Betula papyrifera

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant, known as Betula papyrifera, exhibits a broad distribution across various northern regions of the world. In Europe, its presence can be traced from Great Britain in the north to France in the southwest. Moving across the Atlantic, it occupies significant portions of Subarctic America. Specifically, it is found throughout the vast landscapes of Alaska and the Yukon. Additionally, the species extends its reach into the rugged terrain of the Northwest Territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Betula papyrifera is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the organism to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence in its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its regenerative buds well above the ground level, typically high on its woody stems, which provides a strategic advantage for survival in various climatic conditions. Specifically, its classification as a phanerophyte in both structural and growth form contexts underscores its nature as a tree, utilizing elevated branching to support its canopy and ensure successful reproduction and competition for light.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Betula papyrifera is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, reaching a mean height of approximately 22.995 m. As a self-supporting organism, it does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining a sturdy, independent structure. It is a terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and it does not exist as an epiphyte. Furthermore, the plant is an independent organism rather than a parasite, maintaining its own metabolic processes throughout its life cycle.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

22.995 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Betula papyrifera is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many temperate deciduous species, allowing for efficient carbon fixation under moderate light and temperature conditions. The structural efficiency of its foliage is reflected in a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 310.91 cm²/g, a metric that indicates a relatively thin and broad leaf morphology designed to optimize light interception and gas exchange within its natural forest habitats.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

310.91 cm²/g

Reproduction

Reproduction in Betula papyrifera is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that facilitate widespread distribution through an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning they are primarily adapted for dispersal by wind. The seeds exhibit significant variation in size and weight, with a recorded minimum seed mass of 0.0002 g and a maximum seed mass reaching up to 0.00115 g. On average, the seed mass is approximately 0.000339889 g, a characteristic that supports their ability to be carried over long distances by air currents to colonize new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass max:

0.00115 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000339889 g

Seed mass min:

2e-04 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Betula papyrifera has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, betulinic acid.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Betula papyrifera has 23 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Betula papyrifera has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include actinic keratoses, epidermolysis bullosa.

Actinic keratoses

1. Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery

Epidermolysis bullosa

1. Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery