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Birch bark or birchbark is generally understood to be the bark of the Paper Birch tree (Betula papyrifera), or sometimes of related species such as Gray (Wire) Birch (Betula populifolia). Bark, also known as periderm is the outermost layer of stems and Roots of Woody plants such as Trees It overlays the Wood and consists Betula papyrifera ( Paper Birch, also known as American White Birch and Canoe Birch) is a species of Birch native to northern Betula populifolia ( Gray Birch) is a Deciduous Tree native to North America.

The strong and water-resistant cardboard-like bark can be easily cut, bent, and sewn, which made it a valuable building, crafting, and writing material, since pre-historic times. Writing material refers to the materials that provide the surfaces on which humans use Writing instruments to inscribe writings Stone Age Paleolithic See also Paleolithic, Recent African Origin, Early Homo sapiens, Early human migrations "Paleolithic" Even today birch bark remains a popular material for various handicrafts and arts. Handicraft, also known as craftwork or simply Craft, is a type of work where useful and decorative devices are made completely by hand or using only simple tools

Birch bark also contains substances of medicinal and chemical interest. Some of those products (such as betulin) also have fungicidal properties that help preserve bark artifacts, as well as food preserved in bark containers. Betulin (lup-20(29-ene-3β28-diol is an abundant naturally occurring Triterpene.

A Russian birch bark letter (14th century).
A Russian birch bark letter (14th century). A birch bark document is a document written on pieces of Birch bark.

Contents

Collection and storage

Birch bark can be removed fairly easily from the trunk or branches, living or recently dead, by cutting a slit lengthwise through the bark and pulling or prying it away from the wood. The best time for collection is spring or early summer, as the bark is of better quality and most easily removed. Spring is one of the four Temperate Seasons Spring marks the transition from Winter into Summer. Summer is one of the four Temperate Seasons Summer marks the warmest time of year with the longest days

Removing the outer (light) layer of bark from the trunk of a living tree may not kill it, but probably weakens it and makes it more prone to infections. An infection is the detrimental Colonization of a host Organism by a foreign Species. Removal of the inner (dark) layer, the phloem, kills the tree by preventing the flow of sap to the roots. In Vascular plants phloem is the living tissue that carries organic Nutrients (known as photosynthate particularly Sucrose, a sugar to ROOT is an object-oriented program and library developed by CERN.

To prevent it from rolling up during storage, the bark should be spread open and kept pressed flat.

Working

Birch bark can be cut with a sharp knife, and worked like cardboard. A knife is a handheld sharp-edged instrument consisting of handle attached to a Blade used for cutting For sharp bending, the fold should be scored first with a blunt stylus. A stylus (plural styli or styluses) is a Writing utensil. The word is also used for a computer accessory ( PDAs)

Fresh bark can be worked as is; bark that has dried up (before or after collection) should be softened by steaming, by soaking in warm water, or over a fire.

Uses

Finnish fishing net weights made out of birch bark and stones.
Finnish fishing net weights made out of birch bark and stones.

Birch bark was a valuable construction material in any part of the world where birch trees were available. Containers like wrappings, bags, baskets, boxes, or quivers were made by most societies well before pottery was invented. A bag (also known as a Sack) is a non- rigid or semi-rigid container made of Paper, Cloth, Plastic, Leather, A basket is a container which is traditionally constructed from stiff fibres often made of Willow. Elaborate wood box Tom TanakaJPG|thumb|An elaborate wooden box]] Box describes a variety of containers and receptacles A quiver is a container for arrows, crossbow bolts or darts, such as those shot from a bow, Crossbow or Blowgun. Pottery is the Ceramic ware made by potters It also refers to a group of materials that includes Earthenware, Stoneware Other uses include:

Birch bark also makes an outstanding tinder, as the inner layers will stay dry even through heavy rainstorms. Tinder is easily combustible material used to ignite Fires by rudimentary methods To render birch bark useless as tinder, it must be soaked for an extended period.

See also

References

External links

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