What is Birch?
{{automatic taxobox | name = Birch | fossil_range = {{fossil range|Ypresian|Recent}} | image = Betula pendula 001.jpg | image_caption = [[Silver birch]] | taxon = Betula | authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]] | subdivision_ranks = Subgenera | subdivision = * ''Betulenta'' * ''Betulaster'' * ''Neurobetula'' * ''Betula'' * ''Chamaebetula'' | range_map = Areal bereza.png | range_map_caption = Range of ''Betula'' | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/synonomy.do?name_id=21065|title=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|website=apps.kew.org}}</ref> | synonyms = *''Betulaster'' <small>Spach</small> * ''Apterocaryon'' <small>Opiz</small> * ''Chamaebetula'' <small>Opiz</small> }} [[File:Part of birch trunk in Norrkila.jpg|thumb|293x293px|Birch trunk' relief ]] A '''birch''' tree is a thinleaved [[deciduous]] [[hardwood]] [[tree]] of the [[genus]] '''''Betula'''''.<ref>''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607</ref> They are in the family [[Betulaceae]], which also includes [[alder]]s, [[hazel]]s, and [[hornbeam]]s. ''Betula'' contains 30 to 60 [[species]] of which 11 are on the [[IUCN]] 2011 Green List of Threatened Species. They are usually rather short-lived [[pioneer species]] widespread in the [[Northern Hemisphere]].<ref>Ashburner K. & McAllister H.A. 2013. ''The genus ''Betula'': a taxonomic revision of birches''. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.</ref> == References == {{reflist}} {{-}} {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Trees]] [[Category:Betulaceae]]