Betula alleghaniensis
Betula alleghaniensis | |
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Yellow birch foliage | |
Bark | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fagales |
Family: | Betulaceae |
Genus: | Betula |
Subgenus: | Betula subg. Betulenta
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Species: | B. alleghaniensis
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Binomial name | |
Betula alleghaniensis | |
Natural range of Betula alleghaniensis | |
Synonyms | |
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Betula alleghaniensis, the yellow birch,
Betula alleghaniensis is the provincial tree of Quebec, where it is commonly called merisier, a name which in France is used for the wild cherry.
Description
Betula alleghaniensis is a medium-sized, typically single-stemmed, deciduous tree reaching 60–80 feet (18–24 m) tall (exceptionally to 100 ft (30 m))[2][6] with a trunk typically 2–3 ft (0.61–0.91 m) in diameter, making it the largest North American species of birch.[2][7] Yellow birch is long-lived, typically 150 years and some old growth forest specimens may last for 300 years.[8]
It mostly reproduces by seed. Mature trees typically start producing seeds at about 40 years but may start as young as 20.
- The bark on mature trees is a shiny yellow-bronze which flakes and peels in fine horizontal strips.[2][9] The bark often has small black marks and dark horizontal lenticels.[6] After the tree reaches a diameter greater than 1 ft (0.30 m) the bark typically stops shredding and reveal a platy outer bark although the thinner branches will still have the shreddy bark.[3] There is an uncommon, alternate form of the tree (f. fallax) which grows in the southern part of the range.[2] F. fallax has darker gray-brown bark which shreds less than the typical form.[10]
- The twigs, when scraped, have a slight scent of
- The
- The leaf has a very short petiole 1⁄4–1⁄2 in (1–1 cm) long.
- The monoecious. The male catkins are 2–4 in (5–10 cm) long, yellow purple, pendulous (hang downwards), and occur in groups of 3-6 on the previous year's growth. The female catkins are erect (point upward) and 1.5–3 cm (5⁄8–1+1⁄8 in) long and oval in shape, they arise from short spur branches with the leaves.[10] The fruit, mature in fall, is composed of numerous tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts.[12]
- The seed is a winged samara with two wings which are shorter than the width of the seed which matures and gets released in autumn.[6]
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Young bark
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Mature bark
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Leaves
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Catkins
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Form
Similarity to Betula lenta
Both yellow birch and
Taxonomy
The yellow birch was first described by
The
Varieties
Several varieties have been named,[18] but are not recognized as distinct by modern authors:[19][20][6]
- B. a. var. alleghaniensis — scales on the fruiting catkins 5–8 mm[15][14]
- B. a. var. macrolepis (Fernald) Brayshaw — scales on the fruiting catkins which measure 8–13 mm[15][14]
- B. a. var. fallax (Fassett) Brayshaw — dark brown bark that typically does not exfoliate into shreds or curly flakes at the surface, especially noticeable when the bark is wet[14]
Hybrids
- It hybridizes with Betula pumila to form Betula × purpusii in larch swamps. These hybrids are rather common[6] and shrubby in growth pattern and may have an odor of wintergreen or rusty-hairy twigs.[2] The leaf shape is intermediate between both species.[6]
- It can also hybridize with Betula papyrifera in northern regions where their ranges overlap. It has seldom been reported but is thought to be more common than realized.[6] In most features it is intermediate between the two parents.
