Birch

Habitat

The birches are plants pionnières which often constitute the first formations raised at the time of the reconquest or the colonization of moors by the forest. They appreciate the rather acid and wet grounds. The birch forms groves called “Boulaie S” or “Boulinière S”. In moderated climate, the majority of the birches die rather quickly (15-30 years), but in north (Sweden, Finland, Siberia…), they can live much longer.

The Latin name is " betula".

Principal species

There exist several species:

white Birch of Europe ( Betula pubescens , syn. B. alba ) which pushes in the forests of Europe. It is a vigorous tree, with the hurled port, often planted by groups of 3 or 4 or in cépée. Its height in general is from 10 to 15 m but can go up to 25 Mr.
warted Bouleau ( Betula pendula , syn. B. verrucosa ), tree which can reach 25 m height with long kittens. It is used in the parks and gardens through many decorative Cultivar S:

- Birch fastigié ( Betula pendula “Fastigiata”), with a port in column (8 to 10 m);
- Birch lacinié ( Betula pendula “Dalecarlica”), with a slim and very elegant port, and falling down secondary branchlets (8 to 10 m);
- whining Birch ( Betula pendula “Tristis”) vigorous and solitary, with an elegant port and a summit arrow to 12 m with falling down secondary branches;
- whining Birch of Young ( Betula pendula “Youngii”), solitary tree of whining type but without summit arrow. All the branches fall down along the trunk;
- Birch crimson ( Betula pendula “Purpurea”), with a sheet crimson sinks in spring, more clearly the summer and red in autumn (5 to 6 m).

Birch of the Himalayas ( Betula utilis ), originating in the mountains of Asia. It has a very white bark, and adapts very well to the hard climates and altitude (12 to 15 m).
pubescent Birch , met in the the Vosges of North.
Birch with paper ( Betula will papyrifera ) (North America) sinuous Trunk and with the oval and narrow summit. This tree is intolerant in the shade. The bark is detached easily in broad band, from where its name. Of 19 to 25 Mr.
yellow Bouleau can reach ( Betula alleghaniensis ), (North America) Tree with the trunk long right, connects strong with weak run. Commun run in mixed forest. Its general height is of 19 to 25 m, but it can reach 30 Mr. Utilisé in joinery under the name of wild cherry tree . The yellow birch is the official tree-emblem of the Quebec (Canada).
black Birch ( Betula will nigra ) with the the United States
flexible Bouleau ( Betula lenta ), (North America) Tree with the red bark dark which can reach 25 Mr. Utilisé in joinery under the name of red wild cherry tree .

Use

The birch which burns by leaving very few ashes was appreciated bakers (it was the wood of “ boulange ”). The wood of the pubescent and warted birches is appreciated because it is very white, is worked and impregnated easily, its mechanical properties are excellent, its grain is fine and uniform, finally it burns quickly without its flame not being too hot. In Europe of the south where its growth is fast, he is regarded as little of value, but in the countries of the north where he grows more slowly, one draws a wood from it from beautiful quality, of soft and silky aspect.

In Northern Europe (Scandinavia, Baltic States, Siberia), the birch bark, braided in thin straps, was used in the countryside to manufacture shoes (called lapti in Russia). In Russia, it was also used as support of writing.

In herb trade, the birch, Betula pubescens , have many virtues, is used it to clean the organization and to accompany by other plants: the buds or the bark dries in decoction, the sheets out of infusion.

In Phytothérapie one uses the sheet of powder birch to facilitate the functions of renal and digestive elimination. In Gemmothérapie, one uses at Betula verrucosa , his buds, its châtons, the internal bark of his roots and his rootlets. As for Betula pubescens , one uses his buds, his seed and his sap.

The sap of birch called Eau of birch is also used in many countries.

Manufacture of speaker pro. (reinforcing plate)

Symbolic system

The birch is the first tree of the Celtic Calendrier; it symbolizes the Sagesse. The local name of the birch is also at the origin of the name of the month of March in several Slavic languages, as in Czech (březen) and in Ukrainian (березень); it would be about an evocation of the sap which starts to circulate at that time.

The Amerindian regarded it as a crowned tree and used its bark to manufacture Canots and parchments.

Lastly, if the Frêne ( ask ) is the tree symbolizing Scandinaves mythologies, the birch ( bjørk or bjerk ) is a Norwegian nationalist symbol, used many times by the romantic painters. Johan Christian Dalh has for one of its more famous tables, Bjerk I storm ( Bouleau in the storm ) representing a birch located on a cliff and abused by the wind.

Medical virtues

The Sap, the Sheets and the bark have virtues Diurétique S and are also used in the treatment of the Skin troubles.

List species

Betula pubescens ssp. pubescens Ehrh.
Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa (Ledeb.) Nyman
Betula alleghaniensis Britt.
Betula borealis Spach
Betula jarmolenkoana Goloskokov
Betula kirghisorum Sawicz
Betula lenta L.
Betula minor (Tuckerman) Fern.
Betula murrayana Barnes and Dancik
Betula chick L.
Betula neoalaskana Sarg.
Betula will nigra L.
Betula occidentalis Hook.
Betula papyrifera Marsh.
Betula pendula Roth
Betula platyphylla Sukatschev

Betula platyphylla VAr. japonica (Miq.) Hara
Betula platyphylla VAr. kamtschatica (Regelation) Hara

Betula populifolia Marsh.
Betula pubescens Ehrh.
Betula pumila L.
Betula schugnanica Litv.
Betula uber (Ashe) Fern.
Betula utilis D.Don, 1825

Geographical distribution

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