Downy birch is more upright than silver birch and the bark is browner in colour with more obvious horizontal grooves and lacking the papery quality of the silver birch. Downy Birch, bark, Lower Saxony, Germany / (Betula pubescens) Frost and snow-covered mountain Birch, Betula pubescens, forest. A variety of birds also eat their seeds. . The leavesare ovate-acute, 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2.0 in) long and 1.5 to 4.5 cm (0.6 t… Leaves: The leaves of a Downy Birch are digitate with a rounder base and serrate edge. Leaves: The leaves of a Downy Birch are digitate with a rounder base and serrate edge. Close, ) is a UK-native deciduous tree that can commonly be confused with the. Downy Birch leaves and catkins . 2013;68(6):382-3. ... With arguably the darkest bark of all, this Himalayan birch looks as if it’s sculpted from smooth, dark chocolate. see more; Family Betulaceae . Birch woodland helps to curate an ideal environment for grasses and mosses due to their light canopy, as well as helping to provide a habitat and food source for hundreds of insects. bark of birch tree texture background surreal shaped symmetrical kaleidoscope - downy birch tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images mountain landscape in autumn with cairn and footpath, hemsedal buskerud- norway - downy birch tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Twigs with whitish raised glands, twigs and leaves not downy. Once the female catkins get pollinated by the wind, they tend to thicken and darken to a deep wine-red. Hard pruning is typically not ideal for the Downy Birch as it tends to ruin its aesthetically elegant shape. Both can get to 20m (65ft) have silvery white bark and a similar shaped leaf. Unlike other birch trees, its bark does not peel. Additionally, Birches have a range of fungi associated with them including Fly Agaric, Birch Milk Cap and Birch Brittle Gill, to name a few. Silver Birch leaves and female catkins . Downy Birches only require little pruning as they naturally form a well-shaped and attractive crown. Betula pubescens is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a fast rate. Look out for: bark which is grey-white, and triangular-shaped leaves. Beige birch bark covered with clear resin that save this woodland beauty for a long time. Bark is grey-white with a brown tint and horizontal grooves. Female catkins, however, are green, a lot shorter and lay upright. Facts. Both the Downy (B. pubescens) and Silver Birch (B. pendula) have white to silver bark in maturity. They are a rich green colour and have downy leaf stalks. Bark of a young Silver Birch . Product Description. Female catkins, however, are green, a lot shorter and lay upright. It is…, These wild, open landscapes stretch over large areas and are most often found in uplands. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Meyer-Hoffert U, Brasch J. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by betulin-containing triterpene extract from the outer bark of birch (Betula alba). Following on from our previous research into the prehistoric aceramic distillation and production of birch bark tar, this series of exploratory experiments investigated the use of raised structures within a fire. Planted Downy Birch are more susceptible to Birch dieback, a disease caused by the pathogenic Fungi Marssonia betulae and Anisogramma virgultorum. . Betula pubescens is commonly known as downy birch, with other common names including moor birch, white birch, European white birch or hairy birch. The bark is dark red-brown to blackish, and smooth. However, naturally formed Downy Birch appears to be more resistant to it. Downy birch holds medicinal qualities as well. Old trees often develop nest-like bunches of twigs (witch's-brooms) caused by a gall-forming fungus. In autumn, the small seeds are released and then proceed to get carried away by the wind. The shoots are grey-brown with fine downy. Downy Birch and Silver Birch are difficult to identify between. Identified in winter by: bark which is white all year round and twigs that are softly hairy to the touch. Many of the birch trees that we see in the countryside in Britain and Ireland are not true Silver Birches but hybrids between Betula pendula and the Downy Birch Betula pubescens. Other common names for this tree include western birch, red birch, river birch, black birch, and western red birch. A variety of birds also eat their seeds. There are a few differences thankfully which make it a bit easier to figure out which one is which! Downy birch, also known as white birch, is a very variable tree. In spring, the male catkins (or 'lamb's tails') turn yellow and shed their pollen, which is carried by the wind to the short, green, female catkins that appear on the same tree. It is a deciduous tree growing to 10 to 20 m (33 to 66 ft) tall (rarely to 27 m), with a slender crown and a trunk up to 70 cm (28 in) (exceptionally 1 m) in diameter, with smooth but dull grey-white bark finely marked with dark horizontal lenticels. It is found on heathland, moorland and mountainsides, as well as on damp soils. Downy Birch (also known as White Birch, European White Birch or Hairy Birch) is a species of birch, native and abundant throughout northern Europe, Iceland, northern Asia and also Greenland. Bark of an old Silver Birch . The bark on mature trees is silvery to the base. White bark with dark ridges and cracks. It is hardy to zone (UK) 1. Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), Different types of protected wildlife sites. They are also prone to a few pests such as the Bronze Birch Borer and Asian Longhorn beetle. View abstract. Downy birch wood is tough and durable, making it ideal for use in furniture. Both have triangular leaves, slender twigs and peeling bark. The fourth of the 22 gin botanicals, birch tree is ancient and is believed to derive from the Sanskrit bhurga, “a tree whose bark is used for writing upon”, and indeed it’s bark can be separated into several fine layers and was used in place of parchment, particularly in medieval Russia. However, naturally formed Downy Birch appears to be more resistant to it. Silver birch has hairless and warty shoots whereas downy birch shoots are covered in small downy hairs. Leaves with slender point, sharp-toothed with regularly-spaced longer teeth. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. 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. Both have striking white bark and triangular shaped leaves. There are two widely-planted, alien species - Himalayan birch and paper-bark birch; there's dwarf birch, native and found mostly in northern Scotland; and there's the native silver birch, common across Britain and Ireland. Opportunities range from community gardening, species surveying, caring for nature…, The Wildlife Trusts: Protecting Wildlife for the Future. Downy Birch is a lovely tree and often gets mixed up with Silver Birch. They are also prone to a few pests such as the Bronze Birch Borer and Asian Longhorn beetle. Birch is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth or applied to the skin for short periods of time.. Special Precautions & Warnings: Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking birch if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Their leaves are attractive to aphids which draw in other insects while also providing a food source for a variety of caterpillar moth species and ladybirds. Bark: Bark is grey-white with a … It seems that downy birch also acts as an anti-inflammatory, and as a way to treat fever. In Britain, the two main species of birch are Betula pendula (silver birch) and Betula pubescens (downy birch). The buds of a Downy Birch are brown-green, small and narrowly taper to a point. Although slow to awaken in spring, by late…, Volunteer to help wildlife in your local area. Buds: The buds of a Downy Birch are brown-green, small and narrowly taper to a point. Also known as a downy birch, this pale-barked species is similar in appearance to the silver birch, but is faster growing. People sometimes use the bark of this tree as an astringent or as a diuretic. Identification . This tree is a source of food and lodge material for the common North American beaver. Narrowly conical habit. In autumn, the small seeds are released and then proceed to get carried away by the wind. Downy Birches are monoecious meaning that have both male and female catkins on the same tree. Downy birch is native to Europe but has naturalized in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont. Six well-stocked, unthinned downy birch (Betula pubescens (Ehrh.» stands in Cos Wexford, Laois, Wicklow, Offaly and Westmeath were selected for study. They are long and yellowy-brown. Click the button to search our database today! Birch woodland helps to curate an ideal environment for grasses and mosses due to their light canopy, as well as helping to provide a habitat and food source for hundreds of insects. It is in flower in April, and the seeds ripen from August to September. It also prefers damper environments, being found on bogs, and tolerates shadier conditions. Buds: The buds of a Downy Birch are brown-green, small and narrowly taper to a point. The leaves of a Downy Birch are digitate with a rounder base and serrate edge. Found throughout Europe downy birch grows more commonly in wet soil such as peat bogs and clay than silver birch. Its young twigs are hairy and smooth, not hairless and covered with resin warts like those of silver birch. Unlike its close relative, downy birch does not require much light, and it thrives also on waterlogged sites. It is noted for attracting wildlife. It