Betulaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Betula pubescens

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Betula pubescens is a deciduous tree with a narrow, open crown; it can grow to around 20 metres tall[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. It is often reduced to less than 1 metre in extreme habitats, particularly in northern tundra and on mountains[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. The tree has a very wide range of traditional uses and is still harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes cultivated as a timber crop and is also often grown as an ornamental in gardens. It makes an excellent pioneer species for re-establishing native woodland. The population of this species is declining in some areas, including southern Europe, due to a decline in peat bog habitats. However, given its widespread distribution, common occurrence throughout Europe, the presence of stable populations and the absence of major threats across much of its range, the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurasia - Norway to Spain, east through the Caucasus to Turkey, Iran, the Russian Far East; N. America - Newfoundland, Greenland

HabitatOpen woodland and heaths, usually on acid soils, to 830 metres[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. , 100 Title Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Publication Author Polunin. O. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1969 ISBN 0192176218 Description An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses. ]. Mixed woodlands, floodplains, as successional habitat on fens, mires and bogs, by streams and hill-side flushes, peaty hollows, roadsides and field boundaries[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].