Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Betula albosinensis
Tree species of birch with notable red peeling bark From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Betula albosinensis, commonly known as the Chinese red birch, is a species of birch in the family Betulaceae, native to Western China. It is notable for its distinctive peeling bark and is cultivated as an ornamental tree.
Remove ads
Description
Betula albosinensis is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 25 m (82 ft) in height,[2] with some specimens reaching 18 to 27 m (60 to 90 ft).[3] The trunk can reach a circumference of 1.8 to 3.4 m (6 to 11 ft).[3]
Bark
A distinctive feature is the red birch's peeling bark, which is brown but cream when newly exposed.[2] The bark has been described as bright orange to orange-red, peeling off in very thin sheets. Each new layer of bark is covered with a white glaucous bloom, giving it a unique appearance.[3]
Leaves
The leaves are ovate, 5 to 7.6 cm (2 to 3 in) long and 2.5 to 3.8 cm (1 to 1.5 in) wide, with a slender point and rounded base. They have unevenly jagged teeth along the edges and 9 to 14 pairs of veins. Young leaves have hair between the veins, becoming smooth (glabrous) with age.[3]
Catkins
Brown catkins are produced in Spring.[2] Male catkins are 3.8 to 6.4 cm (1.5 to 2.5 in) long, while female catkins are 2.5 to 3.8 cm (1 to 1.5 in) long and about 8 mm (1/3 in) wide. Female catkins are usually solitary, sometimes in pairs.[3]
Other features
Young shoots are slightly glandular, becoming dark brown and smooth with scattered warts as they age.[3]
Remove ads
Taxonomy
Betula albosinensis was first described by Burkill in 1899 in the Journal of the Linnean Society.[4] The Latin specific name albosinensis means "white, from China".[5]
Synonyms include B. bhojpattra var. sinensis and B. utilis var. sinensis.[6]
Recent taxonomic revisions have proposed reclassifying this taxon as Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis (Burkill) Ashburner & McAll. This reclassification was published in Ashburner & McAllister's 2013 work "The genus Betula: a taxonomic revision of birches".[7] This classification is accepted by the World Flora Online (WFO) and Plants of the World Online (POWO).[6][8]
Remove ads
Distribution and habitat
Betula albosinensis is native to Western China.[1] More specifically, it is found in North-Central China, South-Central China, Southeast China, and Inner Mongolia. It grows primarily in temperate biomes.[6]
Uses
Cultivation
Betula albosinensis is grown as an ornamental tree for parks and large gardens, valued for its striking bark.[3] It was first introduced to cultivation in the West by E.H. Wilson in 1901, who collected specimens in Western Hupeh (now Hubei) province.[3]
Numerous cultivars have been produced. The cultivars 'Fascination'[9] and 'Red Panda'[10] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Remove ads
Gallery
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads