Bark on twigs rich in methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen). Our communities. Dr. Harshvanti Bisht, a Himalayan mountaineer, established the first nursery and continues to expand the reforestation of bhojpatra in the Gangotri area and inside Gangotri National Park. The young maggots burrow inside the leaf, eating out the central tissue and leaving a papery husk. Whitebarked Himalayan Birch Betula utilis var. ... and of them the most likely to be destroyed are the European and the Himalayan trees. Betula utilis var. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. About 12,500 bhojpatra saplings had been planted in the area by the year 2000. Simple, alternate leaves; 2 to 3 inches long.Dark green leaves are oval. [1] Parts of the plant, including the fungal growth (bhurja-granthi) have also long been used in local traditional medicine. Our trees. Building the urban forest for 2050. [1], Leaves are ovate, 5 to 10 cm (2.0 to 3.9 in) long, with serrated margins, and slightly hairy. Sku #1231. Hardy to -20°F Maximum Elevation: 6,500 ft. They often have very bent growth due to the pressure of the deep winter snow in the Himalaya. This birch has very white bark. Birch leaves appear in wedged shaped that have a pleasant odor with a bitter taste. Betula lenta subsp. [2][3] This practice was mentioned as early as the 8th or 9th century CE, in the Lakshmi Tantra, a Pancaratra text. [7], The bark is widely used for packaging material (particularly butter), roof construction, umbrella covers, bandages, and more. This tree has been performing nicely in the front range cities of Colorado. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. Selected varieties are used for landscaping throughou… Diploid (2n = 28).. Betula lenta - Sweet birch or cherry birch . Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. Drought. Known by several names, such as the most common ones being, Paper birch, Yellow Birch, Silver birch, Cherry birch, White birch and Himalayan birch, is related closely to the beech and oak family. Native to the Himalaya, Betula utilis var. Use enter to activate. Forms a medium-sized tree, with a light canopy. Simple, alternate leaves; 2 to 3 inches long. Get expert help from The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. [1] The white, paper-like bark was used in ancient times for writing Sanskrit scriptures and texts. In the eastern end of the tree's native distribution, several forms have orange- or copper-colored bark. The Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the generosity of members and donors. Stop by, email, or call. Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture. The white, paper-like bark was used in ancient times for writing Sanskritscriptures and texts. The thin bark is variable on this species and may be very white or more brownish in color.. Avoid pruning birches in spring as they are 'bleeders' and will lose a great deal of sap. Choosing Himalayan Birch Trees. Have tree and plant questions? Himalayan birch has yellow fall color. The tree is a member of the Betulaceae family of trees and is also closely related to the beech and oak family. Preferred hosts are European white birch and whitebarked Himalayan birch; paper birch, gray birch are also attacked; river birch is rarely infested; More information on Bronze birch borer; 2 of 7. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. From top level menus, use escape to exit the menu. Subgenus Betulenta - Wintergreen oil birches. An exceptional tree with a graceful, open-branched, pyramidal form, exquisite peeling bark, and terrific fall color. [7], The wood is very hard and heavy, and quite brittle. The heartwood is pink or light reddish brown. In the late 19th century, Kashmiri pandits reported all of their books were written on Himalayan birch bark until Akbar introduced paper in the 16th century. With the popularity of Himalayan Birch trees increasing, there are a number of varieties to choose from. jacquemontii, from the western end of the native habitat, is widely used because several cultivars have especially white bark. The bark peels off in broad, horizontal belts, making it very usable for creating even large pages for texts. [2] It is still used as paper for the writing of sacred mantras, with the bark placed in an amulet and worn for protection. jacquemontii (Himalayan Birch), which is prized for its brilliant and exceptionally white bark, is a lovely addition to the landscape. The specific epithet, utilis, refers to the many uses of the different parts of the tree. Known by several names, such as the most common ones being, Paper birch, Yellow Birch, Silver birch, Cherry birch, White birch and Himalayan birch, is related closely to the beech and oak family. [2] The Sanskrit word for the tree is bhûrja—sharing a similarity with other Indo-European words that provide the origin for the common name "birch". Himalayan birch, white-barked Himalayan birch, whitebarked Himalayan birch. Dark green leaves are oval. While young trees have a rich brown bark, it quickly changes to gleaming snow-white as the tree matures. Browse the curated collection and add your voice! [3] Selected varieties are used for landscaping throughout the world, even while some areas of its native habitat are being lost due to overuse of the tree for firewood. [7], Deforestation due to overuse of the tree has caused loss of habitat for many native groves of B. utilis (locally called bhojpatra in the Indian Himalaya). uber - Cherry Creek birch; Hexaploid (6n = 84).. Betula allegheniensis - Yellow birch (B. lutea); Decaploid (10n = 140).. Betula austrosinensis - South China birch The wood is used for bridge construction, and the foliage for fodder. In spring, yellowish-brown male flowers appear in drooping three- to five-inch catkins. It has pyramidal shape with an open branching structure. Description Himalayan birch is the most widely grown of the birch speices in the Pacific Northwest and is greatly prized for its distinctive white bark which makes it a welcome addition during the darker days of winter. Rounded open habit. Simple, alternate leaves; 2 to 3 inches long. [20], Bhojpatra conservation in Gangotri-Gaumukh, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Betula_utilis&oldid=979188979, Articles with dead external links from October 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles containing Sanskrit-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 September 2020, at 09:28. [1][7], The thin, papery bark is very shiny, reddish brown, reddish white, or white, with horizontal lenticels. [12], Many named varieties and cultivars are used in landscaping throughout the world. Betula utilis (Betula jacquemontii, Betula utilis var jacquemontii). Leaf of Jacquemonti birch G. Lumis: Scientific Name: Betula jacquemontii Other Common names: White-barked Himalayan Birch. The perianth has four parts in male flowers, and is absent in the female flowers. The following menu has 3 levels. Summary Foliage: Dark green, leathery leaves, oval shape with golden yellow fall colour Bark: White bark that peels Height: 25 to 60 feet Spread: 15 feet [1] A fungal growth, locally called bhurja-granthi, forms black lumps on the tree weighing up to 1 kg. [8], The bark of Himalayan birch was used centuries ago in India as paper for writing lengthy scriptures and texts in Sanskrit and other scripts, particularly in historical Kashmir.