silver birch

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• weeping birch
• Silver Birch
• Common Birch
• European White Birch
• European weeping birch

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Betula alba lusus pendula
• Betula alba var. pendula
• Betula alba var. pendula

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fagales and the family Betulaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Betula, specifically as the species Betula pendula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Betula pendula, is widely distributed across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout the landscape of Denmark. Its presence is also well-established within the territories of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, the species is commonly distributed across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations represent a significant portion of its northern geographical range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Betula pendula is primarily characterized by its presence in forest ecosystems, where it often functions as a pioneer species capable of colonizing open or disturbed areas. It thrives in a variety of light conditions but is most competitive in successional woodland stages. Regarding its symbiotic relationships, this species does not rely on mycorrhizal associations for its nutrient uptake, distinguishing its physiological strategy from many other forest tree species.

Habitat :

forest

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Betula pendula is characterized by its status as a perennial organism with a substantial lifespan that can reach up to 100 years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, a structural life form that allows it to dominate various forest strata. The plant follows a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage annually to endure seasonal shifts. Throughout its long-lived existence, it functions as a robust member of its ecosystem, transitioning through various stages of maturity within its perennial lifecycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Lifespan :

100

Morphology

The morphology of Betula pendula is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that is entirely self-supporting. As a terrestrial species, it does not function as an epiphyte or an aquatic plant, nor does it exhibit parasitic behavior, remaining an independent organism. The plant demonstrates significant vertical development, with its height typically ranging from a minimum of 6 meters to a maximum of 30 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 21.42 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

21.41675 m

Plant height min:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Betula pendula is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, as it does not possess the mechanisms for nitrogen fixation. Its foliage consists of ovate-shaped leaves that are finely toothed along the margins and lack any defensive structures such as thorns or spines. The leaf morphology displays a mean width of 1.5 cm, with both the minimum and maximum recorded widths remaining consistent at 1.5 cm, while the maximum leaf length reaches up to 4 cm. These leaves have a mean surface area of 11.811 cm² and exhibit a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 178.97 cm²/g, reflecting its resource allocation and gas exchange efficiency. Supporting the structural integrity of the plant, the stem maintains a mean specific density (SSD) of 645.5 mg/cm³.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf margin :

finely toothed

Leaf size mean:

11.811 cm²

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width mean:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

178.97 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

645.5 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Betula pendula is characterized by a sexual process that is monoecious in nature, though self-fertilization is notably absent. The flowering period typically commences in April and concludes in May. This species relies on abiotic pollination, specifically utilizing a wind pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization. The resulting fruit is a dry achene that is indehiscent. The seeds produced are extremely lightweight, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.000323488111111111 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.0001 g to a maximum of 0.00117 g) and a consistent seed length of 3.4 mm. Furthermore, the seeds maintain a uniform volume of 0.25 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the wind. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

monoecious

Seed length mean:

3.4 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00117 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000323488111111111 g

Seed mass min:

1e-04 g

Seed volume max:

0.25 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Betula pendula has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Folia medica
2. Molecular biology reports

Root

1. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology

Stem

1. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology

Chemicals

Betula pendula has 29 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betulinic acid, Betulin, BA, CU, FE.

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
4. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Betulin

1. PloS one
2. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
3. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology

BA

1. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology
2. The Science of the total environment

CU

1. The Science of the total environment
2. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti

FE

1. The Science of the total environment
2. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti

PB

1. The Science of the total environment
2. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti

ZN

1. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti
2. The Science of the total environment

acacetin

1. Journal of separation science
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

quercetin

1. Journal of separation science
2. Folia medica

triterpenoids

1. PloS one
2. Current medicinal chemistry

Activities

Betula pendula has 23 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Analgesic

1. PloS one

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Betula pendula has 18 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer, wound healing, arthritis, rheumatism, actinic keratosis.

Breast cancer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Molecular biology reports
3. RSC advances

Wound healing

1. Scientific reports
2. Biomedicines
3. PloS one

Arthritis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Rheumatism

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Actinic keratosis

1. Biomedicines

Analgesic

1. PloS one

Antiseptic

1. PloS one

Diuretic

1. PloS one

Glioblastoma

1. Molecular biology reports

Gout

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Betula pendula has 9 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, aqueous extracts, birch tar, buds, hairy root culture.

Extracts

1. Pharmaceutics
2. Urological research

Aqueous extracts

1. Scientific reports

Birch tar

1. PloS one

Buds

1. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine

Hairy root culture

1. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology

Lawn

1. Fungal systematics and evolution

Leaves extracts

1. Molecular biology reports

Methylene chloride-methanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Water extracts

1. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek