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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Paper Birch
| status = {{StatusSecure}}
| image = Brzoza paierowa Betula papyrifera.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Paper Birch
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fagales]]
| familia = [[Betulaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Birch|Betula]]''
| subgenus = ''[[Betula classification#Subgenus Betula - Typical birches|Betula]]''
| species = '''''B. papyrifera'''''
| binomial = ''Betula papyrifera''
| binomial_authority = Marsh.
}}
'''Paper Birch''' (''Betula papyrifera''), also known as '''American White Birch''', '''Bolean Birch''', '''Canoe Birch''', '''Silver Birch''' and, '''Spoolwood''' is a species of [[birch]] native to northern [[North America]], from [[Newfoundland]] west to [[Alaska]], south to [[Pennsylvania]] and [[Washington]], with small isolated populations further south in [[mountain]]s to [[North Carolina]] and [[Colorado]].
It is a medium-sized [[deciduous]] [[tree]] reaching 20 m tall (exceptionally to 35 m) with a trunk up to 80 cm diameter. The [[bark]] is white, commonly brightly so, flaking in fine horizontal strips, and often with small black marks and scars. In individuals younger than five years the bark appears brown with white lenticels, making the tree much harder to distinguish from other trees. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate, ovate, 5-12 cm long and 4-9 cm broad, with a doubly serrate margin. The leaf buds are conical and small, they are green colored with brown edges. The [[flower]]s are wind-pollinated [[catkin]]s 3-8 cm long growing from the tips of twigs, the [[fruit]] matures in the fall. The mature fruit is composed of numerous tiny winged [[seed]]s packed between the catkin bracts. They drop between September and spring.
Paper Birch is the [[Provincial tree emblems of Canada|Provincial tree]] of [[Saskatchewan]] and the [[List of U.S. state trees|State tree]] of [[New Hampshire]].
The names reflect the use of the tree's bark, primarily by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]], for a [[Birch bark scrolls|writing material]] and also that the waterproof bark was used for the outer covering of [[canoe]]s.
===Ecology===
[[image:Betula papyrifera0.jpg|thumb|left||Paper Birch foliage in fall]]
Paper birch is a [[pioneer species]]. It needs high nutrients and a lot of sun. Birch bark is a winter staple food for [[moose]]. The nutritional quality is poor, but is important to wintering moose because of its sheer abundance. Although [[white-tailed deer]] consider Birch a "secondary-choice food", it is an important dietary component. In Minnesota, white-tailed deer eat considerable amounts of paper birch leaves in the fall. [[Snowshoe hare]]s browse paper birch seedlings, [[porcupine]]s feed on the inner bark and [[mouse|mice]] eat the seeds.
===Distribution and Conservation===
[[Image:Betula papyrifera1.jpg|right|thumb|Paper Birch bark]]
Paper birch is found in all [[Provinces and territories of Canada|provinces and territories]] of [[Canada]], except [[Nunavut]], as well as the northern [[United States]], south to [[Colorado]], [[Tennessee]] and [[North Carolina]].
Paper birch is considered [[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]] in [[Indiana]], [[Conservation status (TNC)|imperiled]] in [[Illinois]], [[Virginia]], [[West Virginia]] and [[Wyoming]], and [[Endangered species|critically imperiled]] in [[Colorado]] and [[Tennessee]].
===Uses===
Paper Birch has a soft, yet moderately heavy, white wood. It makes fine firewood. It is acceptable for furniture parts, floors, and [[Oriented Strand Board]]. It does not have a very high economic value. The sap can be used to produce [[birch syrup]].
==External links==
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500260 Flora of North America: ''Betula papyrifera'']
*[http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=5753&flora_id=1 Flora of N.Amer- RangeMap: ''Betula papyrifera'']
[[Category:Trees of Canada|Birch, Paper]]
[[Category:Trees of Northwestern United States|Birch, Paper]]
[[Category:Trees
of Northeastern United States|Birch, Paper]]
[[Category:Trees of Plains-Midwest U.S.|Birch, Paper]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Paper Birch
| status = {{StatusSecure}}
| image = Brzoza paierowa Betula papyrifera.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Paper Birch
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fagales]]
| familia = [[Betulaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Birch|Betula]]''
| subgenus = ''[[Betula classification#Subgenus Betula - Typical birches|Betula]]''
| species = '''''B. papyrifera'''''
| binomial = ''Betula papyrifera''
| binomial_authority = Marsh.
