Betula utilis
Encyclopedia
Betula utilis is a Birch
tree native to the Himalayas
, growing at elevations up to 4500 m (14,763.8 ft). The specific epithet, utilis, refers to the many uses of the different parts of the tree. The white, paper-like bark of the tree was used in ancient times for writing Sanskrit
scriptures and texts. It is still used as paper for the writing of sacred mantras, with the bark placed in an amulet and worn for protection. Selected varieties are used for landscaping throughout the world, even while some areas of its native habitat are being lost due to overuse of the tree for firewood.
in his Prodromus Florae Nepalensis (1825), from specimens collected by Nathaniel Wallich
in Nepal in 1820. Betula jacquemontii (Spach
), first described and named in 1841, was later found to be a variety of Betula utilis, and is now Betula utilis var. jacquemontii.
. The tree depends on moisture from snowmelt, rather than from the monsoon rains. They often have very bent growth due to the pressure of the deep winter snow in the Himalaya.
Leaves are ovate, 5 to 10 cm (2 to 3.9 in) long, with serrated margins, and slightly hairy. Flowering occurs from May–July, with only a few male catkin
s, and short single (sometimes paired) female catkins. The perianth
has four parts in male flowers, and is absent in the female flowers. Fruits ripen in September–October.
The thin papery bark is very shiny, reddish brown, reddish white, or white, with horizontal lenticel
s. The bark peels off in broad, horizontal belts, making it very usable for creating even large pages. A fungal growth, locally called Bhurja-granthi, forms black lumps on the tree weighing up to 1kg.
The wood is very hard and heavy, and quite brittle. The heartwood is pink or light reddish brown.
The bark of Himalayan Birch was used centuries ago in India as paper for writing lengthy scriptures and texts in Sanskrit and other scripts, particularly in historical Kashmir
. Its use as paper for books is mentioned by early Sanskrit writers Kalidasa
(c. 4th century CE), Sushruta (c. 3rd century CE), and Varahamihira
(6th century CE). In the late 19th century, Kashmiri pandits reported that all of their books were written on Himalayan Birch bark until Akbar introduced paper in the 16th century. The Sanskrit word for the tree is Bhûrja—sharing a similarity with other Indo-European
words that provide the origin for the common name Birch.
The bark is still used for writing sacred mantra
s, which are placed in an amulet
and worn around the neck for protection or blessing. This practice was mentioned as early as the 8th or 9th century CE, in the Lakshmi Tantra, a Pancaratra
text. According to legend, the bark was also used as clothing by attendants of Lord Shiva.
The bark is widely used for packaging material (particularly butter), roof construction, umbrella covers, bandages, and more. The wood is used for bridge construction, and the foliage for fodder. The most widespread use is for firewood, which has caused large areas of habitat to be eliminated or reduced. Parts of the plant, including the fungal growth (Bhurja-granthi) have also long been used in local traditional medicine.
. 12,500 bhojpatra saplings had been planted in the area by the year 2000. In recent years, attempts have been made to ban the collection of bhojpatra trees in the Gangotri area.
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
tree native to the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
, growing at elevations up to 4500 m (14,763.8 ft). The specific epithet, utilis, refers to the many uses of the different parts of the tree. The white, paper-like bark of the tree was used in ancient times for writing Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
scriptures and texts. It is still used as paper for the writing of sacred mantras, with the bark placed in an amulet and worn for protection. Selected varieties are used for landscaping throughout the world, even while some areas of its native habitat are being lost due to overuse of the tree for firewood.
Taxonomy
Betula utilis was described and named by botanist David DonDavid Don
David Don was a Scottish botanist,David Don was born on December 21, 1799, at Doo Hillock, Forfar, Angus, Scotland. He was the younger brother of George Don, also a botanist, their father being George Don of Forfar and his wife Caroline Clementina Stuart...
in his Prodromus Florae Nepalensis (1825), from specimens collected by Nathaniel Wallich
Nathaniel Wallich
Nathaniel Wallich was a surgeon and botanist of Danish origin who worked in India initially in the Danish settlement near Calcutta and later joined the East India Company...
in Nepal in 1820. Betula jacquemontii (Spach
Édouard Spach
Édouard Spach was a French botanist.The son of a merchant in Strasbourg, he went to Paris in 1824 where he studied botany with René Desfontaines and Antoine Laurent de Jussieu . He became the secretary of Charles-François Brisseau de Mirbel...
