A taxonomic history of the British birch tree

Abstract

Summary Most taxonomists now agree that there are three native birches in Britain but there is disagreement on their correct specific names. Linnaeus' Species Plantarum of 1753 introduced the binomial system to taxonomy and he described two birches that occurred in the cooler parts of Europe. One of these, the dwarf birch, which he called Betula nana has retained its original name but the other, the tree birch B. alba has undergone many changes of name and has been separated into several species by some taxonomists. This paper traces the changes that have occurred in the specific name of the British birch tree since 1753, and shows that if there are two species of birch tree then they should be called B. pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh. The author concludes that until the status of the British birch tree has been satisfactorily examined B. pendula and B. pubescens should be regarded as subspecies of the Linnaean B. alba.