Japanese White Birch – Betula platyphylla var. japonica
Japanese White Birch, from seed, is 6 years old
Family Betulaceae – Alder, Birch, Hornbeam
Parent plant is commonly called the Asian White Birch.
Asian white birch is native to Korea, Japan, and northern China. It is a deciduous, monoecious tree with white bark, growing as tall as 20 m.
The bark of the Japanese white birch is used in traditional herbal remedies as a tonic, haemetic, and to reduce inflammation. Chemical components with ascribed anti-fungal properties: Triterpenoids; lupeol, betulin, betulafolianediol, betulafolienetriol, oleanolic acid, platyphyllin, platypyllonol, betuloside, betuligenol, paeonol, betulafolienetetraol, betulafolienepentaol. Flavonoids; myricetin, myricitrin, hemiphloin, hyperoside. [2]
The antioxidant and anticancer properties of Betula platyphylla var. japonica are also being investigated. [3]
 May 2008 (6 years old) |
 October 2010 |
Leaves alternate, ovate to triangular-ovate, 5-7 cm long and 4-6 cm wide, acuminate, mostly broadly cuneate at base, unequally serrate, glabrous or sparsely short-pilose beneath, with brownish axillary hairs, petioles 1.5-2 cm long. Branchlets dark purple-brown, granular.
Flowers are unisexual, borne in catkins male catkins forming in autumn, remaining naked during the winter, and opening in spring, female catkins becoming conelike, with 3-lobed scales. Nuts narrowly obovate to ovate, 1.2-2.2 mm long, puberulous, wings 1.5-2 times wider than the nuts, ripening in Sep. Apr. – May. [2]
Foliage and Catkins
References
1. USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plants Profile Betula platyphylla var. japonica
2. World Health Organization, Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea, Betula platyphylla var. japonica
3. Eun Mi Ju et al., Antioxidant and anticancer activity of extract from Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Life Sciences 74, no. 8 (January 2004)
Family Betulaceae – Alder, Birch, Hornbeam
Trees Index | Pine Family | Beech, Oak | Nut Trees | Birch Family | Magnolias
Tree Encyclopedia / North American Insects & Spiders is dedicated to providing family-friendly educational
resources for our friends around the world through large images and macro photographs of flora and fauna.
Online since 2002