), first described and named in 1841, was later found to be a variety of Betula utilis, and is now Betula utilis var. jacquemontii.
Description
In its native habitat, Betula utilis tends to form forests, growing as a shrub or as a tree reaching up to 20 m (65.6 ft) tall. It frequently grows with scattered conifers and an undergrowth of shrubs, typically evergreen RhododendronRhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
. The tree depends on moisture from snowmelt, rather than from the monsoon rains. They often have very bent growth due to the pressure of the deep winter snow in the Himalaya.
Leaves are ovate, 5 to 10 cm (2 to 3.9 in) long, with serrated margins, and slightly hairy. Flowering occurs from May–July, with only a few male catkin
Catkin
A catkin or ament is a slim, cylindrical flower cluster, with inconspicuous or no petals, usually wind-pollinated but sometimes insect pollinated . They contain many, usually unisexual flowers, arranged closely along a central stem which is often drooping...
s, and short single (sometimes paired) female catkins. The perianth
Perianth
The term perianth has two similar but separate meanings in botany:* In flowering plants, the perianth are the outer, sterile whorls of a flower...
has four parts in male flowers, and is absent in the female flowers. Fruits ripen in September–October.
The thin papery bark is very shiny, reddish brown, reddish white, or white, with horizontal lenticel
Lenticel
A lenticel is an airy aggregation of cells within the structural surfaces of the stems, roots, and other parts of vascular plants. It functions as a pore, providing a medium for the direct exchange of gasses between the internal tissues and atmosphere, thereby bypassing the periderm, which would...
s. The bark peels off in broad, horizontal belts, making it very usable for creating even large pages. A fungal growth, locally called Bhurja-granthi, forms black lumps on the tree weighing up to 1kg.
The wood is very hard and heavy, and quite brittle. The heartwood is pink or light reddish brown.
History and use
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. Its use as paper for books is mentioned by early Sanskrit writers Kalidasa
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
(c. 4th century CE), Sushruta (c. 3rd century CE), and Varahamihira
Varahamihira
Varāhamihira , also called Varaha or Mihira, was an Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer who lived in Ujjain...
(6th century CE). In the late 19th century, Kashmiri pandits reported that all of their books were written on Himalayan Birch bark until Akbar introduced paper in the 16th century. The Sanskrit word for the tree is Bhûrja—sharing a similarity with other Indo-European
Indo-European
Indo-European may refer to:* Indo-European languages** Aryan race, a 19th century and early 20th century term for those peoples who are the native speakers of Indo-European languages...
words that provide the origin for the common name Birch.
The bark is still used for writing sacred mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
s, which are placed in an amulet
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
and worn around the neck for protection or blessing. This practice was mentioned as early as the 8th or 9th century CE, in the Lakshmi Tantra, a Pancaratra
Pañcaratra
Pāñcarātra are the Vaishnava Sanskrit texts dedicated to worship of Narayana and form part of the Agamas.Unlike Vaikhanasa tradition, the Pancaratric tradition of Agamas prescribe image worship in the place of rituals like Yajnas, mentioned in the Vedas...
text. According to legend, the bark was also used as clothing by attendants of Lord Shiva.
The bark is widely used for packaging material (particularly butter), roof construction, umbrella covers, bandages, and more. The wood is used for bridge construction, and the foliage for fodder. The most widespread use is for firewood, which has caused large areas of habitat to be eliminated or reduced. Parts of the plant, including the fungal growth (Bhurja-granthi) have also long been used in local traditional medicine.
Conservation
Deforestation due to overuse of the tree has caused loss of habitat for many native groves of Betula utilis (locally called "bhojpatra" in the Indian Himalaya). The first high altitude bhojpatra nursery was established in 1993 at Chirbasa, just above Gangotri, where many Hindus go on pilgrimage to the source of the sacred Ganges river. Dr. Harshvanti Bisht, a Himalayan mountaineer, established the first nursery and continues to expand the reforestation of bhojpatra in the Gangotri area and inside Gangotri National ParkGangotri National Park
Gangotri National Park is a national park located in Uttarkashi District Uttarakhand, India. The size of this national park is about 1,553 square km...
. 12,500 bhojpatra saplings had been planted in the area by the year 2000. In recent years, attempts have been made to ban the collection of bhojpatra trees in the Gangotri area.