Betula alleghaniensis

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Betula alleghaniensis
Betula alleghaniensis 5349050.jpg
Yellow birch foliage
B alleghaniensis 01.jpg
Bark
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Betulaceae
Genus: Betula
Subgenus: Betula subg. Betulenta
Species:
B. alleghaniensis
Binomial name
Betula alleghaniensis
Betula alleghaniensis range map 1.png
Natural range of Betula alleghaniensis
Synonyms
  • Betula luteaMichx.

Betula alleghaniensis, the yellow birch, [2] golden birch, [3] or swamp birch, [4] is a large tree and an important lumber species of birch native to northeastern North America. Its vernacular names refer to the golden color of the tree's bark. [5] In the past its scientific name was Betula lutea.

Contents

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. [8] The optimum age for seed production is about 70 years. Good seed crops are not produced every year, and tend to be produced in intervals of 1–4 years with the years between good years having little seed production. The seeds germinate best on mossy logs, decaying wood or cracks in boulders since they cannot penetrate the leaf litter layer. This can lead to odd situations such as yellow birches with their roots growing around a tree stump, which when it eventually rots away leaves the birch standing atop stilt-like roots. [8] Yellow birch saplings will not establish in full shade (under a closed canopy) so they typically need disturbances in a forest in order to establish and grow. The tree is fairly deep-rooted and sends out several long lateral roots.

Similarity to Betula lenta

Both yellow birch and sweet birch (B. lenta) have nearly identical leaf shape and both give an odor of wintergreen when crushed. Seedlings of the two species can be very hard to tell apart. To differentiate the two, the range, buds, or bark must be examined. The ranges do overlap in Appalachia where they commonly grow together, but sweet birch does not grow west of Ohio or north into Canada whereas yellow birch does. [2] Sweet birch also has black non-peeling bark compared to the lighter, bronze colored, peeling bark of yellow birch. For young trees where bark has not yet developed, yellow birch can also be identified by its hairy buds and stems; sweet birch has hairless buds. [2]

Taxonomy

The yellow birch was first described by François André Michaux in 1812 as Betula lutea. [13] In 1904, Nathaniel Lord Britton described what he considered to be a new closely related species of birch as Betula alleghaniensis, differing from B. lutea by its shorter fruiting scales and mostly cordate (vs. rarely cordate) leaf bases. [14] After comparing the descriptions and illustrations of B. lutea and B. alleghaniensis, Merritt Fernald found the latter to be identical to B. lutea, but did confirm the existence of two varieties. [15] Later, the name Betula lutea was determined illegitimate as it was superfluous to the older name that Michaux had listed as a synonym, Betula excelsaAiton (1789). [14] Additionally, the type specimen of Betula excelsa was found not to be a yellow birch, making Betula alleghaniensis the oldest and correct replacement name for the illegitimate B. lutea. [14]

The specific epithet alleghaniensis means "of the Allegheny Mountains". [16] In addition to "yellow" or "golden" birch, B. alleghaniensis has also been called gray birch, silver birch, tall birch, and swamp birch, though it shares several of these names with other Betula species. [3] [4] [17]

Varieties

Several varieties have been named, [18] but are not recognized as distinct by modern authors: [19] [20] [6]

Hybrids

Range and climate

Its native range extends from Newfoundland to Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, southern Quebec and Ontario, and the southeast corner of Manitoba in Canada, west to Minnesota, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia. [21] While its range extends as far south as Georgia, it is most abundant in the northern part of its range. In southern Pennsylvania, it is rare and generally only found along bodies of water in cool, mature woods, and it only occurs at high elevations from Maryland southward. [7] [12] It grows in USDA zones 3-7. [7]

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 whitetail deer, moose and cottontails [22] Deer eat many saplings and may limit regeneration of the species if the deer population is too great. [8] Ruffed grouse and various songbirds feed on the seeds and buds. [3] Due to the thin bark of the tree yellow bellied sapsuckers feed on this tree by drilling holes in the tree and collecting the sap. [10] Broad-winged hawks show a preference for nesting in yellow birch in New York. [23]

