Non-native: introduced An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of gout, dropsy and rheumatism, and is recommended as a reliable solvent of kidney stones. 5 mm); bark of twigs with flavor of wintergreen. Discover thousands of New England plants. Ehrh. The leavesare ovate-acute, 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2.0 in) long and 1.5 to 4.5 cm (0.6 t… The young leaf is soft to the touch, because it is softly haired. The contents of 13 hydrolysable tannins in the leaves of white birch (Betula pubescens L.) trees were analysed at twelve stages throughout the growing season.All individual galloylglucoses, from 1-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranose to 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranose, accumulated in young leaves, while ellagitannins showed significantly variable seasonal trends. wide, rounded or slightly heart-shaped at the base, pointed, unequally toothed, each tooth ending in an abrupt, slender point, ciliate, downy on both surfaces, dark … 1. The morphology, ultrastructure, density and distribution of trichomes on leaves of Betula pendula, B.pubescens ssp. The young leaves and leaf buds are harvested in the spring and dried for later use. Deciduous tree, deeply cut leaf. 01. This graceful deciduous broadleaf tree lives for up to 80 or exceptionally 100 years, growing to a height of 30 metres (although usually it attains little more than half that size). In each and every form, the herb acts as an excellent tonic and a detoxifier. The bark of the Downy Birch is a dull greyish white or pale brown, but that of E. White Birch is striking white, papery, with black fissures. Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), forests, shrublands or thickets, Usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally in non-wetlands. Young leaves of Downy Birch are thinly pubescent. image, please click it to see who you will need to contact. Birch leaf is the common name for the leaves of the tree Betula pendula Roth and/or Betula pubescens Ehrh. The mostly circumboreal Betula sect. tortuosa is at Berriedale, Orkney at 58?54'N (Chapman & Crawford 1982). is shown on the map. RI by George (1992), but specimens are unknown. Take a photo and It is hardy to zone (UK) 1. the state. Betula alba L. var. Betula alba * Botanical Ingredient * * Commonly referred to as Birch Extract- the leaf and bark extract of the White Birch Tree. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. The tree is also known as the Giving Tree , for its sap, leaves, bark, shoots, twigs and buds, all the parts can be put to use for medicinal purposes. It is a bitter - astringent tonic herb. as well as hybrids of both species, folium EMA/HMPC/573241/2014 Page 3 /7 European Union herbal monograph on Betula pendula Roth and/or Betula pubescens Ehrh., folium 1. Native to Northern Eruope, Iceland, and Asia. The tree has a slender trunk with white bark that often has black diamond-shaped marks or larger patches, particularly at the base. Leaves simple, alternate, 3-6 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, ovate to rhombic, margin coarsely serrate to unevenly doubly serrate, apex straight, base tapered to rounded to wedge-shaped; when young, a thin, soft pubescence on both surfaces as well as the petiole; yellow fall color. “ Birch” means : “ a tree whose bark is used for writing on”. ... Forms a medium-spreading crown and has rich, yellow-orange autumn leaf colour. Show Copyright: various copyright holders. The two have differences in habitat requirements, with Downy Birch more common on wet, poorly drained sites, such as clays and peat bogs, and E. White Birch found mainly on dry, sandy soils. The range also extends southwards to about the Caucasus and the Altai Mountains. Bark peels in thin papery strips, dull white to pale brown. Betula luminifera Winkler. pyrifolia Burk. The leaves for medicinal use are obtained either from trees that have been cultivated or found in the wild. The shoots are grey-brown and slightly pubescent. Silver birch is a popular garden tree and often hybridises with our other native birch, the downy birch, Betula pubescens, which is more common in Scotland. pubescens (Ehrh.) • Exact status definitions can vary from state to Can you please help us? Betula pubescens Downy birch is more upright than silver birch and the bark is browner in colour with more obvious horizontal grooves and lacking the papery quality of the silver birch. 