NAME : BIRCH

GAELIC NAME : BEITH, BETH.

LATIN NAME : Betula alba.

COMMON / FOLK NAMES : White Birch Canoe Birch Paper Birch Beithe Bereza Berke Beth Bouleau Lady of the woods

MEDICINAL PART : Young leaves Bark

PLACES OF ORIGIN : Ireland Northern Europe Northern U.S. Canada  

DESCRIPTION : White Birch is a tree found growing to a height of 65 feet in Ireland, the Northern U.S., Canada, and Northern Europe. It has white bark which can be peeled off in horizontal strips. Its leaves are cordate, bright green above and lighter beneath, serrate, and glabrous or minutely hairy. The flowers are borne in male and female catkins, the female developing into seed cones.

 OTHER VARIANTS: Betula pendula Roth - Silver Birch

ASSOCIATED FUNGUS: Fly Agaric This fungi has a symbiotic relationship with the silver birch as it merges with the roots of the tree and help it to absorb minerals in exchange for sugars from the tree. 

PROPERTIES : Astringent Diuretic Diaphoretic

  Medical Properties of Irish Herbs, Trees & Fungi  

MAGICAL PROPERTIES

MAGICAL USES
A sacred tree to the Druids.  Birch rods were used for protection spells and to protect the carrier from malign magic and influences.  Twigs of birch were incised with ogham and carried for protection in little pouches.

A the start of any project or journey call on the power of the birch to protect you.  Birch is the tree of new beginnings and new perspectives.

Magical Properties Magical Powers of Irish Herbs, Trees & Fungi 

Stories, Myths & Legends associated with Birch

Crith Gablach - Brehon Law Poem

The Green Champions

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