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For other uses, see Birch (disambiguation).
Birch
Silver Birch
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fagales
Family: Betulaceae
Genus: Betula
L.
Species

Many species;
see text and classification

Birch is the name of any tree of the genus Betula (Bé-tu-la), in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Dicotyledons, or "dicots", is a name for a group of Flowering plants whose Seed typically has two embryonic leaves or Cotyledons There The Fagales are an order of Flowering plants including some of the best known Trees The order name is derived from Genus Fagus Betulaceae, or the Birch Family, includes six genera of Deciduous nut -bearing Trees and Shrubs including the Birches Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for Subgenus Betulenta - Wintergreen oil birches Bark on twigs rich in Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or Syllable stress of botanical names varies with the language spoken Betulaceae, or the Birch Family, includes six genera of Deciduous nut -bearing Trees and Shrubs including the Birches For the babyfood see Beech-Nut. Beech ( Fagus) is a genus of ten Species of Deciduous Trees in the The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of about 400 species of Trees and Shrubs in the Genus Quercus (from Latin The family Fagaceae, or beech family, comprises about 900 species of both Evergreen and Deciduous trees and shrubs which are characterized by alternate These are generally small to medium-size trees or shrubs, mostly of northern temperate climates. A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or A shrub or Bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of Woody plant, distinguished from a Tree The simple leaves may be toothed or lobed. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. The fruit is a small samara, although the wings may be obscure in some species. A samara is a type of Fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous papery tissue develops from the ovary wall They differ from the alders (Alnus, the other genus in the family) in that the female catkins are not woody and disintegrate at maturity, falling apart to release the seeds, unlike the woody cone-like female alder catkins. Alder is the common name of a Genus of Flowering plants ( Alnus) belonging to the Birch family (Family Betulaceae) A catkin or ament is a slim cylindrical flower cluster with inconspicuous or no petals usually Wind - pollinated ( anemophilous) but sometimes

The common name birch is derived from an old Germanic root, birka, with the Proto-Indo-European root *bherəg, "white, bright; to shine. The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European (IE Language family. " The Proto-Germanic rune berkanan is named after the birch. Proto-Germanic, or Common Germanic, is the hypothetical common ancestor ( Proto-language) of all the Germanic languages such as modern English *Berkanan is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name of the b Rune, meaning " Birch " The botanic name Betula is from the original Latin. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Birch is used as a food plant by the larvae of a large number of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) species, see List of Lepidoptera that feed on birches. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a A moth is an Insect closely related to the Butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Birches ( Betula spp are used as food plants by the Larvae of a large number of Lepidoptera species including Monophagous

The birch is considered a national tree of Russia, where it used to be worshipped as a goddess during the Green Week in early June. This article is about symbols of nations Many countries it can be used for is Chantal Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Semik is an ancient Slavic fertility festival celebrated in early June and closely linked with the cult of the dead and the

The bark of all birches is characteristically marked with long horizontal lenticels, and often separates into thin papery plates, especially upon the Paper Birch. It is practically imperishable, due to the resinous oil which it contains. Its decided color gives the common names Red, White, Black, Silver and Yellow to different species.

The buds form early and are full grown by midsummer, all are lateral, no terminal bud is formed; the branch is prolonged by the upper lateral bud. The wood of all the species is close-grained with satiny texture and capable of taking a fine polish; its fuel value is fair.

The leaves of the different species vary but little. All are alternate, doubly serrate, feather-veined, petiolate, and stipulate. Apparently they often appear in pairs, but these pairs are really borne on spur-like two-leaved lateral branchlets. [1]

