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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/1-4051/12-155357. Accessed 05 Apr. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 41 specimens of this Species.
115919 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, University of Alberta Woodbend Field Station
Date Collected2006-06-13
114706 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Ilka's Fen
Date Collected2005-08-26
114705 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Parkland county
Date Collected2005-09-11
114616 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area
Date Collected2005-09-18
114656 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Ilka's Fen
Date Collected2005-08-26
114629 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area
Date Collected2005-08-31
118695 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Jarvie
Date Collected1971-07-27
118721 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Buffalo Head Prairie
Date Collected1981-06-30
118720 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Buffalo Head Prairie
Date Collected1981-06-30
119092 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: United States, Montana, Missoula County, Deer Creek
Date Collected1962-05-16
121430 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Coyote Lake Nature Sanctuary
Date Collected2009-06-09
121096 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Manitoba, Taiga Biological Station
Date Collected1980-02-11
23073 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Northwest Territories, Fort Liard
Date Collected1961-07-31
78352 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Northwest Territories, Fort Norman
Date Collected1971-08-12
78351 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Northwest Territories, Mountain River Camp
Date Collected1972-06-07
78349 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Northwest Territories, Mackenzie River, Sans Sault Rapids
Date Collected1971-06-25
23078 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Northwest Territories, Fort Liard
Date Collected1961-07-28
125154 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area, Islet Lake
Date Collected1996-08-01
125150 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Basset Lake
Date Collected1981-07-03
125149 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1966-06-03
125148 - Betula papyrifera Marshall
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namepaper birch
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1966-06-03