Betula pendula

Silver birch; Betula pendula
	Silver birch forest, Inari, Finland
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fagales
Family:	Betulaceae
Genus:	Betula
Subgenus:	Betula subg. Betula
Species:	B. pendula
Binomial name
	Betula pendula; Roth
Subspecies
	Betula pendula subsp. mandshurica (Regel) Ashburner & McAll.; Betula pendula subsp. pendula; Betula pendula subsp. szechuanica (C.K.Schneid.) Ashburner & McAll.;
	Distribution map
Synonyms
	Synonymy Betula alba var. pendula (Roth) St.-Lag.; Betula alba lusus pendula (Roth) Regel; Betula alba var. pendula (Roth) W.T.Aiton; synonyms of subsp. mandschurica: Betula ajanensis Kom.; Betula alaskana Sarg. (1901), non Lesq. (1882), fossil name.; Betula alba var. humilis Regel; Betula alba var. japonica Miq.; Betula alba var. kamtschatica Regel; Betula alba subsp. mandshurica Regel; Betula alba var. mandshurica (Regel) Franch.; Betula alba var. resinifera Regel; Betula alba var. tauschii Regel; Betula austrosichotensis V.N.Vassil. & V.I.Baranov; Betula cajanderi Sukaczev; Betula cajanderi subsp. minutifolia Kozhevn.; Betula demetrii I.V.Vassil.; Betula grandifolia Litv. (1905), non Ettingsh. (1866), fossil name.; Betula japonica (Miq.) Siebold ex H.J.P.Winkl., nom. illeg. homonym. post.; Betula japonica var. kamtschatica (Regel) H.J.P.Winkl.; Betula japonica var. mandshurica (Regel) H.J.P.Winkl.; Betula japonica var. pluricostata H.J.P.Winkl.; Betula japonica var. resinifera (Regel) H.J.P.Winkl.; Betula japonica var. sachalinensis Koidz.; Betula japonica var. tauschii (Regel) H.J.P.Winkl.; Betula kamtschatica (Regel) C.-A.Jansson, nom. illeg. homonym. post.; Betula kenaica var. japonica (Miq.) Lindq.; Betula latifolia var. cuneifolia Nakai; Betula latifolia var. kamtschatica (Regel) Makino & Nemoto; Betula latifolia var. mandshurica (Regel) Nakai; Betula latifolia var. pluricostata (H.J.P.Winkl.) Makino & Nemoto; Betula mandshurica (Regel) Nakai; Betula mandshurica var. japonica (Miq.) Rehder; Betula mandshurica var. kamtschatica (Regel) Rehder; Betula neoalaskana Sarg.; Betula papyrifera subsp. humilis (Regel) A.E.Murray; Betula papyrifera var. humilis (Regel) Fernald & Raup; Betula papyrifera subsp. neoalaskana (Sarg.) A.E.Murray; Betula papyrifera var. neoalaskana (Sarg.) Raup; Betula pendula var. japonica (Miq.) Rehder; Betula pendula subsp. kamtschatica (Regel) Shemberg; Betula pendula f. microdonta C.K.Schneid.; Betula pendula var. tauschii (Regel) Rehder; Betula platyphylla Sukaczev; Betula platyphylla var. brunnea J.X.Huang; Betula platyphylla var. cuneifolia (Nakai) H.Hara; Betula platyphylla var. japonica (Miq.) H.Hara; Betula platyphylla subsp. kamtschatica (Regel) Vorosch.; Betula platyphylla var. kamtschatica (Regel) H.Hara; Betula platyphylla f. laciniata (Miyabe & Tatew.) H.Hara; Betula platyphylla var. mandshurica (Regel) H.Hara; Betula platyphylla subsp. mandshurica (Regel) Kitag.; Betula platyphylla subsp. minutifolia (Kozhevn.) Kozhevn.; Betula platyphylla var. phellodendroides S.L.Tung; Betula platyphylla var. pluricostata (H.J.P.Winkl.) Tatew.; Betula platyphylla var. tauschii (Regel) Tatew.; Betula resinifera Britton, nom. illeg. homonym. post.; Betula tauschii (Regel) Koidz.; Betula tauschii var. cuneifolia (Nakai) Nemoto; Betula tauschii var. kamtschatica (Regel) Koidz.; Betula tauschii f. laciniata Miyabe & Tatew.; Betula tauschii var. pluricostata (H.J.P.Winkl.) Koidz.; Betula verrucosa var. japonica (Miq.) A.Henry; Betula verrucosa var. platyphylla (Sukaczev) Lindq.; synonyms of subsp. pendula: Betula aetnensis Raf. ex J.Presl & C.Presl, orth. var.; Betula alba var. aetherea Wallr.; Betula alba var. arborescens Wallr.; Betula alba var. arbuscula Fr.; Betula alba var. atropurpurea Dippel; Betula alba f. aurea Schur; Betula alba var. bircalensis (Mela) Mela; Betula alba var. carelica Merckl.; Betula alba f. dalecarlica (L.f.) Regel; Betula alba var. dalecarlica L.f.; Betula