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{{SPlantbox

{{SPlantbox

|common_name=Silver Birch

|common_name=Silver Birch

|Temp Metric=°F

|Temp Metric=°F

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|image=Betula Pendula at Stockholm University 2005-07-01.jpg

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'''Silver Birch''', '''European Weeping Birch''', '''European White Birch''', or '''Weeping Birch''' ('''''Betula pendula''''') is a widespread [[Europe]]an [[birch]], though in southern Europe it is only found at higher altitudes. Its range extends into southwest [[Asia]] in the mountains of northern [[Turkey]] and the [[Caucasus]]. The closely related [[Siberian Silver Birch]] (''B. platyphylla'') in northern Asia and [[Sichuan Birch]] (''B. szechuanica'') of central Asia are also treated as varieties of Silver Birch by some botanists, as ''B. pendula'' var. ''platyphylla'' and ''B. pendula'' var. ''szechuanica'' respectively (see [[birch classification]]).

Betula pendula, Roth (B.verrucosa, Ehrh. B. alba, Linn., in part). Figs. 548, 549. Tree, to 60 ft., with slender, in older trees usually pendulous, branches: young branchlets usually glandular: Lvs. rhombic-ovate,¾- 2½ in. long, glutinous  is when young, glabrous, usually cuneate, sometimes truncate at the base, acuminate, doubly serrate; petioles slender, about 1 in. long: strobiles cylindric, about 1 in. long, slender-peduncled, usually pendulous: wings of nutlet about one and a half to two and a half times as broad as its body. Eu. to Japan. H.W. 2:15, p. 20. W.B. 76. Var. "Tauschii, Rehd. (B. japonica, Sieb. B. alba var. Tauschii, Shirai. B. pendula var. japonica, Rehd.). Lvs. broadly ovate, truncate or sometimes subcordate at the base, sometimes puberulous beneath and often with tufts of hairs in the axils. S.I.F. 1:21. Var. dalecarlica, Schneid. (B. laciniata, Wahl. B. hybrida, Blom). Lvs. more or less deeply lobed with irregularly serrate-acuminate lobes: branches on older trees pendulous.—A very graceful tree. Var. fastigiata, Koch (B. alba fastigiata, Carr. B. pendula pyramidalis, Dipp.). With straight upright branches, forming a narrow columnar pyramid. G.C. III. 41:151. M.D.G. 16:164. Var. tristis, Schneid. With very slender, strongly pendulous branches, forming a round regular head. Var. Youngii, Schneid. (B. alba pendula Youngii, Moore. B. pendula elegans, Dipp. B. alba elegantissima pendula, Hort.). Branches very slender, strongly pendulous; primary branches spreading or recurved, forming an irregular picturesque head; similar in habit to the weeping beech. F. 1873, p. 60. R.H. 1869, p. 136. Gn. 6, p. 528. Var. gracilis, Rehd. (B.alba laciniata gracilis pendula, Hort. B. elegans laciniata, Hort.). Habit like the preceding, with laciniate Lvs. Much slenderer and smaller and of slower growth than var. dalecarlica. Var. purpurea, Schneid. (B.vulgaris purpurea, Andre. B. alba atropurpurea, Lauche. B. pubescens atropurpurea, Zabel). Lvs. dark purple. R.B. 4:185.

It is often planted as a [[garden]] and [[ornamental plant|ornamental tree]], grown for its white bark and gracefully drooping shoots even in warmer-than-optimum places such as [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] and [[Sydney]], [[Australia]].

| regnum = [[Plant]]ae

| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]

| subgenus = ''[[Betula classification#Subgenus Betula - Typical birches|Betula]]''

| binomial_authority = [[Roth.]]

'''Silver Birch''', '''European Weeping Birch''', '''European White Birch''', or '''Weeping Birch''' ('''''Betula pendula''''') is a widespread [[Europe]]an [[birch]], though in southern Europe it is only found at higher altitudes. Its range extends into southwest [[Asia]] in the mountains of northern [[Turkey]] and the [[Caucasus]]. The closely related [[Siberian Silver Birch]] (''B. platyphylla'') in northern Asia and [[Sichuan Birch]] (''B. szechuanica'') of central Asia are also treated as varieties of Silver Birch by some botanists, as ''B. pendula'' var. ''platyphylla'' and ''B. pendula'' var. ''szechuanica'' respectively (see [[birch classification]]).

''Betula pendula'' is a medium [[deciduous]] [[tree]], typically reaching 15-25 m tall, exceptionally up to 30 m, with a slender crown of arched branches with drooping branchlets. The [[bark]] is white, often with black diamond-shaped marks or larger patches at the base. The shoots are rough with small warts, and hairless, and the [[leaf|leaves]] 3-6 cm long, triangular with a broad base and pointed tip, and coarsely serrated margins. The [[flower]]s are wind-pollinated [[catkin]]s, produced before the leaves in early spring, the small (1-2 mm) winged [[seed]]s ripening in late summer on 3-5 cm long catkins.

''Betula pendula'' is a medium [[deciduous]] [[tree]], typically reaching 15-25 m tall, exceptionally up to 30 m, with a slender crown of arched branches with drooping branchlets. The [[bark]] is white, often with black diamond-shaped marks or larger patches at the base. The shoots are rough with small warts, and hairless, and the [[leaf|leaves]] 3-6 cm long, triangular with a broad base and pointed tip, and coarsely serrated margins. The [[flower]]s are wind-pollinated [[catkin]]s, produced before the leaves in early spring, the small (1-2 mm) winged [[seed]]s ripening in late summer on 3-5 cm long catkins.