Contents

Flower and fruit

The flowers are monoecious, opening with or before the leaves and borne on three-flowered clusters in the axils of the scales of drooping or erect aments. Staminate aments are pendulous, clustered or solitary in the axils of the last leaves of the branch of the year or near the ends of the short lateral branchlets of the year. They form in early autumn and remain rigid during the winter. The scales of the staminate aments when mature are broadly ovate, rounded, yellow or orange color below the middle, dark chestnut brown at apex. Each scale bears two bractlets and three sterile flowers, each flower consisting of a sessile, membranaceous, usually two-lobed, calyx. Each calyx bears four short filaments with one-celled anthers or strictly, two filaments divided into two branches, each bearing a half-anther. Anther cells open longitudinally. The pistillate aments (catkins) are erect or pendulous, solitary; terminal on the two-leaved lateral spur-like branchlets of the year. A catkin or ament is a slim cylindrical flower cluster with inconspicuous or no petals usually Wind - pollinated ( anemophilous) but sometimes The pistillate scales are oblong-ovate, three-lobed, pale yellow green often tinged with red, becoming brown at maturity. These scales bear two or three fertile flowers, each flower consisting of a naked ovary. The ovary is compressed, two-celled, crowned with two slender styles; the ovule is solitary.

The ripened pistillate ament is called a strobile and bears tiny winged nuts, packed in the protecting curve of each brown and woody scale. These nuts are pale chestnut brown, compressed, crowned by the persistent stigmas. The seed fills the cavity of the nut. The cotyledons are flat and fleshy. All the species are easily grown from seed. [1]

Ecology

Birches often form even-aged stands on light, well-drained, particularly acidic soils. Soil pH is the PH of soil water It is based on the measurement of pH which depends on the activity of Hydrogen Ions (H+ in a solution They are regarded as pioneer species, rapidly colonising open ground especially in secondary successional sequences following a disturbance or fire. A pioneer species are Species which colonizes previously uncolonized land usually leading to Ecological succession. Secondary succession is one of the two types of Ecological succession of plant life Birches are early tree species to establish in primary successions and can become a threat to heathland if the seedlings and saplings are not suppressed by grazing or periodic burning. A seedling is a young plant Sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a Seed. Birches are generally lowland species, but some species such as Betula nana have a montane distribution. Betula nana ( Dwarf Birch) is a species of Birch in the family Betulaceae. Montane is a biogeographic term which refers to highland areas located below the Subalpine zone

Species

See also: Taxonomy of Betula
Birches of North America include
Birches of Europe and Asia include
Note: many American texts have B. pendula and B. pubescens confused, though they are distinct species with different chromosome numbers

Uses

Birch Plywood
Birch Plywood
Birch bark can easily be peeled off and used
Birch bark can easily be peeled off and used

Birch wood is fine-grained and pale in colour, often with an attractive satin-like sheen. Satin is a Cloth that typically has a glossy surface and a dull back Ripple figuring may occur, increasing the value of the timber for veneer and furniture-making. In Woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood usually thinner than 3 mm (1/8 inch that are typically Glued onto core panels (typically Wood The highly-decorative Masur (or Karelian) birch, from Betula verrucosa var. Karelia ( Karelian and Finnish Karjala, Карелия ( Kareliya) Karelen the land of the Karelian peoples, is an area in carelica has ripple texture combined with attractive dark streaks and lines. Birch wood is suitable for veneer, and birch ply is among the strongest and most dimensionally-stable plywoods, although it is unsuitable for exterior use. Plywood is a type of Engineered board made from thin sheets of Wood, called plies or veneers

Due to birch pulp’s short-fibre qualities, this hardwood can be used to make printing paper. Wood pulp is a dry fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating the fibers which make up Wood. The term hardwood is used to describe Wood from broad-leaved angiosperm Trees mostly Deciduous, but not necessarily in the case of tropical In India the thin bark coming off in winter was used as writing paper. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country This has excellent life. The paper is known as bhoorj patra. Bhoorj is the Sanskrit name of tree and patra means paper. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical

Extracts of birch are used for flavoring or leather oil, and in cosmetics such as soap or shampoo. SOAP (see below for name and origins is a protocol for exchanging XML -based messages over Computer networks normally using Shampoo is a Hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt skin particles Dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that In the past, commercial oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate) was made from the Sweet Birch (Betula lenta). Methyl salicylate ( Chemical formula C6H4(HOCOOCH3 also known as salicylic acid methyl ester, oil of wintergreen, Betula lenta ( Sweet Birch, also known as Black Birch, Cherry Birch, Mahogany Birch, or Spice Birch) is a species of Birch tar or Russian Oil, extracted from birch bark[2], is thermoplastic and waterproof; it was used as a glue on, for example, arrows, and also for medicinal purposes. An arrow is a pointed Projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most Cultures.