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 eastern hemlock throughout its range due to their similar preferences in habitat. It mostly grows from 0–500 m in elevation but may grow up to 1000 m. [8] It reaches its maximum importance in the transition zone between low elevation deciduous forests and high elevation spruce and fir forests. Due to the thin bark and lack of ability to resprout, it is easily killed by wildfire. [10]

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 wood alcohol, acetate of lime and for tar and oils. [22] Oil of wintergreen can be distilled from the bark. [7]

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 sugar maple, and although the sap has less sugar content, it flows in greater quantity than sugar maple. When the sap is boiled down, the wintergreen evaporates and leaves a syrup not unlike maple syrup. The sap can also be used as is in birch syrup or may be flavored. Tea can also be made from the twigs and inner bark. [8]

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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birch</span> Genus of flowering plants in the family Betulaceae

A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus Betula, 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. They are a typically rather short-lived pioneer species widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in northern areas of temperate climates and in boreal climates. Birch wood, the wood of the birch, is used for a wide range of purposes.

<i>Acer saccharinum</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Sapindaceae

Acer saccharinum, commonly known as silver maple, creek maple, silverleaf maple, soft maple, large maple, water maple, swamp maple, or white maple, is a species of maple native to the eastern and central United States and southeastern Canada. It is one of the most common trees in the United States.

<i>Acer saccharum</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Sapindaceae

Acer saccharum, the sugar maple, is a species of flowering plant in the soapberry and lychee family Sapindaceae. It is native to the hardwood forests of eastern Canada and eastern United States. Sugar maple is best known for being the primary source of maple syrup and for its brightly colored fall foliage. It may also be called "rock maple," "sugar tree," "sweet maple," or, particularly in reference to the wood, "hard maple," "birds-eye maple," or "curly maple," the last two being specially figured lumber.

<i>Acer platanoides</i> Species of flowering plant in the soapberry family Sapindaceae

Acer platanoides, commonly known as the Norway maple, is a species of maple native to eastern and central Europe and western Asia, from Spain east to Russia, north to southern Scandinavia and southeast to northern Iran. It was introduced to North America in the mid-1700s as a shade tree. It is a member of the family Sapindaceae.

<i>Alnus glutinosa</i> Species of flowering plant in the birch family Betulaceae

Alnus glutinosa, the common alder, black alder, European alder, European black alder, or just alder, is a species of tree in the family Betulaceae, native to most of Europe, southwest Asia and northern Africa. It thrives in wet locations where its association with the bacterium Frankia alni enables it to grow in poor quality soils. It is a medium-sized, short-lived tree growing to a height of up to 30 metres (98 feet). It has short-stalked rounded leaves and separate male and female flowers in the form of catkins. The small, rounded fruits are cone-like and the seeds are dispersed by wind and water.

<i>Betula pendula</i> Species of birch

Betula pendula, commonly known as silver birch, warty birch, European white birch, or East Asian white birch, is a species of tree in the family Betulaceae, native to Europe and parts of Asia, though in southern Europe, it is only found at higher altitudes. Its range extends into Siberia, China, and southwest Asia in the mountains of northern Turkey, the Caucasus, and northern Iran. It has been introduced into North America, where it is known as the European white birch or weeping birch and is considered invasive in some states in the United States and parts of Canada. The tree can also be found in more temperate regions of Australia.

<i>Betula pubescens</i> Species of birch

Betula pubescens, commonly known as downy birch and also as moor birch, white birch, European white birch or hairy birch, is a species of deciduous tree, native and abundant throughout northern Europe and northern Asia, growing farther north than any other broadleaf tree. It is closely related to, and often confused with, the silver birch, but grows in wetter places with heavier soils and poorer drainage; smaller trees can also be confused with the dwarf birch.

