Tree of the month

[sean]

As the title suggests this thread is intended to focus on one tree a month. It will hopefully be a celebration of our Native Trees in order to aid us all in learning as much as possible about them.

 

Our experiences working with them, fungal associations, pests and diseases, photographs, myths, legends and their place in the arts and culture. As said before a celebration and learning resource.

 

I thought we could use the Celtic Tree Ogham calendar as a starter whose origins lie with the Celtic tribes who migrated to Britain around 700 – 500bc. Trees were venerated by the ancients for their many gifts which were a mainstay of peoples lifestyles. Everybody was born under a particular tree (the same as our own zodiac sign) of which this months Tree ‘The Silver Birch’ was the first in the calender falling between 24th December and 20th January.

 

Hopefully this thread will work and we can collate all sorts of useful and interesting information about our native trees. I hope there are a few of you who feel the same.

 

Silver Birch (Betula Pendula)

 

Also known as ‘Lady of the woods’ but I’m sure there are many others around the country. What are they?

 

The name Birch is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word ‘bhurga’ meaning ‘ a tree whose bark can be written upon’.

 

The Birch is Monoeccious (has male and female flowers on the same tree)

 

The Bark can be used as an antiseptic and a diuretic. If applied externally putting the fresh internal side of the bark against the skin it can relieve muscle pain. It can also be used to treat eczema.

 

Shafts of arrows were made of birch branches.

 

The roots of birch trees have mycorrhizal associations with various species of fungi. In these mutualistic or symbiotic relationships between trees and fungi, both partners in the association benefit from their interactions. One of the best known fungi associated with birch trees is the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria), while two edible boletes (Leccinum scabrum, L. versipelle) and the chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) also form mycorrhizal relationships with them. The names of some other fungi reflect a similar association with birches - Russula betularum and Cortinarius betuletorum - while the polypores Lenzites betulina and Piptoporus betulinus grow on the wood of dead birches. Another polypore, the tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) also grows on dead birches, with its hard, wood-like fruiting bodies reaching a large size and persisting for many years. These polypores all help to break down the tough cellulose of the wood, and by doing so make the nutrients in it available for other organisms. Not all fungi have mutually beneficial relationships with trees, however, and the witches' broom fungus (Taphrina betulina) is parasitic on birch trees, causing an abnormally dense growth of small twigs, which radiate from a point on a branch.

 

Theres a starter. So come on guys and galls lets have whatever you can muster on the Silver Birch. Photo’s, facts, anything you got.

 

Cheers Sean

[cerneARB]

Hey..my tree then if its this month..im a Birch.

 

Birch trees are classed as the lady of the woods or the queen of the trees by the druids.Witches besoms were/are made of birch twigs to sweep away negative influences from homes.

 

fast growing trees or poineer species will colanise any ground very quickly and spread fast.

 

The bark can be stripped and made into baskets amd water holders.

 

Horticultrarlist scientests believe the fungus Piptoporus betulinus is alreday dormant within the tree from a seedling and under the right condtions fruits.

[sean]

Hey..my tree then if its this month..im a Birch.

 

Birch trees are classed as the lady of the woods or the queen of the trees by the druids.Witches besoms were/are made of birch twigs to sweep away negative influences from homes.

 

fast growing trees or poineer species will colanise any ground very quickly and spread fast.

 

The bark can be stripped and made into baskets amd water holders.

 

Horticultrarlist scientests believe the fungus Piptoporus betulinus is alreday dormant within the tree from a seedling and under the right condtions fruits.

 

Great start mate...thats the spirit. Congrats on post number 666!

[cerneARB]

AGGGHHHH...666 the number of the beast....or so the missus says anyway!

[sean]

AGGGHHHH...666 the number of the beast....or so the missus says anyway!

 

 

its ok mate....667 now.....you are exorcised.

[WeeDee]

The bark of the birch was / is used to skin the wooden-framed canoes of some Native-American tribes. Its bark can also be used as kindling - dry or wet.

[josharb87]

i got my head stuck in a crotch in a birch tree when i was little, was left dangeling there, luckely my mum was returning from a walk with the dogs 5 min later and lifted me free. thanks mum

[cerneARB]

its ok mate....667 now.....you are exorcised.

 

Phew....better clean up all the green goo around the bed now:evilgrin02:

[Graham]

Everybody was born under a particular tree (the same as our own zodiac sign) of which this months Tree ‘The Silver Birch’ was the first in the calender falling between 24th December and 20th January.

 

My Mom said I was found under a gooseberry bush so that must be March:001_smile:

[SJH]

The bark is very rich in oil and is very water replelant, good for containers. The sap is used as a spring drink in Sweden and can be used to make wine.

 

 

The wood is very easy to carve and produces a very smooth finish, The burls from the tree are used to create a traditional drinking vessel from Sweden called a Kuksa.

 

 

The highly-decorative Masur (or Karelian) birch, from Betula verrucosa var. carelica has ripple texture combined with attractive dark streaks and lines.

 

Edited January 3, 2010 by SJH