alba lusus expansa Regel; Betula alba var. fastigiata Clemenc.; Betula alba foliis-atropurpureis Van Geert, not validly publ.; Betula alba var. fontqueri (Rothm.) Maire & Weiller; Betula alba var. globosa Gray; Betula alba var. laciniata Hartm.; Betula alba laciniata (Hartm.) de Vos; Betula alba f. laciniata (Hartm.) Dippel; Betula alba f. lobata Regel; Betula alba var. lobulata C.Andersson; Betula alba var. macrocarpa Willd.; Betula alba lusus microphylla (Hartm.) Regel; Betula alba var. microphylla Hartm.; Betula alba var. oycowiensis (Besser) Regel; Betula alba pendula-youngii T.Moore; Betula alba var. purpurea W.Paul; Betula alba var. saxatilis Lilj.; Betula alba f. transsylvanica Schur; Betula alba subsp. verrucosa (Ehrh.) Regel; Betula alba f. verrucosa (Ehrh.) Schur; Betula alba var. verrucosa (Ehrh.) Mérat; Betula alba var. vulgaris Spach, nom. illeg.; Betula alba f. vulgaris Regel; Betula brachylepis V.N.Vassil.; Betula cajanderi f. fruticans Kozhevn.; Betula carpatica var. sudetica Rchb.; Betula coriacea Pamp.; Betula cycoviensis Steud.; Betula ellipticifolia V.N.Vassil.; Betula etnensis Raf.; Betula ferganensis V.N.Vassil.; Betula fontqueri Rothm.; Betula fontqueri subsp. parvibracteata (Peinado, G.Moreno & A.Velasco) Rivas Mart. & Ladero; Betula grandifolia var. pubescens Kuzen.; Betula gummifera Bertol.; Betula hippolyti Sukaczev; Betula hybrida Blom; Betula insularis V.N.Vassil.; Betula kossogolica V.N.Vassil.; Betula kotulae Zaver.; Betula laciniata (Hartm.) Rchb., nom. illeg. homonym. post.; Betula laciniata var. crispa Rchb.; Betula lobulata Kit.; Betula ludmilae V.N.Vassil.; Betula microlepis I.V.Vassil.; Betula microlepis var. moldavica Osadchii; Betula mongolica V.N.Vassil.; Betula montana V.N.Vassil.; Betula obscura Kotula ex Fiek; Betula odorata var. sudetica (Rchb.) P.D.Sell; Betula oxycoviensis Besser; Betula oxycoviensis var. majuscula Kindb.; Betula oycowiensis Besser; Betula oycowiensis var. majuscula Kindb.; Betula palmata Borkh.; Betula palmata var. bircalensis (Mela) Tzvelev; Betula palmata var. crispa (Rchb.) Tzvelev; Betula palmata var. lobulata (C.Andersson) Tzvelev; Betula parvibracteata Peinado, G.Moreno & A.Velasco; Betula pendula f. bircalensis (Mela) Hämet-Ahti; Betula pendula var. carelica (Merckl.) Hämet-Ahti; Betula pendula f. crispa (Rchb.) Hämet-Ahti; Betula pendula f. cuneata C.K.Schneid.; Betula pendula var. cuneata (C.K.Schneid.) P.D.Sell; Betula pendula f. dalecarlica (L.f.) Dippel; Betula pendula var. dalecarlica (L.f.) L.H.Bailey; Betula pendula f. elegans Dippel; Betula pendula var. etnensis (Raf.) P.D.Sell; Betula pendula subsp. etnensis (Raf.) Zangh.; Betula pendula f. fastigiata (Clemenc.) Rehder; Betula pendula var. fontqueri (Rothm.) G.Moreno & Peinado; Betula pendula subsp. fontqueri (Rothm.) G.Moreno & Peinado; Betula pendula f. gracilis (Rehder) Rehder; Betula pendula var. gracilis Rehder; Betula pendula var. laciniata (Hartm.) Tidestr.; Betula pendula var. lapponica (Lindq.) Hämet-Ahti; Betula pendula var. meridionalis G.Moreno & Peinado; Betula pendula var. microlepis (I.V.Vassil.) Doluch.; Betula pendula var. obscura (Kotula ex Fiek) Olšavská; Betula pendula f. oycowiensis (Besser) Dippel; Betula pendula var. oycowiensis (Besser) C.K.Schneid.; Betula pendula f. palmeri Hämet-Ahti; Betula pendula var. parvibracteata (Peinado, G.Moreno & A.Velasco) G.Moreno & Peinado; Betula pendula f. pyramidalis Dippel; Betula pendula f. tristis C.K.Schneid.; Betula pendula var. tristis (C.K.Schneid.) Rehder; Betula pendula f. viscosa (Bean) Rehder; Betula pendula f. youngii C.K.Schneid.; Betula pinnata var. hybrida Lundmark; Betula platyphylloides V.N.Vassil.; Betula platyphylloides var. microphylla Osadchii; Betula pseudopendula V.N.Vassil.; Betula pubescens var. verrucosa (Ehrh.) Rchb.; Betula purpurea (W.Paul) H.J.Veitch; Betula szaferi Jent.