Black Birch
From World of Entorais Wiki
About
- Common Names
- Black Birch, Wax Birch
- Classification
- Tree
- Description
- A medium height tree with a dark purple-black toned papery outer bark. This tree grows in a cluster of narrow trunks which branch randomly to form a shared canopy. the leaves are spade shaped and lightly serrated at the margins, with pale to dark green top-side and a slightly fuzzy, veined, silver underside.
Ecology
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Distribution
- Black birch is found in temperate to arctic woodlands and alpine regions.
- Life Cycle
- This tree flowers annually in late spring forming 3-5 centimetre long catkins in bunches of four. These disperse wind borne seeds before summer.
Related Species
Uses
- Cultivation
- Black birch is grown in woodlots by some cultures, but is more often harvested from wild trees.
- Culinary
- The sap from the black birch is less sugary than other species, but does find use in some syrups
- Medicinal
- No specific uses.
- Other
-
- Bark - Some peoples use strips of the bark material to produce woven baskets and other containers, which shed rain and can even carry water.
- Wax - The inner bark of this tree is an excellent source of a wax for waterproofing various goods.
- Wood - The fine grained hardwood from black birch is used for some woodcrafting and as a fuel.
History
- Cultural
- Religious
