Indian birch
Betula alnoides

Family: Betulaceae

What it is like

A tree up to 30 m tall. The bark is grey tinted red-brown. It peels off across the trunk in strips. The twigs are purple-red and downy when young. The leaves are 5-10 cm long. They are on red stalks. They have double teeth along the edge. The leaves taper to a fine point. The catkins are in clusters and are 8 cm long. The flowers are male and female separately. The nut is flat with 1 seed.

There are about 60 Betula species. They grow in cool north temperate climates. The bark is used in medicine in Nepal.

Where it is found

It grows in subtropical forests between 700–2100 m altitude in China. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Slovenia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The inner bark is eaten. It is made into flour and cooked and eaten. It is also chewed as a substitute for betel nut. The young bark is added to drinking water.

Edible parts

Bark

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bhujapatra, Bhujpattra, Bhurjapatra, Bu-za-bat-pin, Cang lo, Cherry-bo, Dingleen, Hlosunle, Hriang, Jelšasta breza, Ketsana, Sakai, Saur, Sons, Xi hua

Synonyms

Betula acuminata Wallich; Betula alnoides var. acuminata (Wallich) H. Winkler; Betulaster acuminata (Wallich) Spach.