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| Home Painting Skills and Basics Paperhanging Home Decorating Interior Decorating Wood Identification |
Birch trees and woodBirch is the name of any tree of the genus Betula, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. These are generally small to medium-size trees or shrubs, mostly of northern temperate climates. The simple leaves may be toothed or lobed. The fruit is a small samara, although the wings may be obscure in some species. They differ from the alders in that the female catkins are not woody and disintegrate at maturity, falling apart to release the seeds, unlike the woody cone-like female alder catkins. The common name birch is derived from an old Germanic root, birka, "white, bright; to shine." The Proto-Germanic rune berkanan is named after the birch. The botanic name Betula is from the original Latin. Birch is used as a food plant by the larvae of a large number of Lepidoptera species, see List of Lepidoptera that feed on birches. 
The birch is considered a national tree of Russia, where it used to be worshipped as a goddess during the Green Week in early June.A birch woodland in winter.The bark of all birches is characteristically marked with long horizontal lenticels, and often separates into thin papery plates, especially upon the Paper Birch. It is practically imperishable, due to the resinous oil which it contains. Its decided color gives the common names Red, White, Black, and Yellow to different species. The buds form early and are full grown by midsummer, all are lateral, no terminal bud is formed; the branch is prolonged by the upper lateral bud. The wood of all the species is close-grained with satiny texture and capable of taking a fine polish; its fuel value is fair. Birches often form even-aged stands on light, well-drained, particularly acidic soils. They are regarded as pioneer species, rapidly colonising open ground especially in secondary successional sequences following a disturbance or fire. Birches are early tree species to establish in primary successions and can become a threat to heathland if the seedlings and saplings are not suppressed by grazing or periodic burning. Birches are generally lowland species, but some species such as Betula nana have a mountain distribution. Birch wood is fine-grained and pale in colour, often with an attractive satin-like sheen. Ripple figuring may occur, increasing the value of the timber for veneer and furniture-making. The highly-decorative Masur birch, from has ripple texture combined with attractive dark streaks and lines. Birch wood is suitable for veneer, and birch ply is among the strongest and most dimensionally-stable plywoods, although it is unsuitable for exterior use. Due to birch pulp’s short-fibre qualities, this hardwood can be used to make printing paper. In India the thin bark coming off in winter was used as writing paper. This has excellent life. The paper is known as bhoorj patra. Bhoorj is the Sanskrit name of tree and patra means paper. Extracts of birch are used for flavoring or leather oil, and in cosmetics such as soap or shampoo. In the past, commercial oil of wintergreen was made from the Sweet Birch . Birch tar or Russian Oil, extracted from birch bark, was used as a lubricant or glue and also for medicinal purposes. Silver Birch is Finland's national tree. Occasionally one uses leafy, fragrant twigs of silver birch to gently beat oneself in a sauna. The twigs are called vihta or vasta. This has a relaxing effect on the muscles. Birch ply is made from laminations of birch veneer. It is light but strong and has many other good properties. Birch ply is used to make guitar amplifiers and speaker cabinets. They are good tonally and are also known for their sturdiness. Occasionally it is used for electric and acoustic guitar bodies. It is also used to make drums. They produce boosted high and low frequencies with loud low end punch that is ideal for studio recordings. Birch ply is used to make longboards (skateboard), giving it a strong yet flexy ride. It is also used (often in very thin grades with many laminations) for making model aircraft. Extract from 'The International book of WOOD' curtesy Michael Beazley Publishers Limited 1979. |
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