Range and climate
Its native range extends from
B. alleghaniensis prefers to grow in cooler conditions and is often found on north facing slopes, swamps, stream banks, and rich woods.[6][22] It does not grow well in dry regions or regions with hot summers and will often last only 30–50 years in such conditions. It grows soil pH ranging from 4-8.[11]
Ecology
The twigs are browsed on by
Several species of Lepidoptera including the mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) and dreamy duskywing (Erynnis icelus) feed on B. alleghaniensis as caterpillars.[24]
Yellow birch is often associated with
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) exerts allelopathic effects on seedlings of yellow birch and decreases their growth ability.[25][26][page needed] The inhibitory chemical is exuded from the roots of the sugar maple and has a very short soil half-life, it no longer has effects on birch after 5 days.[25]
Conservation status
It is listed as endangered in Illinois.[27] Globally, the species is considered to be of "least concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[1]
Uses
Yellow birch is considered the most important species of birch for lumber and is the most important hardwood lumber tree in eastern Canada; as such, the wood of Betula alleghaniensis is extensively used for flooring, furniture, doors, veneer, cabinetry, gun stocks and toothpicks. It was once popular for wagon wheels.[8][10][22] Most wood sold as birch in North America is from this tree. Its wood is relatively strong, close grained, and heavy. The wood varies in color from reddish brown to creamy white and accepts stain and can be worked to a high polish. Like most birches, yellow birch wood rots quickly due to its tendency to trap moisture. The cellulose from rotting birch logs was collected by Native Americans and used as a quick fire starter.[8]
In the past, yellow birch has been used for distilling
The papery, shredded bark, is very flammable due to its oil content and can be peeled off and used as a fire starter even in wet conditions.[22]
Yellow birch can be tapped for syrup similarly to
Native American ethnobotany
Yellow birch has been used medicinally by Native Americans as a blood purifier and for other uses.[6][3] The Ojibwe make a compound decoction from the inner bark and take it as a diuretic.[28] They also make use of Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis, taking of the bark for internal blood diseases,[29] and mixing its sap and maple sap used for a pleasant beverage drink.[30] They use the bark of var. alleghaniensis to build dwellings, lodges, canoes, storage containers, sap dishes, rice baskets, buckets, trays and dishes and place on coffins when burying the dead.[31]
References
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-395-13651-5.
- ^ a b c d e f "Trees of the Adirondacks: Yellow Birch, Betula alleghaniensis". www.adirondackvic.org. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
- ^ a b "Betula alleghaniensis Yellow Birch, Swamp Birch". pfaf.org. PFAF Plant Database. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
- ^ "Birch Trees Show Gorgeous Fall Foliage".[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Furlow, John J. (1997). "Betula alleghaniensis". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 3. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-87563-344-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "YELLOW BIRCH PLANT GUIDE" (PDF). USDA plants. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8122-4003-0.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hilty, John (2020). "Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)". Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Conservation Plant Characteristics for ScientificName (CommonName) USDA PLANTS". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ a b Erdmann, G. G. (1990). "Betula alleghaniensis". In Burns, Russell M.; Honkala, Barbara H. (eds.). Hardwoods. Silvics of North America. Vol. 2. Washington, D.C.: United States Forest Service (USFS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 14 July 2016 – via Southern Research Station.
- ^ Histoire des arbres forestiers de l'Amérique Septentrionale: considérés principalement sous les rapports de leur usages dans les arts et de leur introduction dans le commerce. Vol. v.2. Paris: L. Haussmann. 1812. pp. 151–155. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
- ^ ISSN 0008-3550. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
- ^ S2CID 249071768.
- ^ Wilhelm, Gerould; Rericha, Laura (2017). Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Indiana Academy of Sciences.
- ISBN 9781609620585.
- ^ "Betula alleghaniensis". ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
- ^ "Betula alleghaniensis Britt". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
- ^ "Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch)". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. GoBotany. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
- ^ "Plants Profile for Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Common Trees of Pennsylvania" (PDF). Envirothon pa. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- JSTOR 4084510.
- ^ "Butterflies in Your Backyard | NC State University". content.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ a b Tubbs, Carl H. (June 1973). "Allelopathic Relationship between Yellow Birch and Sugar Maple Seedlings". Forest Science. 19: 139–147. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-471-06227-1. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Betula alleghaniensis". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ Hoffman, W.J., 1891, The Midewiwin or 'Grand Medicine Society' of the Ojibwa, SI-BAE Annual Report #7, page 199
- ^ Reagan, Albert B., 1928, Plants Used by the Bois Fort Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indians of Minnesota, Wisconsin Archeologist 7(4):230-248, page 231
- ^ Smith, Huron H., 1932, Ethnobotany of the Ojibwe Indians, Bulletin of the Public Museum of Milwaukee 4:327-525, page 397
- ^ Reagan, Albert B., 1928, Plants Used by the Bois Fort Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indians of Minnesota, Wisconsin Archeologist 7(4):230-248, page 241