-Szaf. ex Staszk.; Betula talassica Poljakov; Betula tiulinae V.N.Vassil.; Betula transbaicalensis V.N.Vassil.; Betula transsylvanica (Schur) Schur; Betula tristis Dippel, pro syn.; Betula uschkanensis Sukaczev, nom. nud.; Betula verrucosa Ehrh.; Betula verrucosa subsp. ambigua Hampe ex Kindb.; Betula verrucosa var. arbuscula (Fr.) H.J.P.Winkl.; Betula verrucosa f. bircalensis Mela; Betula verrucosa subsp. borealis Kindb.; Betula verrucosa f. dalecarlica (L.f.) H.J.P.Winkl.; Betula verrucosa var. dalecarlica (L.f.) Nyman; Betula verrucosa var. elegans (Dippel) Schelle; Betula verrucosa f. elegans (Dippel) H.J.P.Winkl.; Betula verrucosa var. elegans-laciniata Adamov; Betula verrucosa f. expansa Regel; Betula verrucosa subsp. fallax Kindb.; Betula verrucosa f. fastigiata K.Koch; Betula verrucosa var. frutescens Kindb.; Betula verrucosa var. hybrida (Blom) Nyman, nom. superfl.; Betula verrucosa var. incisa Brenner; Betula verrucosa var. laciniata Kindb.; Betula verrucosa var. lapponica Lindq.; Betula verrucosa f. lobata (Regel) Anders ex H.J.P.Winkl.; Betula verrucosa var. lobulata (Kit.) Nyman; Betula verrucosa var. microphylla (Hartm.) Fiek; Betula verrucosa subsp. obscura (Kotula ex Fiek) Á.Löve & D.Löve; Betula verrucosa var. obscura (Kotula ex Fiek) Gürke; Betula verrucosa var. odorata Nyman; Betula verrucosa subsp. oycowiensis (Besser) Nyman; Betula verrucosa var. oycowiensis (Besser) H.J.P.Winkl.; Betula verrucosa subsp. platycarpa Kindb.; Betula verrucosa var. pyramidalis Adamov; Betula verrucosa var. saxatilis Lindq.; Betula verrucosa lusus tristis (C.K.Schneid.) Asch. & Graebn.; Betula verrucosa f. viscosa Bean; Betula verrucosa var. vulgaris H.J.P.Winkl., nom. illeg. homonym. post.; Betula verrusosa f. serrata Mörner; Betula virgultosa Fr. ex Regel; Betula vladimirii V.N.Vassil.; ; synonyms of subsp. szechuanica: Betula japonica var. rockii Rehder; Betula japonica var. szechuanica C.K.Schneid.; Betula mandshurica var. rockii (Rehder) Rehder; Betula mandshurica var. szechuanica (C.K.Schneid.) Rehder; Betula platyphylla var. rockii (Rehder) Rehder; Betula platyphylla var. szechuanica (C.K.Schneid.) Rehder; Betula rockii (Rehder) C.-A.Jansson; Betula szechuanica (C.K.Schneid.) C.-A.Jansson; ;

Betula pendula, the silver birch, is a species of tree in the family Betulaceae It is native to Europe, Morocco, temperate Asia, Canada, and Alaska, although in southern Europe and Morocco it is only found at higher elevations. Its range extends into Siberia, China, and southwest Asia in the mountains of northern Turkey, the Caucasus, and northern Iran.

It has also been called warty birch from the warty twigs, and (particularly for selected strongly pendulous cultivars) weeping birch; in Korea it has been cited as East Asian white birch, though this can also refer to Betula platyphylla. It has been introduced into North America, where it is sometimes known as European white birch, and is considered invasive in some states in the United States and parts of Canada.

The silver birch is a medium-sized deciduous tree that owes its common name to the white peeling bark on the trunk. The twigs are slender and often pendulous and the leaves are roughly triangular with doubly serrate margins and turn yellow and brown in autumn before they fall. The flowers are catkins and the light, winged seeds get widely scattered by the wind. The silver birch is a hardy tree, a pioneer species, and one of the first trees to appear on bare or fire-swept land. Many species of birds and animals are found in birch woodland, the tree supports a wide range of insects and the light shade it casts allows shrubby and other plants to grow beneath its canopy. It is planted as a decorative tree in parks and gardens, and is used for forest products such as joinery timber, plywood, firewood, tanning, racecourse jumps, and brooms. Various parts of the tree are used in traditional medicine and the bark contains triterpenes, which have been shown to have medicinal properties.