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Species Details
Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesAlternate, deciduous, egg-shaped, 5-12 cm long, 4-7 cm wide, margins sharply to coarsley or irregularly double toothed, surfaces hairy
FlowersInflorescence of catkins, emerge before or with leaves; male catkins solitary, 7-9 cm long; female catkins solitary, 1-3 cm long; male flowers with 3 flowers per bract, bracts 3-lobed; sepals 2-3; stamens 2; female flowers 1-3 flowers per bract; pistils 1, stigmas 2
Fruits and SeedsSamara, 1.5-2mm long, winged; nutlet widely oval
Scientific Name
Betula papyrifera Marshall
Common Name
paper birch
General Description
Perennial tree, 10-30 m tall; bark white, yellowish- to reddish-brown or dark grey, peeling easily; twigs long-hairy
Leaves
Alternate, deciduous, egg-shaped, 5-12 cm long, 4-7 cm wide, margins sharply to coarsley or irregularly double toothed, surfaces hairy
Flowers
Inflorescence of catkins, emerge before or with leaves; male catkins solitary, 7-9 cm long; female catkins solitary, 1-3 cm long; male flowers with 3 flowers per bract, bracts 3-lobed; sepals 2-3; stamens 2; female flowers…
Inflorescence of catkins, emerge before or with leaves; male catkins solitary, 7-9 cm long; female catkins solitary, 1-3 cm long; male flowers with 3 flowers per bract, bracts 3-lobed; sepals 2-3; stamens 2; female flowers 1-3 flowers per bract; pistils 1, stigmas 2
Fruits and Seeds
Samara, 1.5-2mm long, winged; nutlet widely oval
Phenology
Flowers from April to May
Notes
Similar species:
Betula occidentalis
B. occidentalis is similar to B. papyrifera but is a large shrub. It’s bark is reddish brown to black, and does not peel. The leaves are oval.
Ethno-botanical uses:
The…
Similar species:
Betula occidentalis
B. occidentalis is similar to B. papyrifera but is a large shrub. It’s bark is reddish brown to black, and does not peel. The leaves are oval.
Ethno-botanical uses:
The American Indians used the bark for a wide variety of building and clothing purposes because of it’s waterproof qualities.
The wood is used for items such as clothespins, spools, ice cream sticks, and toothpicks, as well as for pulpwood paper due to it’s colour and softness.
Range/Distribution
Alberta: Boreal and montane forests, parkland
CAN (BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT); USA (AK, CO, CT, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VA, VT, WA,…
Alberta: Boreal and montane forests, parkland
CAN (BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT); USA (AK, CO, CT, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY); FRA (SPM)
Citation
Page Citation for Betula papyrifera Marshall
Page Citation
"Species Details - Betula papyrifera Marshall, University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-4051/12-111562. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
Specimen Information
There are 41 specimens of this Species.
125147 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1966-06-03
126962 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Breton
Date Collected2010-07-24
133049 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Bald Mountain Lookout Tower
Date Collected2011-06-25
133050 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Bald Mountain Lookout Tower
Date Collected2011-06-25
133063 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Bald Mountain Lookout Tower
Date Collected2011-06-25
134724 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Coyote Lake Nature Sanctuary
Date Collected2011-05-31
137848 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Soldan Lake
Date Collected2014-07-22
135184 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Coyote Lake Nature Sanctuary
Date Collected2011-08-31
135255 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Coyote Lake Nature Sanctuary
Date Collected2011-08-30
140957 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Janvier 194
Date Collected2016-06-10
141270 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Sandy Beach
Date Collected2016-07-31
141271 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Sandy Lake
Date Collected2016-07-31
141272 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Sandy Lake
Date Collected2016-07-31
141273 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Sunrise Beach
Date Collected2016-07-31
141274 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Stettin
Date Collected2016-07-31
141275 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Deadman Lake
Date Collected2016-07-31
141276 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Deadman Lake
Date Collected2016-07-31
141277 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Deadman Lake
Date Collected2016-07-31
142963 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Hoople Lake
Date Collected2020-05-30
144061 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1966-06-03