}}
'''Paper Birch''' (''Betula papyrifera''), also known as '''American White Birch''', '''Bolean Birch''', '''Canoe Birch''', '''Silver Birch''' and, '''Spoolwood''' is a species of [[birch]] native to northern [[North America]], from [[Newfoundland]] west to [[Alaska]], south to [[Pennsylvania]] and [[Washington]], with small isolated populations further south in [[mountain]]s to [[North Carolina]] and [[Colorado]].
It is a medium-sized [[deciduous]] [[tree]] reaching 20 m tall (exceptionally to 35 m) with a trunk up to 80 cm diameter. The [[bark]] is white, commonly brightly so, flaking in fine horizontal strips, and often with small black marks and scars. In individuals younger than five years the bark appears brown with white lenticels, making the tree much harder to distinguish from other trees. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate, ovate, 5-12 cm long and 4-9 cm broad, with a doubly serrate margin. The leaf buds are conical and small, they are green colored with brown edges. The [[flower]]s are wind-pollinated [[catkin]]s 3-8 cm long growing from the tips of twigs, the [[fruit]] matures in the fall. The mature fruit is composed of numerous tiny winged [[seed]]s packed between the catkin bracts. They drop between September and spring.
Paper Birch is the [[Provincial tree emblems of Canada|Provincial tree]] of [[Saskatchewan]] and the [[List of U.S. state trees|State tree]] of [[New Hampshire]].
The names reflect the use of the tree's bark, primarily by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]], for a [[Birch bark scrolls|writing material]] and also that the waterproof bark was used for the outer covering of [[canoe]]s.
===Ecology===
[[image:Betula papyrifera0.jpg|thumb|left||Paper Birch foliage in fall]]
Paper birch is a [[pioneer species]]. It needs high nutrients and a lot of sun. Birch bark is a winter staple food for [[moose]]. The nutritional quality is poor, but is important to wintering moose because of its sheer abundance. Although [[white-tailed deer]] consider Birch a "secondary-choice food", it is an important dietary component. In Minnesota, white-tailed deer eat considerable amounts of paper birch leaves in the fall. [[Snowshoe hare]]s browse paper birch seedlings, [[porcupine]]s feed on the inner bark and [[mouse|mice]] eat the seeds.
===Distribution and Conservation===
[[Image:Betula papyrifera1.jpg|right|thumb|Paper Birch bark]]
Paper birch is found in all [[Provinces and territories of Canada|provinces and territories]] of [[Canada]], except [[Nunavut]], as well as the northern [[United States]], south to [[Colorado]], [[Tennessee]] and [[North Carolina]].
Paper birch is considered [[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]] in [[Indiana]], [[Conservation status (TNC)|imperiled]] in [[Illinois]], [[Virginia]], [[West Virginia]] and [[Wyoming]], and [[Endangered species|critically imperiled]] in [[Colorado]] and [[Tennessee]].
===Uses===
Paper Birch has a soft, yet moderately heavy, white wood. It makes fine firewood. It is acceptable for furniture parts, floors, and [[Oriented Strand Board]]. It does not have a very high economic value. The sap can be used to produce [[birch syrup]].
==External links==
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500260 Flora of North America: ''Betula papyrifera'']
*[http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=5753&flora_id=1 Flora of N.Amer- RangeMap: ''Betula papyrifera'']
[[Category:Trees of Canada|Birch, Paper]]
[[Category:Trees of Northwestern United States|Birch, Paper]]
[[Category:Trees
of Northeastern United States|Birch, Paper]]
[[Category:Trees of Plains-Midwest U.S.|Birch, Paper]]