Birch

Birch; Temporal range:
	Betula pendula (Silver birch)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fagales
Family:	Betulaceae
Subfamily:	Betuloideae
Genus:	Betula; L.
Subgenera
	Betulenta; Betulaster; Neurobetula; Betula; Chamaebetula;
	Range of Betula
Synonyms
	Betulaster Spach; Apterocaryon Opiz; Chamaebetula Opiz;

A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus Betula (/ˈbɛtjʊlə/),^[2] in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech-oak family Fagaceae. The genus Betula contains 30 to 60 known taxa of which 11 are on the IUCN 2011 Red List of Threatened Species. They are typically short-lived pioneer species and are widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in northern areas of temperate climates and in boreal climates.^[3] Birch wood, the wood of the birch, is used for a wide range of purposes.

^ "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". apps.kew.org.
^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
^ Ashburner, K. & McAllister, H.A. (2013). The genus Betula: a taxonomic revision of birches: 1-431. Royal Botanic Gardens. Kew.