Birch

Description

Birch (Betula spp./Betulaceae). The genus Betula contains about 40 species native to Asia, North America and Europe. All species are identical at the cellular level. In North America, Birches grow from the Tundra in the north throughout Canada, south to Georgia (in the Appalachians). The trees can attain heights of 70 ft, with diameters of more than 2 ft. The wood of Birches varies slightly among species with respect to physical and mechanical properties. The wood of birches is heavy, hard and strong with a fine, uniform texture. The Birches have white sapwood and reddish brown to dark brown heartwood. It is used for lumber (baskets, boxes, cooperage, crates, doors, distillation products, fuel wood, furniture, ice cream sticks, interior finish, pulp wood, tongue depressors, toothpicks, turned products, including spools, bobbins, small handles, toys and woodenware) and veneer (aircraft, furniture, paneling, plywood used for flush doors, radio and television cabinets).

Eastern North America
Common Name Scientific Name
Gray Birch B. populifolia
Paper Birch B. papyrifera
River Birch B. nigra
Sweet Birch B. lenta
Yellow Birch B. alleghaniensis

Tech Sheet

https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/paper-birch

https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/river-birch

https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/sweet-birch

https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/yellow-birch

Characteristics

Characteristics found in the Birch (Betula spp.)

  • Diffuse porous
  • Perforation Plates Scalariform (11-50)
  • Inter-Vessel Pits Minute (2-3?)
  • Rays 1-4 seriate & homocellular

Slides (Click on each image to view a larger image)

WOOD SLIDES

Microscope slide of transverse section of Birchwood. Arrows point to raise in the growth ring boundaries.
Microscope slide of radial section of Birchwood. Arrows point to minute type inter-vessel pits and scalariform type perforation plates
Microscope slide of radial section of Birchwood at high magnification. Arrows point to scalariform perforation plates and minute inter-vessel pits
Microscope slide of radial section of Birchwood at high magnification. Arrows point to the ray scalariform perforation plate.
Microscope slide of tangential section of Birch wood. Arrows point to scalariform type perforation plates and minute type inter-vessel pits.
Microscope slide of tangential section of Birch wood at high magnification. Arrows point to minute type inter-vessel pits and rays.
Microscope slide of radial section of Birchwood. Arrows point to the rays.

CHARCOAL SLIDES

Microscope slide of radial section of Birch charcoal. Arrows point to the rays.
Microscope slide of radial section of Birch charcoal at high magnification. Arrows point to minute inter-vessel pitting.
Microscope slide of radial section of Birch charcoal. Arrows point to the ray vessels, and scalariform type perforation plates.
Microscope slide of tangential section of Birch charcoal at high magnification. Arrows point to the rays and fibers.
Microscope slide of transverse section of Birch charcoal arrows point to the vessels and growth ring boundaries.
Microscope slide of transverse section of Birch charcoal at high magnification. Arrows point to the vessels and the growth ring boundaries.