Paper birch

Paper birch
Paper birch ( Betula papyrifera )
Systematics
Rosids Eurosiden I Order : Beech-like (Fagales) Family : Birch family (Betulaceae) Genre : Birch trees ( betula ) Type : Paper birch
Scientific name
Betula papyrifera
Marshall

Bark of the paper birch

Flowering, pollen-dispersing male catkins of the paper birch

The paper birch ( Betula papyrifera ), also known as Canoe Birch or American White Birch , belongs to the family of the birch family (Betulaceae). It is common in North America .

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Naming

The name paper birch and the specific epithet papyrifera refer to the fact that the bark was used as a writing material by the Native Americans. The waterproof bark was also used for the outer cover in the construction of canoes.

description

The paper birch grows as a deciduous, medium-sized tree and reaches heights of 20 meters, in exceptional cases up to 35 meters, and trunk diameters of up to 80 centimeters. The white shining bark flakes off in fine horizontal stripes and is often covered with small black marks and scars. The stalked leaves have a simple leaf blade, which is oval with a length of 5 to 12 centimeters and a width of 4 to 9 centimeters and has a corrugated edge.

Like all birch species, it is pollinated by the wind . The inflorescences are 3 to 6 centimeters long catkins . The many small winged seeds that ripen in autumn are located between the bracts in the fruit cluster.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 56, 70 or 84.

distribution

The paper birch is native to northern North America. Their main range extends from Newfoundland in the east to Alaska in the west, in the south to Pennsylvania and Washington . There are individual occurrences further south in the mountains between North Carolina and Colorado .

symbolism

The paper birch is the state tree of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan and the American state of New Hampshire .

Taxonomy

A synonym of Betula papyrifera Marshall is Betula papyracea Ait.

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} Robert Zander : Zander hand dictionary of plant names. Edited by Fritz Encke , Günther Buchheim, Siegmund Seybold . 15th edition, corrected reprint of the 14th edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-8001-5072-7 .
2. ↑ Betila paryrifera at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis

Web links

Commons : Paper Birch ( Betula papyrifera )  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files