Silver Birch (Betula pendula) is Finland's national tree. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Occasionally one uses leafy, fragrant twigs of silver birch to gently beat oneself in a sauna. A sauna (ˈsɔːnə or as Finnish) is a small room or house designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions or an establishment with one or more of these and auxiliary The twigs are called vihta or vasta. This has a relaxing effect on the muscles.

Birch leaves make a diuretic tea and to make extracts for dyes and cosmetics. A diuretic is any Drug that elevates the rate of urination ( Diuresis) Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market A dye can generally be described as a Colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied

Ground birch bark, fermented in sea water, is used for seasoning the woolen, hemp or linen sails and hemp rope of traditional Norwegian boats. The Nordland boat (or Nordlandsbåt is a type of Fishing boat that has been used for centuries in northern counties of Nordland, Troms and Finmark

Birch twigs were bound in a bundle, also called birch, to be used for birching, a form of corporal punishment. Birching is a Corporal punishment with a Birch rod typically applied to the recipient's bare buttocks although occasionally to the back and/or shoulders Corporal punishment is the deliberate infliction of pain intended to Punish a person or change his/her behavior

Many of the First Nations of North America prized the birch for its bark, which due to its light weight, flexibility, and the ease with which it could be stripped from fallen trees, was often used for the construction of strong, waterproof but lightweight canoes, bowls, and tipis. First Nations is a term of Ethnicity that refers to the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis people A canoe is a small narrow Boat, typically human-powered though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors A tipi' (also teepee, tepee) is a conical Tent originally made of animal skins or birch bark and popularized by the Native Americans

Birch is used as firewood due to its high calorific value per unit weight and unit volume. Firewood was the primary source of fuel until the 1800s when it was displaced by coal and later by oil The heat of combustion (ΔHc0 is the Energy released as Heat when a compound undergoes complete Combustion with Oxygen Birch is prized by the Sami people as it burns well, without popping, even when frozen and freshly hewn. The Sami people are the Indigenous people of northern Europe inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of northern Sweden, Norway The bark is also used in starting fires. The bark will burn very well, even when wet, because of the oils it contains. With care, the bark can be split into very thin sheets that will ignite from even the smallest of sparks.

Birches also have spiritual importance in several religions, both modern and historical.

Birch ply is made from laminations of birch veneer. Plywood is a type of Engineered board made from thin sheets of Wood, called plies or veneers It is light but strong and has many other good properties. Birch ply is used to make longboards (skateboard), giving it a strong yet flexy ride. It is also used (often in very thin grades with many laminations) for making model aircraft.


Tonewood

Baltic Birch is among the most sought after wood in the manufacture of speaker cabinets. Birch has a natural resonance that peaks in the high and low frequencies, which are also the hardest for speakers to reproduce. This resonance compensates for the roll-off of low and high frequencies in the speakers, and evens the tone. Birch is known for having "natural EQ. "

Drums are often made from Birch. Prior to the 1970s, Birch was one of the most popular drum woods. Because of the need for greater volume and midrange clarity, drums were made almost entirely from maple until recently, when advancements in live sound reinforcement and drum mics have allowed the use of Birch in high volume situations. Birch drums have a natural boost in the high and low frequencies, which allow the drums to sound fuller.

Birch wood is sometimes used as a tonewood for semi-acoustic and acoustic guitar bodies and occasionally used for solid-body guitar bodies. Birch wood is also a common material used in mallets for keyboard percussion.