has serrate leaves, not doubly serrate like silver birch. Genus Betula can be deciduous trees or shrubs, usually colouring well in autumn and often with striking white, pink, or peeling brown bark; separate male and female catkins open before or with the leaves in spring . Commonly planted in cities, grown as specimen trees and found in woodlands. They are a rich green colour and have downy leaf stalks. Like all Birch, this tree has an attractive bark which is a dull white and peels with age, it is distinguishable from Betula pendula in that it is duller in colour and does not exhibit the dark diamond shaped cracks on the bark. The edge of the leaf is coarsely toothed. Its range extends into Siberia, China, and southwest Asia in the mountains of northern Turkey, the Caucasus, and northern Iran. Form: Narrowly conical and typically forms a light canopy. As the common name suggests, the Downy Birch, has downy shoots and small ovate leaves which have a serrated edge. Narrowly conical and typically forms a light canopy. Bark. These field-based experiments were conducted using sand, gravel, wood fuel, and bark from Betula pubescens (downy birch). The Arboricultural Hub Worth Taking a Leaf From. The downy birch has oval leaves that are rounded or triangular at the base. It is so-called for the hairy stalks from which its leaves grow; the Silver Birch is hairless. However, the bark of the Silver Birch will have a whiter appearance and black fissures (often near the base), Downy Birch has a more grey, smoother bark in maturity. But the healing properties don’t end there. They have been here since the end of the last Ice Age, quickly moving into newly-exposed areas and colonising them with their wind-blown seeds. Pruning and Pruning Qualities: Downy Birches only require little pruning as they naturally form a well-shaped and attractive crown. The bark of the Downy Birch is a dull greyish white, whereas the Silver Birch has striking white papery bark with black fissures. Hard pruning is typically not ideal for the Downy Birch as it tends to ruin its aesthetically elegant shape. A spindly tree of heathland and moorlands, and damp soils, the Downy birch is well known for its paper-thin, white bark. Registered charity number 207238. Ideally, the Downy Birch should be pruned in late summer to early autumn as to reduce the risk of bleeding sap which can cause for pests or diseases to infiltrate the tree. Ideally, the Downy Birch should be pruned in late summer to early autumn as to reduce the risk of bleeding sap which can cause for pests or diseases to infiltrate the tree. They are a rich green colour and have downy leaf stalks. Male catkins typically from between April and May in groups of two to four. Like most trees, you should also remove any dead or diseased branches, as well as any congested or crossed branches to help reduce the risk of disease. Like silver birch, downy birch is a source of food for over 200 species of wildlife including several kinds of moth. Click the button to claim your free listing and see our other membership options today! They are also considered to be a symbolism of love and fertility. Like most trees, you should also remove any dead or diseased branches, as well as any congested or crossed branches to help reduce the risk of disease. Silver Birch: Slender tree, drooping twigs. BETULA PUBESCENS – Downy Birch Characteristics Many people find it difficult to distinguish between Betula pendula – Silver Birch and Betula pubescens – Downy Birch, particularly when they are young. Celtics believed that the Birch tree symbolised renewal and purification, which is why gardeners today still use Downy Birches to help purify their gardens. Its dark leaves during the summer turn a scorching golden-yellow in autumn. They can also grow on damper soil. This chapter presents clinical and pre‐clinical evidence, indications, mechanisms of action, potential interactions, contraindications, and possible adverse effects of Birch, Silver and Downy (Betula pendula Roth).Topical preparations made from birch leaf or bark extracts are traditionally used to treat inflammation and in the alleviation of pain in rheumatism. Are you looking for a professional in your area to help you? The Wildlife Trusts is a movement made up of 46 Wildlife Trusts: independent charities with a shared mission. Betula Pubescens (Downey Birch)– Commonly known as downy birch, moor birch or at times even white birch, is a deciduous tree growing up to 10-20meters.It boasts a tall, slender trunk and crown with dull white-grey bark, meaning that the downy birch is often mistaken for its close relative, the silver birch. Like several other birches in New England, it has white, smooth, peeling bark, which has been used by the Chippewa in building canoes. 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