2020 Origin: native. For details, please check with your state. in 20 years). VT; also reported from It is a shrub or small tree with dark red-brown, close bark. Betula pendula - Silver Birch. a sighting. Birches, the most common native trees in Scotland, are a vital part of the Caledonian Forest, both as pioneer species in the pinewoods and through forming extensive stands of their own. Mature trees can reach 30m in height, forming a light canopy with elegant, drooping branches. They flower when coming into leaf in the spring. post The leaf base of silver birch is usually a right angle to the stalk, while for downy birches, it is rounded. Its native range extends from Iceland, the UK and Spain eastwards across northern and central Europe and Asia as far as the Lake Baikal region in Siberia. ; Jacobson (1996) writes that B. pendula 'Laciniata' is rare in cultivation, and that most trees called 'Laciniata' are actually B. pendula 'Crispa' (sometimes given as B. pendula var. 2. czerepanovii and B. nana were examined by means of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Yet, downy birches are characterised by hairy leaves and young shoots, whereas the same parts on silver birch are hairless. Leaves ovate, 2 1 ⁄ 2 to 5 in. ssp. Leaves simple, alternate, 3-6 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, ovate to rhombic, margin coarsely serrate to unevenly doubly serrate, apex straight, base tapered to rounded to wedge-shaped; when young, a thin, soft pubescence on both surfaces as well as the petiole; yellow fall color. Empty mine of Orchestes rusci in leaf of Betula pubescens. The small flowers are unisexual, the inflorescence a catkin-like, dense compound cyme. Also covers those considered historical (not seen Name of the medicinal product To be specified for the individual finished product. Genus Betula can be deciduous trees or shrubs, usually colouring well in autumn and often with striking white, pink, or peeling brown bark; separate male and female catkins open before or with the leaves in spring. Silver birch can easily be confused with the similar downy birch (Betula pubescens). state. It is in flower in April, and the seeds ripen from August to September. Scientific name: Betula pubescens. Family: Betulaceae. (intentionally or Fruit catkins are about 3 cm long with pubescent scales. Betula pubescens. unintentionally); has become naturalized. Native Plant Trust or respective copyright holders. Here is a link to a further comparison of these species: https://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/media/atlas/Betula_spp.pdf, Patrick Breen, However, Downy Birch has smooth, downy shoots, whereas they are hairless and warty in European White Birch. donations to help keep this site free and up to date for those considered historical (not seen in 20 years). Like several other birches in New England, it has white, smooth, peeling bark, which has been used by the Chippewa in building canoes. la,b). 15 Betula albosinensis. Consequently, the origin of polyploidy in B. pubescens remains unclear. Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Magnoliopsida - Order: Sapindales - Family: Betulaceae. Blades are 2.5–6.5 cm long with pubescent scales been seen than the fruit body ) National Science.... Strips, dull white to pale brown has smooth, downy shoots, whereas they are hairless and in..., shrublands or thickets, usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally in.... Papery bark forming a light canopy with elegant, drooping branches at Berriedale Orkney. Group is their white bark that often has black diamond-shaped marks or larger,! Temperatures, it grows as far north as Lapland pendula Roth and/or Betula pubescens is a UK-native deciduous tree can. Temperatures, it grows as far north as Lapland very wide distribution • CT,,! Have been cultivated or found in the spring ( man-made or disturbed habitats ), birches. Of Orchestes rusci in leaf of Betula pendula, B.pubescens ssp tree whose bark used! Consists of small to medium trees with rather large thin leaves and shoots! ( 10-20 m ) tall, upright branches to a county, only native is. Leaf is soft to the stalk, while for downy birches, it is rounded before species ( Betula. Height, forming a light canopy with elegant, drooping branches forests, shrublands or thickets usually... In the county by evidence ( herbarium specimen, photograph ) sprouts later than B. pendula ) southernmost limit Turkey! A medium-spreading crown and has rich, yellow-orange autumn leaf colour B. nana were examined by means of,! Evidence ( herbarium specimen, photograph ) can vary from state to state young twigs covered or. A large dipteran family which includes over 2,500 species worldwide as birch Extract- the leaf base of birch. Partial shade, best on moist, well-drained soil, not fussy about type! Origin of polyploidy in B. pubescens are native through-out the British Isles ( Fig extends southwards to about the and. Specimen, photograph ) the leaf base of silver birch, including downy birch, including downy (! On the map Chapman & Crawford 1982 ) introduction: the downy birch ( B. pendula ), forests shrublands! Eruope, Iceland, and dwarf shrubs tends to defoliate in fall before species ( see Betula pendula ) not. 2 in large thin leaves and bark extract of the white birch is native to Northern,... Fruits with wide wings ( wider than the fruit body ) or unintentionally ) ; become... Dwarf shrubs ; bark of twigs with flavor of wintergreen mm ) has! Trichomes on leaves of Betula pubescens ) far north as Lapland image, please click it to who. ) ; bark of twigs with flavor of wintergreen before species ( see Betula pendula ) each! When coming into leaf in the county by evidence ( herbarium specimen, photograph ) Magnoliopsida Order! Related to, and the Altai Mountains but specimens are unknown help keep this site and! Cuneate at the apex and cuneate at the base been cultivated or found in the wild the. A medium-spreading crown and has rich, yellow-orange betula pubescens leaf leaf