Food

In Belarus, Russia, the Baltic States, Finland, and parts of northern China, birch sap is consumed as a refreshing beverage, and is believed to have tonic qualities. Belarus ( Belarusian Беларусь / Biełaruś is a Landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the north and east Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The Baltic states (Balti riigid Baltijas valstis Baltijos valstybės or Baltic countries are three countries in Northern Europe, all members of the Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Birch sap is the sap extracted from a Birch tree such as a North American Sweet Birch or a Silver Birch. It is watery and pale green in color, with a slightly sweet flavor, and is bottled commercially. Birch sap may also made into kvass. Kvass or kvas (literally "leaven" borrowed in the 16th century from Russian квас ( kvas) sometimes translated into English The sap of particular birch species may also be rendered into birch syrup, vinegar, birch beer (a drink similar to root beer), and other foods. Birch syrup is a sweetener made from the Sap of Birch Trees and used in much the same way as Maple syrup. Vinegar is an acidic liquid processed from the Fermentation of Ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient Acetic acid (also called ethanoic acid Birch beer is a Carbonated Soft drink made from herbal extracts usually from Birch bark Root beer, also known as Sarsaparilla, is a carbonated Beverage originally created from Sassafras. In contrast to maple syrup, birch syrup is very difficult to produce, making it more expensive than other food syrups. Maple syrup is a sweetener made from the sap of Maple trees In Canada and the United States it is most often eaten with waffles and pancakes It is also considerably less sweet than maple syrup and the sap for syrup production is not available until a month later than maple's. The syrup is made mainly in Alaska (from Alaska Birch) and Russia (from several species), and more rarely elsewhere. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending

Xylitol can also be extracted from birch, a sugar alcohol artificial sweetener, which has shown effectiveness in preventing, and in some cases repairing, tooth decay. Xylitol (from Greek ξύλον - xyl, "wood" + suffix - itol, used to denote sugar alcohols is an Organic compound with the formula (CHOH3(CH2OH2 A sugar alcohol (also known as a Polyol, polyhydric alcohol, or polyalcohol) is a hydrogenated form of Carbohydrate, whose Dental caries is a disease that damages Tooth structures resulting in what is commonly called tooth decay or cavities which are holes in the teeth

According to the Food Network series Unwrapped, birch is a preferred wood for the manufacture of toothpicks. Food Network is a cable network that airs specials and recurring (episodic programs about food and cooking Unwrapped is a television program on Food Network that reveals the origins and history of popular and not-so-popular A toothpick is a small stick of Wood, Plastic, Bamboo, Metal or other substance used to remove detritus from the Teeth, usually after

Medicinal

In northern latitudes birch is considered to be the most important allergenic tree pollen, with an estimated 15-20% of hay fever sufferers sensitive to birch pollen grains. Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi ( Φ) gives the location of a place on Earth (or other planetary body north or south of the Allergy is a disorder of the Immune system often also referred to as Atopy. Pollen is a fine to coarse powder consisting of microgametophytes ( pollen grains) which produce the male Gametes (sperm cells of Hay Fever is a comic play written by Noel Coward in 1924 and first produced in 1925 with Marie Tempest as the first Judith Bliss

The chaga mushroom is an adaptogen that grows on white birch trees, extracting the birch constituents and is used as a remedy for cancer. Chaga ( Inonotus obliquus) also known as tinder mushroom is a fungus in Hymenochaetaceae family The term adaptogen is used by Herbalists to refer to a natural herb product that is proposed to increase the body's resistance to Stress, trauma Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled

The bark is high in betulin and betulinic acid, phytochemicals which have potential as pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals which show promise as industrial lubricants. Betulin (lup-20(29-ene-3β28-diol is an abundant naturally occurring Triterpene. Phytochemicals are plant-derived chemical compounds under scientific research for their potential health-promoting properties but with unproved benefits

Birch bark can be soaked until moist in hot water, and then formed into a cast for a broken arm.

The inner bark of birch can be ingested safely.

References

  1. ^ a b Keeler, Harriet L. (1900). Our Native Trees and How to Identify Them. New York: Charles Scriber's Sons, 295-297.  
  2. ^ Birch Tar - How to collect it [1]

Dictionary

birch

-noun

  1. any of various trees of the genus Betula, native to countries in the northern hemisphere.
  2. a hard wood taken from the birch tree, typically used to make furniture.
  3. a stick, rod or bundle of twigs made from birch wood, used for punishment.

-verb

  1. to punish with a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood.
  2. to punish as though one were using a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood.
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