White Birch Other Common Names: Paper birch, Canoe birch Scientific Name: Betula papyrifera Conservation Status: Least Concern
White Birch Trunk
White Birch Trunk and Branches
White Birch Leaves
Characteristics:
Bark peels back revealing a new white layer. The bark that peels back looks similar to paper hence the name “paper birch”.
From afar, trees look skinny and white with some brownish, with grey spots.
Ecological Importance: The white bitch provides a form of food, shelter and nest space for a wide variety of animals. Moose, Deer and Hare are some examples of species which eat the leaves from the white birch. Woodpeckers, Chickadees and swallows are some bird species which nest in the branches of the white pine.
Indigenous Importance: Many First Nations peoples would frequently use the bark from the white birch as material to create vessels such as canoes. As well, white birch bark would be used to create cooking materials such as bowls and baskets. Specifically in the white birch, the peeling bark would be used as a writing canvas as the paper like bark made for the perfect canvas.