Practical
Plants

Betula lenta

Cherry Birch

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Betula genus in the family Betulaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Betula
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
24 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The essential oil obtained from the bark contains 97 - 99% methyl salicylate. This is very toxic when taken orally, and it can also be absorbed through the skin, resulting in human fatalities. As little as 4, 700 mg can be fatal in children[18].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Inner bark - cooked or dried and ground into a powder[35][39][29]. Sweet and spicy[30]. The dried inner bark can be used as a thickener in soups etc or can be added to flour when making bread etc. Inner bark is generally only seen as a famine food, used when other forms of starch are not available or are in short supply[K]. Sap - raw or cooked[32][36][29]. A sweet flavour[38][30]. It is harvested in early spring, before the leaves unfurl, by tapping the trunk. The flow is best on sunny days following a heavy frost. A delicious drink, it can also be concentrated into a syrup or sugar[31]. The sap can be fermented to make birch beer or vinegar[31]. An old English recipe for the beer is as follows:- \"To every Gallon of Birch-water put a quart of Honey, well stirr'd together; then boil it almost an hour with a few Cloves, and a little Limon-peel, keeping it well scumm'd. When it is sufficiently boil'd, and become cold, add to it three or four Spoonfuls of good Ale to make it work...and when the Test begins to settle, bottle it up... it is gentle, and very harmless in operation within the body, and exceedingly sharpens the Appetite, being drunk ante pastum.\"[34]. The dried leaves and bark from the larger roots are a delightful tea substitute[30][31]. A wholesome, agreeable tea is made from the essential oil contained in the inner bark and twigs[33][37][39]. This essential oil is also used as a wintergreen flavouring in foods[31].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Sweetener
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Inner bark
Plant part
Sap

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The bark is anthelmintic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic and stimulant[19][11]. A tea made from the bark is used in the treatment of fevers, stomach aches and lung ailments[12][17], it is said to be an excellent tonic in cases of dysentery and to be useful in the treatment of gravel and female obstructions[19]. An essential oil distilled from the bark is anti-inflammatory, analgesic and rubefacient[12]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, bladder infections, neuralgia etc[12]. The oil, called 'oil of wintergreen', used to be produced commercially, but it is now manufactured synthetically[12]. A tea made from the twigs is used in the treatment of fevers[12]. The leaves can be chewed or used in an infusion in the treatment of dysentery[17].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Rubefacient
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil is obtained from the bark and twigs, it is distilled in quantity and is an item of commerce[15]. It can be used medicinally, as a food flavouring, as an ingredient in cosmetic shampoos and also to make a wholesome tea[2][11][21][5][18]. The oil, when decolourized, is similar to 'Oil of Wintergreen' (obtained from Gaultheria procumbens) and is considered to be of superior quality[16]. The tree is coppiced every 5 years and all parts are distilled for the oil[16]. The tree grows up to 3 metres tall in this 5 year period[16]. The greatest yield of oil is obtained if the tree is harvested in the summer[16]. The oil distilled from the wood is insect repellent[18].l The bark contains up to 16% tannin[13]. The thin outer bark is waterproof and has been used as the outer cladding on dwellings, canoes etc[17]. It has also been used to make baskets, dishes, buckets etc[17]. Wood - very strong, close grained, hard, heavy. The wood is richly marked[19], it weighs 40lb per cubic foot and is exploited commercially for making floors, furniture, tools etc[2][21][24][28][5][14]. It makes an excellent fuel[2][21][24][14].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Quebec to Georgia, west to Alberta and Ohio.
Habitat
Rich woodlands, preferring north-facing slopes and moist soils[20][25]. It is also found on rocky soils[14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[26][27][3][4]. Only just cover the seed and place the pot in a sunny position[26][27][4]. Spring sown seed should be surface sown in a sunny position in a cold frame[3][4]. If the germination is poor, raising the temperature by covering the seed with glass can help[4]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If you have sufficient seed, it can be sown in an outdoor seedbed, either as soon as it is ripe or in the early spring - do not cover the spring sown seed. Grow the plants on in the seedbed for 2 years before planting them out into their permanent positions in the winter[26][27][3][4].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in a well-drained loamy soil in a sheltered position[2][10]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Dislikes wet soils[10]. Shade tolerant[10]. Cherry birch is said to tolerate an annual precipitation of ca 60 to 150cm, an average annual temperature range of 5 to 12°C, and a pH of 4.5 to 7.5[18]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[22]. The bruised foliage has a strong smell of wintergreen[10]. A good plant to grow near the compost heap, aiding the fermentation process[9]. Trees can be coppiced on a cycle of 5 years or more[16]. Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[10].

References

  1. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

  8. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

  9. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  12. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. 1946-00-00

    ↩

  14. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩

  16. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  17. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  18. Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  19. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  21. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  22. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  23. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

  24. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  25. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  26. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  27. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  28. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩

  29. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)

    ↩1↩2

  30. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)

    ↩1↩2↩3

  31. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  32. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)

    ↩

  33. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)

    ↩

  34. Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - (1983-00-00)

    ↩

  35. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)

    ↩

  36. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)

    ↩

  37. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (1973-00-00)

    ↩

  38. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)

    ↩

  39. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)

    ↩1↩2

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