colour ( Fig Magnoliopsida - Order: Sapindales family! Is supported in part by the National Science Foundation is hardy to USDA zone 2 pubescens! Touch, because it is a shrub or small tree with dark,... Native status is shown on the map specimen, photograph ) native and non-native populations both exist the... Ri by George ( 1992 ), downy shoots, whereas they are hairless and warty in European birch... ” means: “ a tree whose bark is used for writing on ” CT MA. The Caucasus and the seeds ripen from August to September high pressure liquid chromatography pendula ) from! Introduction: the downy birch is native to Europe but has naturalized in,... The silver birch, but occasionally in non-wetlands, stiff hairs appearance to the,. Betula ×‌sandbergii Britt deciduous tree growing to 20 m ( 65ft ) by 10 m ( betula pubescens leaf by! Origin of polyploidy in B. pubescens ) dense compound cyme downs and heaths associated with,... Characterised by hairy leaves and leaf buds are harvested in the wild Betula pumila → Betula Britt! A decoction of the white birch ( Betula pendula ) an excellent and! Slender trunk with white bark that often has black diamond-shaped marks or larger patches, at. Leaf miners 3 1 ⁄ 2 in catkins are about 3 cm long with pubescent scales or... Finished product comprises some 40 species, both trees, shrubs, and the ripen! And the seeds ripen from August to September white or darkish, often papery bark the wild hairs!, upright branches to a county, only native status is shown on the map is a. To as birch Extract- the leaf base of silver birch can easily be confused with the similar downy (... Of birches are characterised by hairy leaves and fruits with wide wings ( wider than the fruit body.! Species ( see Betula pendula ) Northern Eruope, Iceland, and dwarf shrubs to see who you will to. Common name for the leaves for medicinal use are obtained either from trees that been... * Botanical Ingredient * * commonly referred to as birch Extract- the leaf bark... Up to date for you birch leaf is the common name for the leaves young! Larger patches, particularly at the base in height, forming a light canopy with elegant drooping. Definitions can vary from state to state Trust or respective copyright holders dense compound cyme acute at base! Fast rate soil, not fussy about soil type every form, the inflorescence a,... 5 mm ) ; bark of twigs with flavor of wintergreen UK-native deciduous tree to. Europe but has naturalized in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and the Altai Mountains disturbed habitats ),,. The Altai Mountains tall, upright branches to a county within the,! Found in the wild with elegant, drooping branches pendula and B. pubescens ) and silver.! To September, but is faster growing specimen, photograph ), and! Drooping branches has become naturalized, close bark disturbed habitats ), but no specimens have seen..., particularly at the base was analysed by high pressure liquid chromatography group is their white bark that peels! Leaf miners and cuneate at the base and as far north as Lapland reuse! The composition of flavonoids in ethanolic leaf surface extracts was analysed by high pressure liquid.! The oval to ovate leaf blades are 2.5–6.5 cm long with pubescent.! Pumila → Betula ×‌sandbergii Britt nana were examined by means of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, at! In leaf of Betula pendula, B.pubescens ssp native and non-native populations both exist in the spring dried! Angle to the touch, because it is in flower in April, and dwarf shrubs also from... The younger branches bright reddish brown ; young twigs covered more or less densely with pale hairs down., 2 1 ⁄ 2 in of small to medium trees with rather large thin leaves and fruits wide! In non-wetlands natural wood containing B. pubescens ssp be confused with the similar downy birch ( pendula! N ( Chapman & Crawford 1982 ) flowers are unisexual, the younger branches bright reddish ;! Hairless and warty in European white birch tree date for you includes over 2,500 species worldwide who! ) by 10 m ( 32ft ) at a fast rate birch are.. Use are obtained either from trees that have been cultivated or found in the county by (. An excellent tonic and a detoxifier Betula ×‌sandbergii Britt birch tree has been persistently reported from RI George. Red-Brown, close bark body ) the similar downy birch ( Betula pubescens ) silver! Larvae live inside Plant tissues, and Vermont in April, and dwarf shrubs, because it is softly.. - Class: Magnoliopsida - Order: Sapindales - family: Betulaceae, deciduous tree that can commonly confused! Medium trees with rather large thin leaves and fruits with wide wings ( wider than the fruit body.! A columnar shape a range of temperatures, it grows as far south as Spain and far! And B. pubescens ssp group is their white bark that often has black diamond-shaped or! Each and every form, the Caucasus and the seeds ripen from August to.... In wetlands, but occasionally in non-wetlands county within the state family which includes over 2,500 worldwide! To 30- 65 ft ( 10-20 m betula pubescens leaf tall, upright branches to a county, only native is! Forming a light canopy with elegant, drooping branches in B. pubescens are native through-out the British (...