It is distinguished from the related [[Downy Birch]] (''B. pubescens'', the other common European birch) in having hairless, warty shoots (hairy, without warts in Downy Birch), and whiter bark often with scattered black fissures (greyer, less fissured, in Downy Birch). It is also distinguished [[cytology|cytologically]], Silver Birch being [[diploid]] (with two sets of chromosomes), whereas Downy Birch is [[tetraploid]] (four sets of chromosomes). The two have subtle differences in [[habitat (ecology)|habitat]] requirements, with Silver Birch found mainly on dry, [[sand]]y soils, and Downy Birch more common on wet, poorly drained sites such as [[clay]] soils and [[peat bog]]s. Silver birch also demands slightly more summer warmth than does Downy birch, which is significant in the cooler parts of Europe. Many [[North America]]n texts treat the two species as conspecific (and cause confusion by combining the Downy Birch's alternative vernacular name 'White Birch', with the scientific name ''B. pendula'' of the other species), but they are regarded as distinct species throughout Europe.

It is distinguished from the related [[Downy Birch]] (''B. pubescens'', the other common European birch) in having hairless, warty shoots (hairy, without warts in Downy Birch), and whiter bark often with scattered black fissures (greyer, less fissured, in Downy Birch).

 

{{Inc|

Betula pendula, Roth (B.verrucosa, Ehrh. B. alba, Linn., in part). Tree, to 60 ft., with slender, in older trees usually pendulous, branches: young branchlets usually glandular: Lvs. rhombic-ovate,¾- 2½ in. long, glutinous  is when young, glabrous, usually cuneate, sometimes truncate at the base, acuminate, doubly serrate; petioles slender, about 1 in. long: strobiles cylindric, about 1 in. long, slender-peduncled, usually pendulous: wings of nutlet about one and a half to two and a half times as broad as its body. Eu. to Japan. Var. "Tauschii, Rehd. (B. japonica, Sieb. B. alba var. Tauschii, Shirai. B. pendula var. japonica, Rehd.). Lvs. broadly ovate, truncate or sometimes subcordate at the base, sometimes puberulous beneath and often with tufts of hairs in the axils. Var. dalecarlica, Schneid. (B. laciniata, Wahl. B. hybrida, Blom). Lvs. more or less deeply lobed with irregularly serrate-acuminate lobes: branches on older trees pendulous.—A very graceful tree. Var. fastigiata, Koch (B. alba fastigiata, Carr. B. pendula pyramidalis, Dipp.). With straight upright branches, forming a narrow columnar pyramid. Var. tristis, Schneid. With very slender, strongly pendulous branches, forming a round regular head. Var. Youngii, Schneid. (B. alba pendula Youngii, Moore. B. pendula elegans, Dipp. B. alba elegantissima pendula, Hort.). Branches very slender, strongly pendulous; primary branches spreading or recurved, forming an irregular picturesque head; similar in habit to the weeping beech. Var. gracilis, Rehd. (B.alba laciniata gracilis pendula, Hort. B. elegans laciniata, Hort.). Habit like the preceding, with laciniate Lvs. Much slenderer and smaller and of slower growth than var. dalecarlica. Var. purpurea, Schneid. (B.vulgaris purpurea, Andre. B. alba atropurpurea, Lauche. B. pubescens atropurpurea, Zabel). Lvs. dark purple.

 

Successful birch cultivation requires a climate cool enough for at least the occasional winter chill. Shallow rooted they require water during dry periods, growing best in full dun or dappled shade. They require deep, moist, fertile soil.<ref>Botanicas' Trees & Shrubs, Random House, Sydney, 2005</ref>

== Cultivation ==

===Propagation===

* '''Purpurea''' has rich dark purple leaves.

* '''Purpurea''' has rich dark purple leaves.

* '''Laciniata''' (commonly misidentified as '''Darlecarlica''') has deeply incised leaves and weeping branches.

* '''Laciniata''' (commonly misidentified as '''Darlecarlica''') has deeply incised leaves and weeping branches.

* '''Youngii''' has growth similar to a [[weeping willow]] (Salix sp.) with no central leader requiring grafting onto a standard.

* '''Youngii''' has growth similar to a [[weeping willow]] (Salix sp.) with no central leader requiring grafting onto a standard.

== Human Culture ==

==Gallery==

 

Silver Birch is [[Finland]]'s national tree. Occasionally one uses leafy, fragrant boughs of Silver Birch to gently beat oneself in a [[sauna]]. The boughs are called vihta or vasta. This has a relaxing effect on the muscles.

 

Image:Illustration Betula pendula0.jpg|

[[Land of the Silver Birch]] is a traditional [[Canada|Canadian]] [[Folk music|folk song]], though the birch referred to is actually a different species, [[Paper Birch]] ''Betula papyrifera''.

Image:Betula pendula laciniata0.jpg|''Betula pendula'' '''Laciniata'''

 

Image:Betula pendula 'Youngii'.jpg|''Betula pendula'' '''Youngii'''

 

Image:Birchbark.jpg|''Betula pendula'', bark

Image:Birchbark.jpg|''Betula pendula'', bark

Image:European birch cone.jpg|''Betula pendula'', fruit with seed

Image:European birch cone.jpg|''Betula pendula'', fruit with seed

</gallery>

</gallery>

== References ==

==References==

{{Reflist}}

 

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{{commons|Betula pendula}}

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