24 December: Birch

Today is the first day of the Celtic tree month Beth (Birch). So 10 facts about birch trees.

1. Birch trees belong to the family Betulaceae, which also includes Alders, hazels, and hornbeams. There are about 60 species, 11 of which are listed as endangered mainly due to habitat destruction and various fungal diseases.
2. The name derives from the root word for "to shine" in numerous languages, because of the tree's white bark.
3. Birch bark can be grey, yellow, silver or black as well as White. Young birches have smooth bark, but as the trees age deep ridges form and in most species, the bark will peel off in long horizontal strips. The bark is an old folk remedy for stomach ache, and can also be soaked and made into a cast for a broken arm. It contains betulinic acid, which is used in the pharmaceutical industry today.
4. A fully grown birch tree is capable of producing 1 million seeds per year.
5. Birch wood is fine-grained and pale in colour. It is strong and flexible, and is used in the manufacture of skateboards and model aircraft. It has even been used to make real aircraft - although it was nicknamed the "Spruce Goose", the Hughes H-4 Hercules was made mostly of birch wood. Birch has a natural resonance that peaks in the high and low frequencies, so it is a sought after wood for making hi-fi speakers. It's also highly flammable, so makes good firewood as well.
6. Birch trees are known as a pioneer species, as they are often the first trees to grow back after a forest fire. This adaptability has led to it representing growth, renewal, stability, initiation and adaptability in Celtic folklore.
7. It is estimated that 15-20% of people who suffer from hay fever in the northern hemisphere are reacting to birch pollen.
8. The birch is New Hampshire's state tree and the national tree of Finland and Russia. Birch trees halted a fire in the Swedish city of Umeå, so after the fire, the trees were planted all over the city. Umeå became known as "City of the Birches" and the name of its ice hockey team translates as "The Birch Leaves".
9. Birch sap is used in the manufacture of Wine and Beer in the northern Europe, Russia and China. It can also be used to make birch syrup, which is used like Maple syrup for pancakes and waffles.
10. Birch is associated with the feast of Pentecost in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, and Russia, where its branches are used as decoration for churches and homes.