<i>Betula nigra</i> Species of birch

Betula nigra, the black birch, river birch or water birch, is a species of birch native to the Eastern United States from New Hampshire west to southern Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and west to Texas. It is one of the few heat-tolerant birches in a family of mostly cold-weather trees which do not thrive in USDA Zone 6 and up. B. nigra commonly occurs in floodplains and swamps.

<i>Larix laricina</i> Species of larch native to North America

Larix laricina, commonly known as the tamarack, hackmatack, eastern larch, black larch, red larch, or American larch, is a species of larch native to Canada, from eastern Yukon and Inuvik, Northwest Territories east to Newfoundland, and also south into the upper northeastern United States from Minnesota to Cranesville Swamp, West Virginia; there is also an isolated population in central Alaska.

<i>Juglans cinerea</i> Species of tree

Juglans cinerea, commonly known as butternut or white walnut, is a species of walnut native to the eastern United States and southeast Canada.

<i>Betula papyrifera</i> Species of tree

Betula papyrifera is a short-lived species of birch native to northern North America. Paper birch is named after the tree's thin white bark, which often peels in paper-like layers from the trunk. Paper birch is often one of the first species to colonize a burned area within the northern latitudes, and is an important species for moose browsing. Primary commercial uses for paper birch wood are as boltwood and sawlogs, while secondary products include firewood and pulpwood. It is the provincial tree of Saskatchewan and the state tree of New Hampshire.

<i>Betula lenta</i> Species of plant

Betula lenta is a species of birch native to eastern North America, from southern Maine west to southernmost Ontario, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia.

Birch syrup is a savory, mineral-tasting syrup made from birch sap, and produced in much the same way as maple syrup. However, it is seldom used for pancake or waffle syrup; more often it is used as an ingredient paired with pork or salmon dishes in sauces, glazes, and dressings, and as a flavoring in ice cream, beer, wine, and soft drinks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraser fir</span> Species of conifer

The Fraser fir, sometimes spelled" Frasier fir, is an endangered species of fir native to the Appalachian Mountains of the Southeastern United States. They are endemic to only seven montane regions in the Appalachian Mountains.

<i>Acer leucoderme</i> Species of maple

Acer leucoderme is a deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States from North Carolina south to northwest Florida and west to eastern Texas. It lives in the understory in moist, rocky soils on river banks, ravines, woods, and cliffs. Although generally an uncommon tree, it is most often found in the inner coastal plain and Piedmont regions of Georgia.

<i>Betula populifolia</i> Species of birch

Betula populifolia, known as the gray birch, is a deciduous tree in the family Betulaceae. It is native to eastern North America and is most commonly found in the northeast United States as well as southern Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The tree is a pioneer species that is commonly found in sites following disturbance, such as fire or logging. Gray birches don't have as much economic value as other birch species but are still commonly used as ornamental trees.

<i>Prosopis velutina</i> Species of tree

Prosopis velutina, commonly known as velvet mesquite, is a small to medium-sized tree. It is a legume adapted to a dry, desert climate. Though considered to be a noxious weed in states outside its natural range, it plays a vital role in the ecology of the Sonoran Desert.

<i>Betula occidentalis</i> Species of birch

Betula occidentalis, the water birch or red birch, is a species of birch native to western North America, in Canada from Yukon east to Northwestern Ontario and southwards, and in the United States from eastern Washington east to western North Dakota, and south to eastern California, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico, and southwestern Alaska. It typically occurs along streams in mountainous regions, sometimes at elevations of 2,100 metres and in drier areas than paper birch.

<i>Betula cordifolia</i> Species of birch

Betula cordifolia, the mountain paper birch is a birch species native to Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. Until recently it was considered a variety of Betula papyrifera, with which it shares many characteristics, and it was classified as B. papyrifera var. cordifolia (Regel) Fern.

