[051] Betula pendula, Silver Birch

[051] Betula pendula, Silver Birch

Introduction

Betula pendula, the Silver Birch is a familiar, common and widespread tree with distinctive white or silvery bark.

In North America it is known as the European White Birch and is considered invasive in some States.

I will also look at other Birch species that are grown as ornamental trees.

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Plants

Division – Vascular Plants

Class – Angiosperms (Flowering Plants)

Order – Fagales (Includes Beech, Oak, Walnut, Chestnut

Family – Betulaceae (Birch, Alder, Hazel and Hornbeam)

Subfamily – Betuloideae (Birch and Alder)

Genus – Betula (Birches)

Subgenus – Betula (Typical Birches)

Scientific Name – Betula pendula

Name

The tree has always been called a Birch and Betula is its Latin name. Pendula means ‘hanging.’

Birches

All Fagales are trees or shrubs.

There is no general agreement and the genus Betula has between thirty and sixty species.

We have already seen the very closely related [017] – Alder, which used to be considered a member of Betula

Description

The bark of Betula pendula is so distinctive and so well-known that this tree is instantly recognisable. No other British tree could ever be confused with it.

It’s almost plain white for a young tree and stays almost white as the tree matures.

It grows to a tall tree, which is thin because the branches hang down like a willow tree. This is why its Scientific Name gets the epithet pendula.

Leaves have fine serrated edges.

The development and reproduction of the Birch is very similar to its close relative, [017] the Alder. Here are some catkins and cones in various stages of development.

Habitat and use

The Silver Birch is common and widespread across most of Eurasia except its extreme South. It is often grown as an ornamental tree and has several cultivated varieties.

Other Notes

There is apparently a species, Betula pubescens, the White Birch, common and widespread across the same areas, almost identical to the Silver Birch. I have never heard of it and in North America it is considered the same species as B pendula. I will not attempt to distinguish between the two species.

See also

There are no other native birches in Britain but you may see some others in gardens and parks. They also have cultivated varieties. here are three others.

• Himalayan Birch

Betula utilis, native to the Western Himalayas, is very similar, with a similar, whiteish bark, which has been used to make paper.

• Paper Birch

Betula papyrifera, native to the USA, with a thin, white bark, also used for paper.

• River Birch

Betula nigra, also known as the Black Birch, from the USA. The bark becomes much darker for a mature tree. This one, as the name suggests, was by a river.