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Oct 8, 2024 · Birch, genus of about 40 species of short-lived ornamental and timber trees and shrubs of the family Betulaceae, distributed throughout cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are valuable in reforestation and erosion control, and many are cultivated as ornamentals for their attractive foliage and bark.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Birches, including silver birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens) are 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.
A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus Betula (/ ˈbɛtjʊlə /), [2] in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech - oak family Fagaceae. The genus Betula contains 30 to 60 known taxa of which 11 are on the IUCN 2011 Red List of Threatened Species.
Origin: native. Silver birch is a striking, medium-sized deciduous tree. When mature they can reach 30m in height, forming a light canopy with elegant, drooping branches. The white bark sheds layers like tissue paper and becomes black and rugged at the base.
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.
Birch trees come in many 'flavours', but two are relatively common in the UK - Silver (Betula pendula) and Downy (Betula pubescens). The dwarf birch (Betula nana) can be found in the Highlands of Scotland. Birch species readily hybridise.
Birches, which comprise the Betula genus, are deciduous trees that are found in temperate North America, Asia, and Europe. The bark of all birches characteristically is marked with long horizontal lenticels, and often separates into thin papery plates, especially on the paper birch, Betula papyrifera.
