It is considered
vulnerable in
Indiana,
imperiled in
Illinois,
Virginia,
West Virginia and
Wyoming, and
critically imperiled in
Colorado and
Tennessee.
Uses
Betula papyrifera has a soft, yet moderately heavy, white wood. It makes fine firewood. It is acceptable for furniture parts, floors, and
Oriented Strand Board. It doesn't have a very high economic value. The sap can be used to produce
birch syrup. The bark is also flammable even when wet which makes it very useful when on the trail.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Paper Birch'.
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