Edible Wild Plants of the North Cariboo
White Birch
Submitted by: Ted Traer RPF Retired
Edible Wild Plants of the North Cariboo
White Birch
| Submitted by | Ted Traer RPF Retired |
| Plant Names - Common | White Birch, Paper Birch | |
| Plant Name - Latin (Scientific) | Betula Papyrifera | |
| Plant Name - Indigenous | Secwepemc | qweqwllíllenĖllp |
| Dakehl | k’i | |
| Tsilhqot’in | k’ezen | |
| Other English Names | Canoe Birch, American White Birch | |
| French Names | Bouleau a Papier | |
| Botanical Description | Medium sized deciduous tree that typically reaches heights of 20 m (66’) and diameters up to 75 cm ( 30”). It grows as a single stem or in clumps. The lifespan is 30 to 150 years | |
| Leaves | The leaves are dark green and smooth on the upper surface; the lower surface is often pubescent. They are alternately arranged on the stem, oval to triangular in shape, 4–10 cm (2–4 in) long and about two-thirds as wide. The leaf is rounded at the base and tapering to an acutely pointed tip. The leaves have a doubly serrated margin with relatively sharp teeth. Each leaf has petiole 5 cm (1 in) long that connects it to the stems | |
| Stems | The stems have papery bark | |
| Flowers | The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins ; the female flowers are greenish and 3.8 cm (11⁄2 in) long growing from the tips of twigs. The male flowers are 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and a brownish color. The tree flowers from mid-April to June depending on location. Paper birch is monoecious , meaning that one plant has both male and female flowers | |
| Seeds | The fruit matures in the fall. The mature fruit is composed of numerous tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts. They drop between September and spring. At 15 years of age, the tree will start producing seeds but will be in peak seed production between 40 and 70 years. The seed production is irregular, with a heavy seed crop produced typically every other year and with at least some seeds being produced every year.[ In average seed years, 2,500,000 seeds per hectare (1,000,000 per acre) are produced, but in bumper years 86,000,000/ha (35,000,000/acre) may be produced. The seeds are light and blow in the wind to new areas; they also may blow along the surface of snow. Paper birch can also regenerate from sprouts following cutting or fire. Prolific sprouting usually occurs when young | |
| Habitat and Range | Betula papyrifera is mostly confined to Canada and the far northern United States. It grows on many soil types, from steep rocky outcrops to flat muskegs of the boreal forest. Best growth occurs in deeper, well drained to dry soils, depending on the location | |
| Parts Used | The bark is an excellent fire starter; it ignites at high temperatures even when wet. It has been used for canoes, roofing, baskets. The sap is boiled down to produce birch syrup at ratios of 80 to 1 to 120 to 1. The raw sap contains 0.9% carbohydrates (glucose, fructose and small amounts of sucrose) as compared to 2 percent to 3 percent within sugar maple sap. Birch bark is sometimes used to treat various medical conditions, including: Joint pain, Kidney and bladder stones, Urinary Tract Infections, Skin problems |
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| Harvesting Practices | When harvesting bark for craft purposes, you should only remove the outer bark, which is about ¼ inch thick. Take care not to damage the inner bark, as this may kill the tree. If you’re planning to collect the bark for medicinal purposes, you will need the inner bark. In this case, it’s best to cut down a small sapling or take the inner bark from large branches that have been recently pruned away Again, do not take large sections of inner bark from the trunk of a live tree. The inner bark is where the medicinal properties are most concentrated, but removing this inner layer greatly weakens the tree and leaves it susceptible to disease. Birch sap has been used cosmetically for centuries, mostly in the realm of skin health. |
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| Special Considerations / Notes |
Young regenerating stands of paper birch and associated species provide prime browse and cover for deer and moose. Paper birch is generally a shallow-rooted species and as a result are quite sensitive to disturbance. A common issue is birch die back whereby the trees die back from the top after a disturbance.
Despite its potential medicinal and nutritional uses, there is no conclusive scientific evidence behind the use of birch sap for these health ailments. More study is needed to confirm the potential health benefits of consuming birch tree water. |
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