Grey birch
Betula populifolia
Family: Betulaceae
What it is like
A tree that loses its leaves. It grows 10 m high and spreads 3 m wide. The trunk is erect and slender. The leaves are heart shaped with a long point. They are paler underneath. The flowers are catkins.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It will grow in most soils. It is resistant to drought and frost. Arboretum Tasmania.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, North America, Tasmania, USA (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The sap is used as a sweet drink. It can be fermented to beer or vinegar. The inner bark is ground into flour and used as an emergency breadstuff.
A famine food.
Edible parts
Sap, bark
How it is grown
It can be grown from seeds.