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General botany · birch

A tree with pale bark

Birch catches the eye before you even look at its leaves.

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The Betula celtiberica profile describes a deciduous tree with a silvery-white trunk and leaves ranging from oval to triangular, with toothed edges. The species is associated with moist environments, including watercourse banks, and needs plenty of light.

The Gulbenkian Garden presentation places flowering in April and May and describes small winged fruits dispersed by wind. Bark, leaves and reproductive structures offer different clues throughout the year. This information concerns the species; it does not confirm its presence in a parish or guarantee the same dates everywhere.

Male and female flowers occur on the same tree but in different structures. Gulbenkian describes male flowers grouped in greenish-yellow catkins and female structures that are upright at first. A flower does not always have large, showy petals: observing a tree may require attention to discreet structures.

The profile also highlights shallow, horizontally spreading roots and the ability to produce shoots from the stump. The visible trunk is only part of the plant; growing from seed and producing new shoots are distinct processes. These are features from the Betula celtiberica profile, without attributing a particular tree to Cabeceiras.

Discreet flowers, different strategies

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  1. Male and female structures in pineNeedles come in pairs →
  2. How to distribute the flowers on the laurelThe laurel has more than leaves →
  3. Another tree, another journey of fruitSeeds that travel through water →
  4. Return to the same tree in another seasonA tree, several visits →
Comparing structures and processes described in the botanical charts.
Source and context

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation — Celtic betula, trunk and leaves

Accessed: . Editorial summary; the date of consultation is not the date of the facts.

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