Yellow birch

Yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis

Description

A medium-sized deciduous tree, Betula lutea or Butela alleghaniensis, native to North America. It is most often found in the Appalachian Mountains and as far west as the Great Lakes region and north to Canada. The yellow birch produces a pale reddish-yellow wood that is tough and heavy. It is used for flooring, interior trim, millwork, veneer, furniture and paper pulp. Most wood sold as 'birch' in North America is from this tree.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Betula lutea; Butela alleghaniensis)

Birch (Betula lutea)

Physical and Chemical Properties

Tree height = 25 m Bark = golden brown to gray, peeling in horizontal strips Flower = catkin (2-3 cm long) in spring Density = 43 pcf

Additional Images

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  Yellow birch (Betula lutea)

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  Yellow birch (Betula lutea)

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  Yellow birch (Betula lutea)

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  Yellow birch paper pulp stained with Graff "C" stain

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  Yellow birch paper pulp stained with Graff "C" stain

Resources and Citations

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 130

• Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996

• External source or communication Comment: Hardwood Manufacturers Institute, Memphis Tenn.: air-dry weight = 43 pcf

• Edward Reich, Carlton J. Siegler, Consumer Goods: How to Know and Use Them, American Book Company, New York City, 1937

• Virginia Tech Dendrology website at www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm (accessed Oct. 3, 2005)

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Birch (Accessed Oct. 3, 2005)