References

  1. 1 2 Stritch, L. (2014). "Betula alleghaniensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T194255A2306701. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T194255A2306701.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Peterson, George A. Petrides (1986). A field guide to trees and shrubs : northeastern and north-central United States and southeastern and south-central Canada . Illustrations by George A. Petrides and Roger Tory (2nd ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN   978-0-395-13651-5.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Trees of the Adirondacks: Yellow Birch, Betula alleghaniensis". www.adirondackvic.org. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  4. 1 2 "Betula alleghaniensis Yellow Birch, Swamp Birch". pfaf.org. PFAF Plant Database. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  5. ↑ "Birch Trees Show Gorgeous Fall Foliage".[ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 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.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dirr, Michael A. (1990). Manual of woody landscape plants (4. ed., rev. ed.). Champaign, Illinois: Stipes Publishing Company. ISBN   978-0-87563-344-2.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "YELLOW BIRCH PLANT GUIDE" (PDF). USDA plants. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  9. 1 2 Rhoads, Ann; Block, Timothy (2007-08-08). The Plants of Pennsylvania (2 ed.). Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN   978-0-8122-4003-0.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hilty, John (2020). "Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)". Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Conservation Plant Characteristics for ScientificName (CommonName) USDA PLANTS". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  12. 1 2 Erdmann, G. G. (1990). "Betula alleghaniensis". In Burns, Russell M.; Honkala, Barbara H. (eds.). Hardwoods. Silvics of North America. Washington, D.C.: United States Forest Service (USFS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Vol. 2. Retrieved 14 July 2016– via Southern Research Station.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brayshaw, T. C. (1966). "The names of yellow birch and two of its varieties". The Canadian Field-Naturalist. 80: 160–161. ISSN   0008-3550 . Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  15. 1 2 3 Fernald, M. L. (1922). "Notes on the Flora of Western Nova Scotia, 1921". Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (67): 157–208. doi: 10.5962/p.336049 . JSTOR   41764011. S2CID   249071768.
  16. ↑ Wilhelm, Gerould; Rericha, Laura (2017). Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Indiana Academy of Sciences.
  17. ↑ Nowick, Elaine (2014). Historical common names of Great Plains plants, with scientific names index. Lulu.com. ISBN   9781609620585.
  18. ↑ "Betula alleghaniensis". ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  19. ↑ "Betula alleghaniensis Britt". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  20. ↑ "Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch)". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. GoBotany. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  21. ↑ "Plants Profile for Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 "Common Trees of Pennsylvania" (PDF). Envirothon pa. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  23. ↑ Matray, Paul F. (1974). "Broad-Winged Hawk Nesting and Ecology". The Auk. 91 (2): 307–324. JSTOR   4084510.
  24. ↑ "Butterflies in Your Backyard | NC State University". content.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  25. 1 2 Tubbs, Carl H. (June 1973). "Allelopathic Relationship between Yellow Birch and Sugar Maple Seedlings". Forest Science. 19: 139–147. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  26. ↑ Wenger, Karl F., ed. (1984). Forestry Handbook. Edited for the American Society of Foresters (2nd ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   978-0-471-06227-1 . Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  27. ↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Betula alleghaniensis". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  28. ↑ Hoffman, W.J., 1891, The Midewiwin or 'Grand Medicine Society' of the Ojibwa, SI-BAE Annual Report #7, page 199
  29. ↑ Reagan, Albert B., 1928, Plants Used by the Bois Fort Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indians of Minnesota, Wisconsin Archeologist 7(4):230-248, page 231
  30. ↑ Smith, Huron H., 1932, Ethnobotany of the Ojibwe Indians, Bulletin of the Public Museum of Milwaukee 4:327-525, page 397
  31. ↑ Reagan, Albert B., 1928, Plants Used by the Bois Fort Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indians of Minnesota, Wisconsin Archeologist 7(4):230-248, page 241
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